Crossover vs SUV: What’s the Difference?

Sometimes words clarify things. Other times, they just confuse matters further. Case in point: the SUV you're thinking of buying may not be an SUV. It might be a crossover, even though you, and your Jeep® SUV dealer, may call it an SUV. Is the difference strictly semantics, or is there something more substantial there? As we so often do, Mike Toler Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM FIAT has the answers.

What Is A Crossover?

A crossover looks like an SUV and offers many of the same advantages. It offers all-wheel drive, it rides higher than a sedan, and it gives you the kind of storage you won't get out of a hatchback or sedan.

A crossover like the Jeep Renegade is built using unibody construction, meaning that the body and frame are all one piece. The advantages are its lighter weight, better fuel economy, and handling that feels more like a car. If most of your driving is on blacktop, but you want more passenger and cargo volume than your current car is giving you, a crossover could be just right for your needs.

What Is An SUV?

So if a crossover looks like an SUV but isn't, what is it that makes an SUV like the Jeep Wrangler a true SUV? Well, it starts with construction. The earliest SUVs were based on truck bodies and used body-on-frame construction. That means more weight, and handling that's closer in nature with a truck than a car, or even a crossover.

However, that construction has its advantages. SUVs are built to take more punishment. Instead of AWD, many come with four-wheel drive, which uses a transfer case instead of a differential, and which gives you more low-gear options. Towing capacities are also often higher than a crossover.

Comparing Crossovers and SUVs

Now that you know the differences, how do you translate them into a buying choice here at our Jacksonville, NC car dealership? Leaving aside the many ways in which the two are identical, your driving habits will make your choice easier. You can use a new Dodge crossover like a higher and more comfy sedan, and you'll love the added grip of the AWD. On the other hand, if your adventures take you off-road, or if you're using your SUV to tow, the low-gear capabilities and genuine 4x4 driveline of a new Jeep SUV is a better fit.

Still stumped? Visit your new Chrysler dealership near Cherry Point. Mike Toler Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM FIAT is located at 5340 Hwy 70 West PO Box 989 in Morehead City, NC, and we'll help you find the perfect fit!