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What is a Crossover SUV?
A crossover SUV is a vehicle with a sport utility vehicle appearance, but one that has been built upon a fuel-efficient unibody construction. Crossover SUVs are also referred to as CUVs, and are among the most popular vehicles seen today. These SUVs are built to provide comfort, luxury, and efficiency, all at an affordable cost. Every vehicle manufacturer has a crossover SUV in their vehicle line ranging from high priced Cadillacs to lower priced and affordable Saturns and Fords.
Crossover SUVs have been around since the 1950's when the first actual crossover model was a Moskovitch 410. The AMC Eagle was a crossover that is familiar to many people. The idea of building a vehicle with an SUV appearance on a car-like construction has been employed for many years. It is only recently that crossover SUVs have made a name for themselves. The term crossover was derived from the fact that the vehicle is a cross between an SUV and a car. Though it is not a ubiquitous term, it is widely recognized in the automotive industry and more people are becoming exposed to the term. Crossovers have gained popularity and lots of attention because they are one of the most fuel-efficient family-sized vehicles available.
Crossovers have many benefits over traditional SUVs. They have been specially designed to improve handling. These vehicles that are build on a car-based construction have a lower center of gravity. This reduces the chances of rollovers. Crossover SUVs are much more stable and responsive that the traditional truck-based SUV. This new class of SUVs is much lighter in weight than other SUVs. The light weight allows crossover SUVs to be more fuel efficient. Many of these crossovers are being built on the base of small economy cars. Using this method of construction makes the vehicle lighter. Light-duty vehicles tend to be cheaper to build, and the cost of crossover SUVs is much lower than one would expect. These vehicles are efficient, safe, and affordable.
Most manufacturers have created and marketed a crossover SUV. The popularity of these vehicles is increasing as more drivers make the switch from traditional SUVs and sedans to the economic and efficient crossover. There are a number of makes and models available. The top selling and highest rated crossover SUVs on the market include the Acura MDX, Honda Pilot, CR-V and Element, Ford Escape, Toyota Highlander, Saturn Outlook, and the Nissan Murano. These are only a few of the available crossover vehicles and others are still being introduced to the market.
Top Models in 2008
Crossover SUV's are some of the most common and popular vehicles. A crossover SUV is a vehicle that has an SUV appearance with an efficient and economical unibody construction. These crossover SUV's, also known as CUV's, are increasingly gaining popularity for convenience, efficiency, comfort, and cost. Almost every manufacturer has come out with a crossover SUV, and these vehicles are earning higher safety ratings and higher sales than traditional SUV's.
The best selling and most popular crossover SUV's on the market include the Acura MDX, Chevy Equinox, Ford Escape, Honda CR-V and Element, Mercury Mariner, Saturn Outlook, and Toyota Highlander. There are many more makes and models available as a crossover, but these are ranked the highest in sales. Not only high in sales, these same vehicles are among the highest rated in price and safety reviews. The Saturn Outlook and Ford Escape place themselves on the lower end of the price list. These great crossover SUV's can be purchased at an affordable cost without foregoing options and luxury. Chevy and Mercury are mid-price range, and the Acura, Honda, and
Toyota
are in the higher range.
Most crossover SUV's are standard equipped with a number of features. A standard feature package includes a 5-speed transmission (automatic or manual), power packages, anti-lock braking system, navigational systems, entertainment systems that include CD and DVD players, and tinted privacy glass. Each manufacturer offers optional upgrades that differ slightly from others. The base equipment is generally the same and comparable. Buyers can add as many options and features as desired. Most manufacturers offer similar features, and it should take little comparison to figure out what the best deal will be.
Safety is the number one issue with all vehicles on the road. These crossover SUV's are among the safest vehicles being driven. They are built lightweight and with unibody construction that allows the vehicle to have the sporty SUV appearance with the car-like ride and handling. The above-mentioned vehicles are all on the top of the list for safety tests and results. Crash tests show that these vehicles are the safest in the crossover SUV field. They surpass others in safety standards and features and have been voted to be the best all around crossover SUV's. The listed makes and models will prove to be efficient, safe, full of features, and affordable. Crossover SUV's are still making their mark in the motor industry. As they improve on design and optional features, these vehicles will be seen everywhere. Crossover SUV's are the safest and most fuel-efficient vehicles on the road.
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