What Is A Crossover Car? Everything You Need To Know
Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash
If you’re an avid CoPilot user/reader familiar with the automobile industry, you’ve probably come across the term “crossover.” With this term’s prevalence in numerous auto blogs, you’re likely asking: what is a crossover car?
Nowadays, car manufacturers seem to have adopted the design philosophy of “we combine everything” when making vehicles. Through this particular design philosophy comes the birth of the ever-popular crossover segment.
For today’s post, we’ll answer one of the most common questions that car buyers have, which is: what is a crossover car? Plus, we’ll throw in more things you need to know about crossover vehicles.
What Exactly is a Crossover?
When people talk about crossovers, they’re primarily referring to SUVs. However, the crossover was once a catch-all for a vehicle category that included tall wagons, sedans, rounded minivans, and compact SUVs. You’ll hear people use crossovers, crossover SUVs, and compact SUVs interchangeably these days. But it’s worth noting that a full SUV differs from a crossover.
A crossover SUV comes with a “unibody” construction, which means that the body and frame are one single structure. This unibody construction is the primary difference from an SUV with body-on-frame construction. Simply put, if you merge a car chassis with a scaled-down SUV body, you get a crossover.
In the past, when SUVs became the de-facto family vehicle, drivers didn’t mind the somewhat rugged riding experience. With the advent of crossover SUVs, it’s not just riding comfort that was brought onto the table but improved handling as well. Today, car makers commonly use unibody construction for several benefits, including optimal cargo and passenger space, smaller size, and lightweight.
This is because crossover SUVs were generally derivative from car platforms, so they tend to have more car-like road manners and are easier to drive.
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What About an SUV?
SUVs are multi-purpose vehicles which added to their great popularity. An SUV stands for a sport utility vehicle, which is basically a vehicle designed to handle varied environments and driving conditions. SUVs can be relatively good at everything from being fast and agile to carrying more passengers to towing heavy loads.
True or full SUVs are generally larger than a typical crossover with more bulk and power. But as mentioned, the real difference lies with the frame construction. Full SUVs have a “body-on-frame” construction, meaning every structural component is attached to a metal frame, aka chassis. However, this construction method has fallen out of favor and is employed chiefly in heavy-duty vehicles and trucks.
One aspect where the body-on-frame construction excels is with towing and hauling capacity. Full SUVs have a more rigid build, high ground clearance, and durable construction, making them ideal for towing trailers and other vehicles.
Believe it or not, only a few body-on-frame SUV models are left on the market right now. These include the Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, Ford Expedition, Ford Bronco, Nissan Armada, Toyota 4Runner, Mercedes-Benz G-Class, and more.
Reasons to Buy a Crossover Car
Now that you know the answer to the question, “what is a crossover car,” let’s move on to the potential reasons why you should buy one.
1. Eye-Catching Styles
Initially, crossover SUVs rose to prominence because they’re much more affordable than full SUVs. Over time, the next wave of crossovers was marketed heavily through their styling. With a car-like form factor but added utility, customers flocked to crossover SUVs because they simply look good – and they’re not minivans.
While it’s pretty commonplace nowadays, the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV-4 are long-running examples of SUVs that helped define the segment with their stylish but approachable designs. Furthermore, the crossover segment allowed car manufacturers to experiment with styles, leading to interesting results like the Mini Countryman and Suzuki SX4.
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2. More Cargo and Passenger Space
Crossovers drive like a car but have the space of SUVs. Another source of popularity is that crossovers strike a balance between car-like handling and passenger space. Crossovers provide the best of both worlds for those who don’t want to buy a larger SUV but think that a sedan is too small.
Whether cargo or cabin space, crossovers provide enough room to accommodate more passengers and luggage. Even compact crossovers are viable options when you have a family of four. In comparison, full-size crossovers like the Honda Pilot and Hyundai Palisade have third-row seats accommodating seven passengers.
3. Attractive Price Points
The crossover segment is one of the most competitive markets in the industry. Not only do you have many brands and models to consider, but their prices are also reasonably competitive. The average cost for a base model crossover is around $21,000. The attractive pricing compelled many shoppers to upgrade to crossovers because their prices are not that high compared to modern sedans.
Crossovers are also less expensive to manufacture, which is why car companies can afford to keep their prices low. Plus, the extensive number of models in the crossover segment adds to the competitive price points – which is always a boon to consumers.
4. Better Fuel Economy
The car-based construction of crossovers helps with ride comfort and handling and makes them lighter. Crossovers are generally more fuel efficient with smaller engines than full SUVs and a more aerodynamic design.
Of course, not all crossovers have top-tier fuel economy because some are definitely worse than others in this aspect. However, many crossovers genuinely bring their A-game in terms of fuel economy. For example, the best-in-class fuel economy 2022 Toyota RAV4 has mpg ratings of 27 city and 35 highway.
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Which One Is Right for You?
Hopefully, we can answer your question about what is a crossover car and its related topics. So which one is right for you? Well, it depends on your requirements. A full SUV is your best choice for the maximum cargo space and towing capacity. Otherwise, a crossover should be good enough for people with modest requirements in terms of space and towing capabilities. With so many options out there, you should be able to find the right crossover car for you and your family.
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