“SUV” stands for “sport utility vehicle.” An SUV is a vehicle combining the interior space of a minivan with a pickup truck’s towing capacity and off-road attitude. This combination makes SUVs ideal for outdoor excursions.
The 1935 Chevrolet Suburban Carryall is considered the first SUV. The Suburban line has been in production ever since, making it the longest-running production SUV. Designed as a commuter vehicle to move people and luggage, the original Suburban didn’t have 4-wheel drive (4WD) like many newer SUVs.
The lines are blurry between wagons and SUVs. Purists draw a line between body-on-frame SUVs and car-based unibody SUVs, known as “crossover SUVs” or “crossovers.” These vehicles use SUV styling but only have modest off-road ability, ground clearance, and other related features.
