SUVs are the vehicle of choice if you're a travel enthusiast, love off-roading, and have quite a bit of cargo that has to be carried around. SUVs also offer great towing capabilities and driving performance thanks to their powerful engines.
But crossovers are great too. Especially if you're not off-roading all the time, need extra cargo space, or are switching from a sedan.
Both SUVs and Crossovers have their advantages and what you should buy depends on your personal requirements. This guide will help you understand the differences between the two and hopefully enable you to pick what works best for you.
10 SUV: Towing capability
SUVs are particularly liked by adventure enthusiasts and people who require towing capabilities. So if you are a person who loves boating, camping, fishing then a full-size SUV is a must for you.
Some SUV’s come with towing capability by default making them ideal to tow anything from boats, to motorcycles, bicycles, and fishing or camping equipment.
Crossovers can tow stuff as well but when compared to full-size SUV, crossovers can't really compete in this category. For instance, while Chevrolet Tahoe has a towing capacity of 8600 pounds, Traverse can just tow 5000 pounds.
9 Crossover: Better fuel economy
One of the advantages of running on four-cylinder engines or having slightly lesser performance capabilities is that crossovers always have better fuel economy when compared to full-size SUVs. Also, crossovers are lighter and smaller which contributes towards increased fuel efficiency.
For example, the Toyota Highlander's gas mileage is 21 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. This is significantly lower than the 13 mpg in the city and 17 mpg on the highway that Sequoia delivers.
Manufacturers have realized that not all owners want an uber-powerful SUV with off-roading and towing capabilities hence crossovers have gained popularity in recent years. They basically provide the robustness and safety advantages of an SUV without sacrificing fuel economy.
8 SUV: Higher Ground Clearance
One of the main reasons why people like SUVs, instead of sedans, is because of their raised seating position. Many like the feel of riding higher on the road which not only gives better visibility but also provides the commanding feel over the surroundings that sedans just cannot offer.
This higher ground clearance can also make drivers feel more secure, confident, and not to mention more comfortable while driving on uneven terrain. The higher ground clearance also provides the added benefit of better off-roading capability as compared to crossovers and sedans.
7 Crossover: More Affordable
Price has become the most important factor for many people while buying cars because of economic and financial considerations. Crossovers are more affordable because of the way they are made. Since they have a unibody architecture, it is cheaper to make them than body-on-frame vehicles.
Hence, manufacturers have been able to keep the pricing very competitive for the crossover segment. This gives buyers a lot of options to choose from. The base price of the models is usually kept quite low by the manufacturers, however, there are customizations and options available for anyone who's looking for upgrades.
6 SUV: Off-road capabilities
Many crossovers these days come with all-wheel drive capabilities which enable the owners to take them off-road. However, nothing beats the off-road capabilities of an SUV which delivers better performance and truly offers the best four-wheel drive. Four-wheel drive systems have the capability of rotating both wheels on an axle at the same speed which means more traction and more safety while off-roading.
Furthermore, full-size SUVs have a higher ground clearance compared to crossovers and sedans making them ideal off-road vehicles. Their transmissions, suspension systems, differentials, underbody protection, and fenders are designed keeping off-roading capabilities in mind, so they rarely disappoint.
5 Crossover: More maneuverable
Being built on a car platform not only makes crossovers lighter, more fuel-efficient, and cheaper but also provides better handling than larger SUVs. The unibody architecture also makes them easier to drive as they are able to stop in shorter distances.
Crossovers are also shorter in length and have a lower ride height as compared to their larger SUV counterparts. Hence, it is easier to maneuver them into trickier parking spaces such as those in underground parking facilities. With larger SUVs, depending on the experience of the driver, it can take ages to park a car, especially in cramped parking spaces.
4 SUV: Power
SUVs are more powerful vehicles because they usually come with V-6 and V-8 engines instead of four-cylinder engines with which crossovers are usually equipped. The increased horsepower also means that hauling uphill and downhill becomes easier, safer and more comfortable. This also means that you get better performance, particularly when you’re off-roading or driving on rugged terrain.
Increased power also means more speed, better torque and shorter acceleration time. For example, a Honda CRV clocked 60mph in 7.6 seconds while the Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 needed only 4.5 seconds to reach this mark.
3 Crossover: Smoother transition
If you're new to the whole SUV business, the transition from a sedan to a crossover is smoother than switching from a sedan to an SUV.
There is a certain degree of comfort when you drive a crossover after driving sedans for a long time. This is because crossovers combine car-like features with SUV-like handling superbly. The ground clearance is indeed higher than a sedan giving better visibility but it’s nothing compared to a SUV which can at times give a feeling of sitting in a truck.
Also, crossovers provide added benefits such as increased storage and passenger space which is not available in sedans.
2 SUV: Safe and sturdy
Ever since SUVs came into existence, they have always been the clear winner in terms of safety because of their sturdy frame.
Their inherent sturdiness is possible because these cars are manufactured on a stronger truck chassis, which means that they experience less damage compared to the smaller vehicles when accidents or collisions happen. This is because the larger vehicle will always be able to withstand the force of collision better than a smaller vehicle. Hence, increased safety is also one of the reasons why many families opt for full-size SUVs.
1 Crossover: More practical
Crossovers are more practical vehicles than SUVs because they combine car and SUV features without breaking the bank which can be a deal-breaker for many individuals.
It is spacious enough for families of five to enjoy more than enough room. Also, if the family size is bigger or more cargo space is needed, many crossovers offer great customization options. For instance, growing families can opt for versions that have third-row seating. Apart from price, and space, crossovers also provide better ride quality and handling which is synonymous with the bigger SUVs.