The Origins of Crossovers and the Main Reason Why They've Become So Popular

Today’s crossovers are described as CUVs, compact SUVs, light-duty SUVs, or SUV-like vehicles that use a unibody construction based on an architecture that is usually shared with passenger cars.

However, there is no official definition, and the term is attributed to a wide range of vehicles, including wagons or hatchbacks with a raised suspension.

Their origins can be traced back to the late 1970s when the Europeans got a taste of the bizarre ‘Range Rover-esque’ Matra-Simca Rancho, and North America saw the birth of the weird yet intriguing AMC Eagle.

These two models were vastly different but combined elements from off-road vehicles and passenger cars. They quickly became popular, laying the foundation for today’s crossovers.

Another vehicle that is credited for the rise in popularity of this segment is the Toyota RAV4, which was introduced in Japan and Europe in 1994 and in North America a year later.

Developed on a modified platform used by the Toyota Corolla and Carina, it coined the term ‘crossover‘ according to many experts. It did that by offering most of the advantages of an SUV such as improved cargo room, higher visibility, increased comfort, and off-road capabilities, combined with the maneuverability and fuel economy of a passenger car.

The blend of these characteristics makes these vehicles extremely desirable for many people who have been rushing to buy them in recent years, a trend that has compelled carmakers to aggressively expand into this segment, withdrawing some once-successful passenger cars along the way.

Buick is a perfect example of that as increasingly poor sales figures for its passenger cars prompted GM to draw the curtain on all its sedans (and the Regal TourX wagon) recently; as a result, Buick now relies on a crossover-only lineup.

Some people despise these vehicles and argue that they are an ugly combination between wagons and 4x4s. To be honest, I was one of them before I got to use a VW Tiguan for a couple of days.

As a wagon owner, I didn’t see much difference in terms of space or cargo room, but I did enjoy the higher visibility and the fact that it maneuvered much like a Golf. What I found particularly pleasing, though, was just how easy and comfortable it was to get in and out of the car, compared to my car, which happens to have a factory sport suspension.

Believe it or not, studies have shown that this is the main reason why crossovers are selling like hotcakes. Sure, sufficient cargo room helps, a less-cramped cabin is nice, as is the heightened visibility, but the ease of access is what ultimately makes the difference, according to researchers, and I can attest to that.

Most people are not fanatics who worships sports cars; they see vehicles for what they are - metal boxes with wheels that take you from A to B – so comfort and ease of access are their top priority. That’s exactly what these vehicles offer and why they have become so popular.