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Evolution of the SUV Over the Ages
Sport Utility Vehicle is also popularly known as SUV. It is a generic term for a vehicle similar to a station wagon but built on a light-truck chassis. In some countries an SUV is know as an "off-road vehicle" or "four-wheel drive", often abbreviated to "4WD" or "4x4". However, not all SUVs have four-wheel drive capabilities and not all 4WD passenger vehicles are SUVs.
The Sport Utility Vehicle is believed to have evolved from the "depot hack." The depot hack was a vehicle used for transporting people (similar to today's taxi/hack) and luggage from the railway stations (depots). SUVs were called “carryalls” or “suburbans” in the early 1920s as they were meant to carry all, whether it is people or cargo. There were numerous automotive brands using “carryalls” or “suburbans” for model names during those days. But, it was Chevrolet’s Suburban that carried the name into the 21st century. Willy’s Jeep Wagon hyped this vehicle as a "utility vehicle" for the family in the late 1940s.
Off-road drives are altogether for a different segment of vehicles built mainly for off-road use. SUVs generally would have off-road capabilities, but this is a secondary role and they often do not have the ability to switch between 2WD, 4WD high gearing and 4WD low gearing. In some SUVs the towing capacity of a pickup truck is included with the passenger-carrying space of a minivan. SUVs are considered light trucks and often share the same platforms of pickups.
1950 saw a radical change in the suburbans and carryalls. Many models got a facelift by entering into a car frame instead of the prevailing truck frame. Big engines and high performance was the trademark of these beasts and they also had plenty of room for everything. The next evolutionary step for the Utility Vehicle came as a mini-van in 1970. It has been claimed that the Jeep Cherokee was the first true sport utility vehicle in the modern understanding of the term. Marketed to urban families as a substitute for a traditional car in the mid 1970s, the Cherokee had four-wheel drive in a more manageable size, as well as a plush interior resembling a station wagon.
With the introduction of more luxurious models and powerful 4-litre engine, sales of the Cherokee zoomed even higher as the price of fuel fell with Ronald Reagan in power. The SUV then became an adventurer’s ride, and the term "sport utility vehicle" began to be used in the national press for the first time.
Just as history repeats itself, SUVs in the last two decades went in for a major overhaul- they adopted their traditional truck frame. The Sport Utility Vehicle had been extremely popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s. With oil prices getting dearer, the popularity of SUVs has been declining. The truck-based SUV is gradually being replaced by a new vehicle type, the crossover SUV often called Crossover Utility Vehicle or CUV that uses an automobile platform for lighter weight and better fuel efficiency.
The Sport Utility Vehicle is believed to have evolved from the "depot hack." The depot hack was a vehicle used for transporting people (similar to today's taxi/hack) and luggage from the railway stations (depots). SUVs were called “carryalls” or “suburbans” in the early 1920s as they were meant to carry all, whether it is people or cargo. There were numerous automotive brands using “carryalls” or “suburbans” for model names during those days. But, it was Chevrolet’s Suburban that carried the name into the 21st century. Willy’s Jeep Wagon hyped this vehicle as a "utility vehicle" for the family in the late 1940s.
Off-road drives are altogether for a different segment of vehicles built mainly for off-road use. SUVs generally would have off-road capabilities, but this is a secondary role and they often do not have the ability to switch between 2WD, 4WD high gearing and 4WD low gearing. In some SUVs the towing capacity of a pickup truck is included with the passenger-carrying space of a minivan. SUVs are considered light trucks and often share the same platforms of pickups.
1950 saw a radical change in the suburbans and carryalls. Many models got a facelift by entering into a car frame instead of the prevailing truck frame. Big engines and high performance was the trademark of these beasts and they also had plenty of room for everything. The next evolutionary step for the Utility Vehicle came as a mini-van in 1970. It has been claimed that the Jeep Cherokee was the first true sport utility vehicle in the modern understanding of the term. Marketed to urban families as a substitute for a traditional car in the mid 1970s, the Cherokee had four-wheel drive in a more manageable size, as well as a plush interior resembling a station wagon.
With the introduction of more luxurious models and powerful 4-litre engine, sales of the Cherokee zoomed even higher as the price of fuel fell with Ronald Reagan in power. The SUV then became an adventurer’s ride, and the term "sport utility vehicle" began to be used in the national press for the first time.
Just as history repeats itself, SUVs in the last two decades went in for a major overhaul- they adopted their traditional truck frame. The Sport Utility Vehicle had been extremely popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s. With oil prices getting dearer, the popularity of SUVs has been declining. The truck-based SUV is gradually being replaced by a new vehicle type, the crossover SUV often called Crossover Utility Vehicle or CUV that uses an automobile platform for lighter weight and better fuel efficiency.
A CUV combines, in highly variable degrees, the design features such as tall interior packaging, high H-point seating, high ground-clearance, or all-wheel-drive capability of the SUV with design features from an automobile platform such as car-like handling, ride, or economy. CUVs typically are designed for only light off-road capability.
SUVs have been esteemed by car customers for a variety of reasons. SUVs are best suited for off-road driving than any other vehicles. They can be steered in snow and mud and in areas where roads do not exist. They are spacious and have excellent pulling capacity. The SUV can be termed as the safest vehicle because of its huge size, heavy built structure, stability and tall seating capacity. Full-sized SUVs often features a three row seating. They have greater towing capabilities than conventional cars and can haul trailers and boats.
SUVs are often used in places such as the Australian Outback, Africa, the Middle East, Alaska, Northern Canada, the Western United States, Iceland, South America, and most of Asia that have limited paved roads and require the vehicle to have all-terrain handling, increased range, and storage capacity. The low availability of spare parts and the need to carry out repairs quickly allow model vehicles with the bare minimum of electric and hydraulic systems to predominate. Examples include the basic versions of the Land Rover, Jeep Wrangler, and Toyota Land Cruiser. SUVs intended for use in urbanised areas have traditionally been developed from their more rugged all-terrain counterparts. For example the Hummer H1 was derived from the HMMWV, originally developed for the Military of the United States.
The newer SUVs including the crossovers have lower ground clearance and suspension and are designed mainly for paved roads.
Utility vehicles are in high demand in the local market. Its spacious interior and sturdy exterior have made SUVs one of the fastest selling vehicles of India. This vehicle can accommodate many passengers and is the most favoured while going for a long trip with family and friends. Mahindra & Mahindra is the leader in the utility vehicle segment in India with its flagship UV, the Mahindra Scorpio. To name few SUV manufacturers of India, we can quote Fiat India, Ford Motors, Force Motors, General Motors, Hyundai Motors, Hindustan Motors, Nissan, Porsche, Tata Motors, Toyota and many more.
SUVs have been esteemed by car customers for a variety of reasons. SUVs are best suited for off-road driving than any other vehicles. They can be steered in snow and mud and in areas where roads do not exist. They are spacious and have excellent pulling capacity. The SUV can be termed as the safest vehicle because of its huge size, heavy built structure, stability and tall seating capacity. Full-sized SUVs often features a three row seating. They have greater towing capabilities than conventional cars and can haul trailers and boats.
SUVs are often used in places such as the Australian Outback, Africa, the Middle East, Alaska, Northern Canada, the Western United States, Iceland, South America, and most of Asia that have limited paved roads and require the vehicle to have all-terrain handling, increased range, and storage capacity. The low availability of spare parts and the need to carry out repairs quickly allow model vehicles with the bare minimum of electric and hydraulic systems to predominate. Examples include the basic versions of the Land Rover, Jeep Wrangler, and Toyota Land Cruiser. SUVs intended for use in urbanised areas have traditionally been developed from their more rugged all-terrain counterparts. For example the Hummer H1 was derived from the HMMWV, originally developed for the Military of the United States.
The newer SUVs including the crossovers have lower ground clearance and suspension and are designed mainly for paved roads.
Utility vehicles are in high demand in the local market. Its spacious interior and sturdy exterior have made SUVs one of the fastest selling vehicles of India. This vehicle can accommodate many passengers and is the most favoured while going for a long trip with family and friends. Mahindra & Mahindra is the leader in the utility vehicle segment in India with its flagship UV, the Mahindra Scorpio. To name few SUV manufacturers of India, we can quote Fiat India, Ford Motors, Force Motors, General Motors, Hyundai Motors, Hindustan Motors, Nissan, Porsche, Tata Motors, Toyota and many more.
