In a new article in US News & World Report, auto writer Steven Loveday sheds some light on the key differences between sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and crossovers (technically defined as a cross between a car and an SUV). These two categories have increasingly overlapped in recent years. Particularly during the peak in gas prices the term "crossover" became the hot buzz word with auto retailers.
Basically, SUVs came first. They started showing up in the late 1970s and 1980s, but really took off during the 1990s after the arrival of the Ford Explorer. A traditional SUV is larger than a crossover (most midsize and compact SUVs are, in fact, crossovers), and is built differently, using body-on-frame construction, which tends to be stronger and tougher but also heavier and less fuel-efficient.Today crossovers have become the far more popular version of the old SUVs. They are typically built using unibody construction. The result is a vehicle that's lighter, has more passenger and cargo space and is often safer as the result of built-in crumple zones.
Subaru is one of the original pioneers in the crossover space - today the Subaru Outback, Forester and Crosstrek models are among the most best-selling crossovers on the market. Subarus are particularly popular in areas of the country where people regularly drive in inclement weather and explore dirt roads and backcountry areas, due in no small part to Subaru reputation for quality and durability and, especially, standard all-wheel drive.
Jenkins Subaru has a full inventory of new Subaru models, including 2017 editions of the Outback, Forester and Crosstrek, in stock and ready to test drive for our West Virginia customers. Stop by our Bridgeport showroom today at 750 Lodgeville Road, or call (888) 755-7471 to set up a time to test drive each model.
