Crossover (automobile)

A crossover is a vehicle built on a car platform and borrowing features of a traditional sport utility vehicle (SUV).

In contrast to traditional SUV's, which use body-on-frame construction, crossovers use the unibody construction typical of passenger vehicles. The crossover combines, in highly variable degree, design features from an SUV such as tall interior packaging, high H-point seating, high ground-clearance or all-wheel-drive capability — with design features from an automobile such as a passenger vehicle's platform, independent rear suspension, car-like handling and fuel economy.

Crossovers are typically designed for only light off-road capability, if any at all.^[1]

Origin

The term crossover began as a marketing term,^[2] and a 2008 CNNMoney article indicated that "many consumers can't tell the difference between an SUV and a crossover."^[1] A January 2008 Wall Street Journal article called crossovers "wagons that look like sport utility vehicles but ride like cars."^[3]

The market segment spans a wide range of vehicles. In some cases, manufacturers have marketed vehicles as crossovers simply to avoid calling them station wagons.^[4] And while some crossover vehicles released in the early 2000s resembled traditional SUVs or wagons, others have prioritized sportiness over utility — such as the Infiniti FX and BMW X6.^[5][6]

While the segment has notable historical antecedents, it came into strong visibility in the US by 2006, when crossover sales "made up more than 50% of the overall SUV market."^[7] Sales in the crossover market segment increased in 2007 by 16%.^[3] Notably in the US, the crossover segment is one of the passenger vehicle market segments where import brands lead domestic brands, as domestic manufacturers were slow to switch from their emphasis on light truck-based SUVs, and as foreign automakers developed crossovers particularly for the US market, as an alternative to station wagons which are unpopular there.^[1] The segment has strong appeal to aging baby boomers.^[1]

Crossover examples

The broad spectrum of crossovers includes:

• Compact Crossover SUV's: e.g., Audi Q5, Tata Aria, BMW X3, Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV4
• Mid-sized Crossover SUV's: e.g., Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, Chevy Equinox, Lexus RX 350, Acura MDX, BMW X5
• Full-sized Crossover SUV's: e.g., Audi Q7, Buick Enclave, Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
• Station wagon-derived Crossovers: e.g., Audi A6 allroad quattro, Subaru Outback, Toyota Venza, BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo
• Compact sedan-derived hatchback Crossovers: e.g. Chevrolet HHR, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe^[8],

A short list of current crossovers with their platform genealogy (similar vehicles are grouped together):

See also

• Car classification
• Compact SUV
• Mini SUV
• MPV
• Recreational Vehicle
• Sport utility vehicle
• Station wagon

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} "GM and Ford's New Cross to Bear". CNNMoney.com, Chris Isidore, January 9, 2006. 2006-01-09. http://money.cnn.com/2006/01/09/Autos/detroit_crossovers/index.htm. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
2. ^ "Smart Buying Essentials What is a Crossover Vehicle?". Intellichoice.com. http://www.intellichoice.com/carBuying101/what-is-a-crossover.
3. ^ ^{a b} "Crossover Market Is Thinly Sliced". The Wall Street Journal, January 14, 2008. http://blogs.wsj.com/autoshow/2008/01/14/crossover-market-is-thinly-sliced/.
4. ^ "Definition of Crossover Utility Vehicle". Usedcars.about.com. 2009-09-17. http://usedcars.about.com/od/glossaryatoe/g/Crossovers.htm. Retrieved 2009-10-13.
5. ^ "Inifiti FX35 Review (MY 2010)". Edmunds.com. 2009. http://www.edmunds.com/infiniti/fx35/review.html. Retrieved 2010-01-21.
6. ^ David Thomas (2008-09-15). "2009 Infiniti FX35". cars.com. http://www.cars.com/go/crp/research.jsp?makeid=20&modelid=7091&year=2009&section=reviews. Retrieved 2010-01-21.
7. ^ "Crossover vehicles pass up SUVs on road to growing sales". USAtoday, 5/3/2006, Sharon Silke Carty. 2006-01-09. http://money.cnn.com/2006/01/09/Autos/detroit_crossovers/index.htm. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
8. ^ Huffman, John. "A sleek “CUV” with youthful imagination - 2003 Toyota Matrix". The Car Connection. http://www.thecarconnection.com/Vehicle_Reviews/SUVs_Wagons/2003_Toyota_Matrix.S181.A4435.html. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
9. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Haines, Steven (2008). The Product Manager's Desk Reference. McGraw-Hill. pp. 13•14. ISBN 9780071591348. http://books.google.com/books?id=xTMWzXuPqgwC&pg=PA13&dq=Honda+platforms&ei=DlBjS-OEJZryygSt-dEW&client=safari&cd=1#v=onepage&q=Honda%20platforms&f=false. Retrieved 2010-01-29.

Categories: Vehicles | Vehicle design | Crossover SUVs