Many crossovers lack all-wheel drive or four-wheel-drive drivetrain, which, in combination with their lesser off-road capability, causes many journalists and consumers to question their definition as 'sports utility vehicles'. Д¬ompared to truck-based SUVs, they typically have better interior comfort, a more comfortable ride, better fuel economy, and lower manufacturing costs, but also inferior off-road and towing capability. Furthermore, the average mid-size crossover in the US costs less than 5 percent more than the average mid-size car. According to Consumer Reports, the three top selling crossovers in the US in 2018 (Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Nissan Rogue) return an average of 10 percent less fuel economy than the top three selling sedan equivalents in the mid-size segment ( Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima), but provide almost 1.5 times the cargo space. Characteristics Д¬rossovers driving characteristics and performance is similar to traditional passenger cars, while providing more passenger and cargo space with a relatively minor tradeoff in fuel economy and running cost.

In the United Kingdom, a crossover is sometimes defined as a hatchback with raised ride height and SUV-like styling features. Outside of the United States, the term 'crossover' tends to be used for C-segment ( compact) or smaller vehicles, with large unibody vehicles-such as the Audi Q7, Range Rover, Porsche Cayenne and Volkswagen Touareg-usually referred to as SUVs rather than crossovers. In some jurisdictions, crossovers are classified as light trucks like traditional SUVs and pickup trucks.

Several governmental bodies in the United States also did not acknowledge the crossover distinction, including the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Some regions outside North America do not have a distinction between a crossover SUV and body-on-frame SUV, calling both of them SUVs. Due to these inconsistencies, the term 'SUV' is often used as an umbrella term for both crossovers and SUVs. 'Crossover' is a relatively recent term, and early unibody SUVs (such as the 1984 Jeep Cherokee) are rarely called crossovers. However, these definitions are often blurred in practice, since unibody vehicles are also often referred to as SUVs. The difference between crossover SUVs and other SUVs is generally defined by journalists and manufacturers as a crossover being built using a unibody platform, while an SUV is built using a body-on-frame platform.

4.3 Mid-size crossover SUV (D/E-segment).

4.1 Subcompact crossover SUV (B-segment).

In the US, market share of crossovers have grown from under 4 percent in 2000 to nearly 40 percent in 2018. The Toyota RAV4, first introduced in 1994, pioneered the modern concept of a crossover. The 1977 Matra Rancho and the 1979 AMC Eagle has been credited as a forerunner of crossovers, before the term crossover was used. Compared to traditional cars with lower ride height and lower roof such as sedans and hatchbacks, crossover offers larger cabin space and enhanced driving position. Д¬ompared to traditional SUVs, crossovers are known to be less capable for use in off-road conditions or hauling heavy loads, while instead offering other advantages such as superior fuel economy and handling. The term SUV is often used as an umbrella term for both crossovers and traditional SUVs due to the similarities between them. Crossovers are also described as 'car-like SUVs' or 'car-based SUVs'. A crossover, crossover SUV, or crossover utility vehicle ( CUV) is a type of automobile with increased ride height that is built on unibody chassis construction shared with passenger cars, as opposed to traditional sport utility vehicles (SUV) which are built on a body-on-frame chassis construction similar to pickup trucks.ДЄ term that originated from North America, the term crossover was initially used for any vehicle that blends characteristics between two different kinds of vehicles while, over time, crossover mostly refers to unibody-based SUVs.

Volvo crossover