Editing SUV (section)

==Definitions==
There is no universally accepted definition of the sport utility vehicle.{{sfn|Bradsher|2002|page=4}} Dictionaries, automotive experts, and journalists use varying wordings and defining characteristics, in addition to regional variations of usage by both the media and the general public. The auto industry also has not settled on one definition of the SUV.{{sfn|Bradsher|2002|page=4}}

=== American English ===
Automotive websites' descriptions of SUVs range from specifically "combining car-like appointments and wagon practicality with steadfast off-road capability" with "chair-height seats and picture-window visibility"<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Bumbeck |first=Mike|title=Utility in Style – The 1972 Jeep Wagoneer blends an iconic design with modern driveability |date=27 August 2024 |url= https://www.hemmings.com/stories/utility-in-style-1972-jeep-wagoneer/ |magazine=Hemmings Classic Car |access-date=1 October 2024}}</ref> to the more general "nearly anything with available all-wheel drive and raised ground clearance".<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.autotrader.com/car-shopping/suv-vs-crossover-whats-difference-215843 |title=SUV vs. Crossover: What's the Difference? |first=Russ |last=Heaps |date=25 March 2022 |website=autotrader.com |access-date=1 October 2024}}</ref> It is also suggested that the term "SUV" has replaced "jeep" as a general term for off-road vehicles.<ref name=Language>{{cite book|last=Glucksberg |first=Sam |title=Understanding Figurative Language: From Metaphor to Idioms |year=2001|publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=9780198027126 |page=112 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=rKX7qcQerLcC&q=In+recent+years,+the+term+SUV+has+come+into+the+popular+lexicon+to+replace+Jeep,+a+name+that+originated+during+World+War+II+as+slang+for&pg=PA112 |via=Google Books |access-date=1 October 2024}}</ref>

American dictionary definitions for SUVs include:
* "rugged automotive vehicle similar to a station wagon but built on a [[Light truck|light-truck]] chassis"<ref name=MWSUV>{{cite dictionary|url= https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/SUV |title=Definition of SUV|dictionary=Merriam-Webster |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180105081637/https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/SUV |archive-date=5 January 2018 |url-status=live |access-date=26 October 2020}}</ref>
* "automobile similar to a station wagon but built on a light truck frame"<ref name=MWfull>{{cite dictionary|url= https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sport-utility%20vehicle |title=Definition of Sport-utility Vehicle|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171208040936/https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sport-utility%20vehicle |archive-date=8 December 2017 |url-status=live |date=2018-01-03|dictionary=Merriam-Webster|quote=an automobile similar to a station wagon but built on a light truck frame |access-date=26 October 2020}}</ref>
* "large vehicle that is designed to be used on rough surfaces but that is often used on city roads or highways"<ref name=MWSUV/>
* "passenger vehicle similar to a station wagon but with the chassis of a small truck and, usually, four-wheel drive"<ref>{{cite book|title=Webster's New World College Dictionary |edition=Fourth |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt}}</ref>

=== British English ===
In British English, the terms "4x4" (pronounced "four-by-four"), "jeep", four wheel drive, or "off-road vehicle" are generally used instead of "sport utility vehicle".{{citation needed|date=January 2025}} The sardonic term "Chelsea tractor" is also commonly used, due to the perceived popularity of the vehicles with urban residents of [[Chelsea, London]], and their likeness to vehicles used by farmers.<ref>{{cite web|title=Stereotype of 'Chelsea tractor' reflects reality of urban SUV sales, says report |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/07/stereotype-of-chelsea-tractor-reflects-reality-of-urban-suv-sales-says-report |work=The Guardian |date=7 April 2021 |access-date=9 January 2023}}</ref>

The ''[[Collins English Dictionary]]'' defines a sport utility vehicle as a "powerful vehicle with four-wheel drive that can be driven over rough ground. The abbreviation SUV is often used."<ref>{{cite book|title=Collins Cobuild Advanced English Dictionary|url= https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/sport-utility-vehicle |publisher=HarperCollins |access-date=10 November 2019}}</ref>

=== Other countries ===
In Europe, the term SUV is generally used for road-oriented vehicles, described as "J-segment" by the [[European Commission]].<ref name="EEC Merger Procedure">{{cite web |date=17 March 1999 |title=Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 - Merger Procedure |url= http://ec.europa.eu/competition/mergers/cases/decisions/m1406_en.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327081429/http://ec.europa.eu/competition/mergers/cases/decisions/m1406_en.pdf |archive-date=2009-03-27 |url-status=live |access-date=2019-03-03 |website=ec.europa.eu |publisher=Office for Official Publications of the European Communities |location=Luxemburg |page=2 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=1 January 2011 |title=Car prices within the European Union / Prix des voitures au sein de l'Union européenne / Autopreise in der europäischen Union |url=http://ec.europa.eu/competition/sectors/motor_vehicles/prices/2011_07_full.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111106234003/http://ec.europa.eu/competition/sectors/motor_vehicles/prices/2011_07_full.pdf |archive-date=2011-11-06 |url-status=live |access-date=2019-03-03 |website=ec.europa.eu |publisher=Publications Office of the European Union |location=Brussels |language=en-uk, fr, de}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Impact on the Competitiveness of the European Automotive Industry of Potential FTA with India and ASEAN |url=http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/automotive/files/projects/report_fta_india_asean_en.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 April 2013 |website=europa.eu |page=8 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130429040531/http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/automotive/files/projects/report_fta_india_asean_en.pdf}}</ref> "Four-by-four" or the brand name of the vehicle is typically used for off-road-oriented vehicles. Similarly, in New Zealand, vehicles designed for off-road use are typically referred to as "four-wheel drives" instead of SUVs.

=== Government regulations ===
In the United States, many government regulations simply have categories for "off-highway vehicles" which are loosely defined and often result in SUVs (along with pick-up trucks and [[minivans]]) being classified as [[light trucks]].{{sfn|Bradsher|2002|page=4}}<ref>{{cite web|url= https://info.ornl.gov/sites/publications/Files/Pub69643.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180106114928/https://info.ornl.gov/sites/publications/Files/Pub69643.pdf |archive-date=2018-01-06 |url-status=live |title=Transportation Energy Data Book|first1=Stacy C.|last1=Davis|first2=Susan E.|last2=Williams|first3=Robert G.|last3=Boundy|publisher=Oak Ridge National Laboratory |pages=3–5 |edition=35th |year=2016 |access-date=25 July 2021}}</ref> For example, [[corporate average fuel economy]] (CAFE) regulations previously included "permit greater cargo-carrying capacity than passenger carrying volume" in the definition for trucks, resulting in cars with removable rear seats, like the PT Cruiser, being classified as light trucks.<ref name="carortruck">{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=c5xNff-XPWoC&q=Definitions+for+passenger+cars+and+trucks+people+ask+how+can&pg=PA263 |page=263|title=Hybrid Vehicles: and the Future of Personal Transportation |first=Allen |last=Fuhs |publisher=CRC Press|isbn=9781420075342|year=2008 |access-date=2019-04-08}}</ref>

This classification as trucks allowed SUVs to be regulated less strictly than passenger cars under the [[Energy Policy and Conservation Act]] for fuel economy, and the [[Clean Air Act (United States)|Clean Air Act]] for emissions.<ref>{{cite web|last=Yacobucci|first=Brent D.|url= https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metacrs5621/m1/1/high_res_d/RS20298_2003Apr17.pdf|title=Sport Utility Vehicles, Mini-Vans, and Light Trucks: An Overview of Fuel Economy and Emissions Standards|publisher=CRS Report for Congress|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170816003557/https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metacrs5621/m1/1/high_res_d/RS20298_2003Apr17.pdf |archive-date=2017-08-16|url-status=live|date=2003-04-17|access-date=2011-12-23}}</ref> However, from 2004 onwards, the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency]] (EPA) began to hold sport utility vehicles to the same tailpipe emissions standards as cars for criteria pollutants, though not greenhouse gas emissions standards as they were not set until 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-08/documents/peg.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151014151834/http://www2.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-08/documents/peg.pdf |archive-date=2015-10-14 |url-status=live|title=The Plain English Guide to the CleanAirAct|publisher=United States Environmental Protection Agency|page=8|date=April 2007|access-date=2017-12-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/light-duty-vehicle-emissions|title= Light Duty Vehicle Emissions|date=June 29, 2022|accessdate=January 10, 2023|quote=EPA first set greenhouse gas emission standards for vehicles in 2010, which took effect in MY 2012. }}</ref> In 2011, the CAFE regulations were changed to classify small, two-wheel-drive SUVs as passenger cars.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/facts/m/2012_fotw726.html |title=Fact #726: SUVs: Are They Cars or Trucks? |work=Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE) U.S. Department of Energy |date=2012-05-07 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140112224330/http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/facts/m/2012_fotw726.html |archive-date=2014-01-12 |access-date=2014-01-12}}</ref>

However, the licensing and traffic enforcement regulations in the United States vary from state to state, and an SUV may be classified as a car in some states but as a truck in others.<ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=c5xNff-XPWoC&q=SUV+classified+as+trucks&pg=PA7|page=7|title=Hybrid Vehicles: and the Future of Personal Transportation |first=Allen |last=Fuhs |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=9781420075342 |year=2008 |access-date=2017-12-06}}</ref> For industry production statistics, SUVs are counted in the light truck product segment.<ref name="frost&sullivan">{{cite press release|url= http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/production-of-small-and-compact-suvs-shifts-to-top-gear-in-north-america-finds-frost--sullivan-240075621.html|title=Production of Small and Compact SUVs Shifts to Top Gear in North America, Finds Frost & Sullivan |website=prnewswire.com |date=2014-01-14 |access-date=2014-01-14}}</ref>

In India, all SUVs are classified in the "Utility Vehicle" category per the [[Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers]] (SIAM) definitions and carry a 27% excise tax.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.firstpost.com/business/budget-2013-why-suv-found-special-mention-this-budget-day-643760.html |title=Budget 2013: Why SUV found special mention this budget day |first=Sindhu|last=Bhattacharya |date=2013-12-20 |newspaper=Firstpost |access-date=2017-12-06}}</ref> Those that are {{convert|4|m|ft|0|abbr=off}} long, have a {{cvt|1500|cc|cuin|0}} engine or larger, along with {{cvt|170|mm|1}} of ground clearance, are subject to a 30% excise duty.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://profit.ndtv.com/news/industries/article-suv-tax-creating-uneven-playing-field-mahindra-321727 |title=SUV tax creating uneven playing field: Mahindra |date=2013-05-02 |publisher=NDTV |access-date=2017-12-06}}</ref>

In Australia, SUV sales were helped by having lower [[import duty|import duties]] than passenger cars. Up until January 2010, SUVs were subject to a 5% import tariff, compared with 10% for passenger cars.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://blog.autopeople.com.au/2008/11/tariff-reduction-will-soften-price-rises/|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090106180226/http://blog.autopeople.com.au/2008/11/tariff-reduction-will-soften-price-rises/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2009-01-06 |title=Tariff reduction will soften price rises |website=Blog.autopeople.com.au |date=2008-11-18 |access-date=2010-11-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.carpoint.com.au/news/2010/matters-of-great-import-17863|title=Matters of great import |publisher=Carpoint |date=2010-01-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016074751/http://www.carpoint.com.au/news/2010/matters-of-great-import-17863|archive-date=2015-10-16 |access-date=2024-01-07}}</ref>

==== Higher parking fee ====
In February 2024, voters in Paris mandated a triple parking charge rate for SUVs, citing environmental impact and street capacity; this followed similar decisions in [[Lyon]] and [[Tübingen]] with similar ordinances being considered by London, Brussels and Amsterdam.<ref>{{cite news |title=Paris to SUVs: Get off my streets! |work=Politico | date=6 February 2024 |first=Tommaso |last=Lecco  |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/paris-suvs-get-off-streets-france-poluution-car-referendum-environment/}}</ref>