As families and responsibilities continue to grow, we’ve seen a meteoric rise in the sale of SUVs and crossovers.

These vehicles are just as adept during the school run as they are venturing off-road or towing a caravan during a staycation, offering exceptional versatility while still delivering style, comfort, and speed.

But what exactly are the differences between a crossover and an SUV? Well, you’re in the right place to find out. Stick with us and by the end of this blog, you’ll no longer be wondering what the differences are, and you’ll be perfectly placed to make the right decision when it comes to purchasing your next vehicle.

What is an SUV?

An SUV, or Sports Utility Vehicle, is a type of vehicle that uses a truck chassis with a frame bolted onto it. This design allows them to perform better off-road and at towing functions.

These cars tend to be typically bigger than other car classes, equipped with large, capable engines that can pull the car and anything that requires towing.

What is a crossover?

A crossover, sometimes called a compact SUV, takes the best bits of an SUV - its size, towing capability, and storage capacity - and combines them with the best parts of a smaller vehicle – fuel economy, acceleration, safety, and handling capability.

This is achieved by building the chassis and body as one singular unit instead of bolting the body onto the chassis as in a traditional SUV.

Their smaller size also makes them easier to drive in urban environments.

Key differences between an SUV and a crossover

It’s worth noting that while all crossovers are SUVs, not all SUVs are crossovers. With this in mind, let’s take a look at how these vehicles differ. For the sake of ease, we’ll refer to traditional SUVs as SUVs throughout.

While both options offer off-road capability, spacious interiors, and plenty of boot space, crossovers are generally slightly smaller which makes them more manoeuvrable in cities and towns.

SUVs, on the other hand, are larger, more capable off-road and generally have a higher towing capacity, making them better for drivers who frequently tow things such as caravans or horse boxes.

Traditional SUVs are becoming less and less common because crossovers provide many of the benefits of an SUV while delivering better fuel economy, safety and cost.

Should you buy an SUV or crossover?

The choice between an SUV and a crossover is a difficult one, but with a few simple questions, you can decide between a crossover and a larger SUV.

  • Do you require more than 5 seats?
  • Does practicality mean being able to navigate the school run or does it mean driving through fields and wading through water?
  • Do you favour performance or fuel efficiency?

Whether you’re after something like the 7-seater Kia EV9 or something a bit smaller like the Volvo EX30, there are plenty of options to fit your lifestyle and requirements.

Things to consider

When buying any car, size, performance, practicality and fuel efficiency are major considerations.

With such variety when it comes to SUVs and crossovers, you should consider your needs with great thought to make sure that you pick the right option for you.

Here are a few pointers to consider before making the all-important purchase.

Seats and boot space

The main difference between crossovers is their size, with crossovers being slightly smaller than the average SUV. For this reason, if boot space is a large consideration, you’re probably best off with a larger SUV, although this is dependent on your requirements and model of the crossover. We’d always recommend seeing a car in person, if possible.

Handling

Nowadays, even larger SUVs handle well thanks to improvements in chassis design and clever suspension trickery. Large electric SUVs also conquer the issue of their high centre of gravity by having heavy batteries located in the floor.

Still, a larger, heavier vehicle will handle differently from a small, nimble car - with slower acceleration and a higher centre of gravity. Deciding which you prefer will come down to test-driving multiple options, which you can do at a Brindley dealership.

SUVs and crossovers available at Brindley

At Brindley, there is a wide range of SUVs and crossovers from plenty of manufacturers, here are just a few examples to start off your search.

EC40

The Volvo EC40 is an electric crossover that blends the manoeuvrability of a hatchback with the size and performance of a large SUV. The electric motor delivers great performance with incredible efficiency with 260 miles from a single charge.

Kia EV9

The highly anticipated big brother of the revolutionary EV6, the Kia EV9 delivers electric luxury in a large package that is just as comfortable on urban roads as it is wading through mud and dirt. Kia promised a luxury SUV to rival anything else on the road, and they more than delivered on that promise.

Hyundai Santa Fe

The upcoming Hyundai Santa Fe will impress you with its style and ease of use, with plenty of space for 7 people. With both plug-in and self-charging options available, you can rest assured that the Santa Fe will get you to your destination in style and comfort with great fuel efficiency.

Whether you’re after a compact crossover or a large SUV, Brindley has plenty of options and after reading this blog, you should know where you’d like to begin your car-buying journey.

Be sure to book your test drive online, and see what the wonderful world of SUVs can deliver.