SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle)
A car that sits higher on its wheels with larger wheels and a more upright seating position, with or without all-wheel drive.
SUV stands for Sport Utility Vehicle and is a body style with a raised ride height, larger wheels and a more upright seating position than a hatchback or sedan. Many SUVs are available with all-wheel drive, but front-wheel drive is also common; what defines the segment is the taller build, not the drive layout.
The term is broad and covers both compact models (B-SUV) and large family cars (D and E SUV). Examples of compact to mid-size SUVs are the Volkswagen T-Roc, Hyundai Tucson and BMW X3; larger variants are for instance the Volvo XC90 and Audi Q7. An SUV with serious off-road capability is often labelled separately as an off-roader or 4x4.
The taller build gives more overview and a higher step-in, but because of the larger frontal area it usually leads to higher consumption than a comparable hatchback with the same drivetrain. On the spec and rating sheets "SUV" is a factual label; for consumption and luggage space the separate WLTP and VDA figures apply.
See also: Crossover, Hatchback, Drive layout (FWD, RWD, AWD), WLTP, Boot volume (VDA)
Source: Body-style typology (trade literature, Wikipedia Sport utility vehicle); reference date 2026-05-21
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