Question: What exactly does the term “crossover” mean?

Answer: The term “crossover,” as used for automobiles, is probably one of the most often used—and abused—in the automotive industry today. And we have the marketing folks to thanks for that. It’s interesting to note that most of the more formal online dictionaries have no definition of “crossover” as it applies to vehicles. They define—and people use—the term for genetics, musical categorizations, basketball moves, and even elections (does the term “balimbing” ring a bell?)

But for automobiles, the term “crossover” refers to an SUV—often a compact-sized one, but occasionally a subcompact or midsized one as well—that traces its roots to a passenger car, most often a sedan. The practice became widespread in the mid- to late 90s, when RAV4s and CR-Vs were spawned from Corollas and Civics, respectively. Manufacturers, always eagle-eyed for ways to maximize economies of scale, worked with their product development staff, who were pushing for sport utility vehicles that were as easy to drive as a small car.

The result was the crossover. Industry insiders refer to it as platform-sharing. A manufacturer would get the platform (i.e. the steel stamping and other “hard points”) of its small sedan’s structure and bolt in slightly modified, or in some cases, virtually the same suspension and brake components. They would then modify it to give the resulting product higher ground clearance, improved robustness, and/or an all-wheel-drive drivetrain.

The main benefits are twofold: The carmaker produces an SUV at minimal cost and at a relatively rapid turnaround time as compared to creating one from scratch. Today, we see platform-sharing in vehicles as diverse as the Ford Fiesta and Ecosport, the Audi A3 and Q3, the Mitsubishi Lancer and ASX, and the aforementioned Honda and Toyota platform-mates. Even Korean carmakers Hyundai and Kia are sharing platforms between their cars and SUVs. 

Crossovers do not apply to pickups that morph into SUVs, however. Yes, they share the same truck-like ladder frames underneath their SUV bodies,  but they do not fall under the tem “crossover” as today’s automobile marketers and media define it. It’s ironic because these pairing offshoots (i.e. Ford Ranger and Everest, Mitsubishi Strada and Montero Sport, Toyota Hilux and Fortuner, etc.) actually share more exterior, interior, and mechanical parts between them than any number of small car/small SUV pairings out there. But that’s marketing for you.