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86-546: The Mercury Mountaineer is a mid-size luxury sport utility vehicle (SUV) that was sold by Mercury from 1996 until 2010. Sharing many of its features with the Ford Explorer , the vehicles were virtually identical in terms of hardware. Externally, they were styled somewhat differently, and the Mountaineer was positioned with a more upscale interior, with the Mountaineer's MSRP coming in at $ 1,000–$ 6,000 more than

172-465: A light truck chassis; however, broader definitions consider any vehicle with off-road design features to be an SUV. A crossover SUV is often defined as an SUV built with a unibody construction (as with passenger cars); however, the designations are increasingly blurred because of the capabilities of the vehicles, the labelling by marketers, and the electrification of new models. The predecessors to SUVs date back to military and low-volume models from

258-447: A software controlled electromagnetic multi-disc (also called multi-plate) clutch pack and a planetary or bevel geared center differential together. The first prototype system was crude, and its original clutch pack controller was a rheostat . The geared center differential would be used to allow the front and rear drive shafts to turn at different rotational speeds so as to eliminate any "drivetrain binding" or "torque windup" while

344-489: A 292 hp 4.6L Modular 24-valve V8 as an option (replacing the previous 16-valve version). V6 engines were paired with a 5-speed 5R55W automatic transmission; V8 engines received an all-new 6R 6-speed automatic. During its production, the third-generation Mountaineer saw relatively few functional changes. For 2007, "MOUNTAINEER" badging was returned to the doors (after a four-year absence). For 2008, side-curtain airbags were made standard. For 2009, trailer-sway control

430-693: A 30% excise duty. In Australia, SUV sales were helped by having lower import duties than passenger cars. Up until January 2010, SUVs were subject to a 5% import tariff, compared with 10% for passenger cars. 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. Many years after most passenger cars had transitioned to unibody construction, most SUVs continued to use

516-460: A breakthrough in the multi-disc clutch's control system. Development of closed-loop control smoothed its operation. Using it, the multi-disc clutch made smaller adjustments, but did it more frequently. The microprocessor would review input from sensors every 20 milliseconds and decide if the front axle needed more torque. Using this technique, the unit's computer watched for drive wheel slip. If it sensed as little as half an rpm difference between

602-532: A coil-sprung independent front suspension . The relatively compact Niva is considered a predecessor to the crossover SUV and combines a hatchback-like passenger car body with full-time four-wheel drive, low-range gearing, and lockable center differential. Nonetheless, unibody SUVs remained rare until the 1984 Jeep Cherokee (XJ) was introduced and became a sales success. The introduction of the 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee resulted in all Jeep SUV models using unibody construction, with many other brands following suit since

688-468: A common, rear-wheel drive vehicle, any 4WD (four-wheel drive) needed many essential extra components, including a transfer case , a second differential, and constant-velocity joints for the driven front axle—which were expensive due to the precision involved in this required manufacturing gears and other specialized parts. Before World War   II, these were produced in the United States by only

774-409: A crash than regular cars and that SUV roofs were more likely to cave in on passengers than in other cars, resulting in increased harm to passengers. Between 1991 and 2001, the United States saw a 150% increase in sport-utility vehicle rollover deaths. In 2001, though roll-overs constituted just 3% of vehicle crashes overall, they caused over 30% of occupant fatalities in crashes; and in crashes where

860-483: A day, with electric cars reducing oil demand by under 100,000 barrels a day. Whereas SUVs can be electrified , or converted to run on a variety of alternative fuels , including hydrogen , their (manufacturing) emissions will always be larger than smaller electric cars. On average, SUVs consume about a quarter more energy than medium-size cars. Furthermore, the vast majority of these vehicles are not converted to use alternative fuels. Between 2010 and 2018 SUVs were

946-400: A few specialized firms with limited production capacity. Due to the increase in demand for parts for the war effort, in the spring of 1942 Ford , Dodge , and Chevrolet joined in fabricating these parts in mass quantities, boosting their production more than 100-fold. An early usage of the term was the 1947 Crosley CC Four Sport Utility model, which used a convertible wagon body style and

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1032-510: A gas that is linked to global warming. According to the International Energy Agency , from 2010 SUVs have been the second-largest contributor to the increase in global CO 2 emissions, second only to the power sector. SUVs were responsible for all of the 3.3 million barrels a day growth in oil demand from passenger cars between 2010 and 2018, whereas efficiency improvements in smaller cars saved over 2 million barrels

1118-892: A long-bodied version of a full-size SUV, which is called an "extended-length SUV" like the Ford Expedition EL and the Chevrolet Suburban . The additional length is used to provide extra space for rear passengers or cargo. As per the full-size SUVs they are based on, most extended-length SUVs are built on dedicated platforms, full-sized pickups ( 1⁄2 ton ), or heavy-duty pickups (3⁄4 ton or more). Extended-length SUVs are mostly sold in North America but may also be exported to other markets in small numbers. Some SUVs or crossovers with sloping rear rooflines are marketed as "coupe crossover SUVs" or "coupe SUVs", even though they have four side doors for passenger access to

1204-402: A paper-based material mounted atop metal . The paper offered a better coefficient of friction and solved the slippage problem. BorgWarner's automatic transmission components division is credited for the solution. However, heat proved to be a persistent issue. Excessive heat buildup would burn out the new clutch material. To solve the problem, engineers studied the clutch's torque capacity. It

1290-410: A point where it would allow the front and rear drive shafts to turn at different rotational speeds on its own, without the aid of a planetary or bevel geared center differential. In Auto mode the new software algorithms allowed the multi-disc clutch pack's friction and clutch discs to slip as needed, simulating a planetary or bevel geared center differential, making a geared differential redundant. Thus,

1376-461: A separate body-on-frame method, due to being based on the chassis from a light truck , commercial vehicle , pickup truck , or off-road vehicle . The first mass-produced unibody four-wheel-drive passenger car was the Russian 1955 GAZ-M20 Pobeda M-72 , which could be considered the first crossover car. The 1977 Lada Niva was the first off-road vehicle to use both a unibody construction and

1462-462: A study by the U.S.-based IIHS found that, of a sample of 79 crashes from three urban areas in Michigan, SUVs caused more serious injuries compared to cars when impacts occurred at greater than 31 km/h (19 mph). The IIHS noted the sample size of the study was small and that more research is needed. The popularity of SUVs contributed to an increase in pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. during

1548-507: A truck in others. For industry production statistics, SUVs are counted in the light truck product segment. 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. Those that are 4 metres (13 feet) long, have a 1,500 cc (92 cu in) engine or larger, along with 170 mm (6.7 in) of ground clearance, are subject to

1634-437: Is a car classification that combines elements of road-going passenger cars with features from off-road vehicles , such as raised ground clearance and four-wheel drive . There is no commonly agreed-upon definition of an SUV, and usage of the term varies between countries. Thus, it is "a loose term that traditionally covers a broad range of vehicles with four-wheel drive." Some definitions claim that an SUV must be built on

1720-415: Is also suggested that the term "SUV" has replaced "jeep" as a general term for off-road vehicles. American dictionary definitions for SUVs include: 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". The sardonic term "Chelsea tractor" is also commonly used, due to the perceived popularity of

1806-904: Is generally used for road-oriented vehicles, described as "J-segment" by the European Commission . "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. 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 . For example, corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) regulations previously included "permit greater cargo-carrying capacity than passenger carrying volume" in

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1892-457: Is innovative due to a vehicle equipped as such, can continue to move forward with only one wheel having traction. AdvanceTrac's four-wheel electronic traction control system uses the vehicle's four-wheel four- sensor four-channel anti-lock braking system (ABS) and is programmed with additional anti-slip logic to simulate differential locks via aggressively " brake locking" either the front or rear drive axle differentials. By ABS brake locking

1978-440: Is less than a quarter of what it was for 2004 models. With ESC dramatically reducing rollover risk, the inherent advantages offered by SUVs' greater size, weight, and height emerge more clearly. Today's SUVs have the lowest driver death rate of any vehicle type." The high danger for cyclists and pedestrians of being seriously injured or even killed by SUV drivers has caused some public protests against SUVs in urban areas. In 2020,

2064-422: Is sometimes defined as a crossover being built using a unibody platform (the type used by most passenger cars), while an SUV is built using a body-on-frame platform (the type used by off-road vehicles and light trucks). However, these definitions are often blurred in practice, since unibody vehicles are also often referred to as SUVs. Also, crossover is a relatively recent term and early unibody SUVs (such as

2150-590: Is therefore unrelated to the design of later SUVs. Several models of carryall wagons began to be offered with four-wheel drive, beginning in 1949 when the Willys Jeep Station Wagon introduced the option of four-wheel drive. Four-wheel-drive versions of the Chevrolet Suburban were introduced for 1955, followed by the International Harvester Travelall in 1956 (credited as being the first full-size SUV) and

2236-649: Is used in. For example, the Ford Expedition used a new auto lock feature in Auto mode. Auto mode with auto lock was not available on the Explorer at that time. Predominantly, Explorer was not equipped with Two High mode except in the 1995-1996 model years. In model years 1998-up no Two High was available. Only Auto, Four High and Four Low modes were offered. Two High mode was unique to the Expedition, though it

2322-898: The Power Wagon Town Wagon in 1957. ControlTrac ControlTrac made its debut on January 12, 1995, for the 1995 model year on the second generation Ford Explorer mid-size sport utility vehicle . A heavy-duty version of ControlTrac was introduced in 1996 for the 1997 model year on the first generation Ford Expedition full-size sport utility vehicle. *Does not have Four Low mode with low range off road reduction gearing. The fifth generation 2011 Ford Explorer (U502) replaced automatic ControlTrac four-wheel drive with automatic Intelligent four-wheel drive and Terrain Management. The idea for an electronically controlled four-wheel drive system emerged at BorgWarner in 1985. BorgWarner's original design called for using both

2408-498: The 1984 Jeep Cherokee) are rarely called crossovers. Due to these inconsistencies, the term SUV is often used as a catch-all for both crossovers and SUVs. Outside of the United States, the term crossover tends to be used for C-segment ( compact ) or smaller vehicles, with large unibody vehicles—such as the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class , BMW X7 , and Range Rover —usually referred to as SUVs rather than crossovers. In

2494-401: The 1990s and early 2000s was partly due to buyers perceiving that SUVs provide greater safety for occupants, due to their larger size and raised ride height. Regarding the safety of other road users, SUVs are exempted from U.S. regulation stating that a passenger car bumper must protect the area between 16 and 20 inches (41 and 51 cm) above the ground. This often increases the damage to

2580-669: The 2002 Mountaineer would appear across the Mercury line during the 2000s, including the Grand Marquis, Montego , Milan , Monterey , and Mariner . The second-generation Mountaineer carried over the 210 hp 4.0L SOHC V6 as a standard; a 239 hp 4.6L V8 (shared with the Grand Marquis) replaced the previous 5.0L V8. A 5-speed automatic transmission was paired with both engines, with either part-time four-wheel drive or full-time all-wheel drive offered. In contrast to

2666-559: The 2010s, alongside other factors such as distracted and drunk driving. A 2021 study by the University of Illinois Springfield showed that SUVs are 8 times more likely to kill children in a collision than passenger cars, and multiple times more lethal to adult pedestrians and cyclists. SUVs generally have poorer fuel efficiency than smaller cars, and thus contribute more to environmental degradation and global warming . SUVs emit about 700 megatonnes of carbon dioxide per year,

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2752-540: The 205 hp 4.0L V6 SOHC was offered as an option. Like the Ford Explorer, the V8 engine was mated to either rear-wheel drive or full time all-wheel drive (viscous coupling center differential); part-time four-wheel drive was unavailable with the V8 engine. The V6 Mountaineer or Explorer were offered either as rear-wheel drive or ControlTrac with "Auto", "High" and "Low" modes. The first-generation Mercury Mountaineer

2838-535: The Bravada with the use of model-specific trim and a dedicated all-wheel drive powertrain (in place of part-time four-wheel drive). For 1993, Jeep briefly revived the long-running Grand Wagoneer nameplate as part of the Jeep Grand Cherokee model line, using woodgrain exterior trim and a leather interior; limited sales led to its cancellation after a single model year. As a response to the Bravada and

2924-479: The Explorer, the Mountaineer adopted the chrome waterfall grille styling of the Grand Marquis. While the taillights were model-specific, the rear hatch and bumper were shared with the European-export version of the Explorer. As part of a 1998 model revision, the Mountaineer was given a model-specific grille and headlights, larger wheels, and a new rear hatch design. The 1997-2001 Mercury Mountaineer shares

3010-471: The Explorer. It was last redesigned for the 2006 model year with a new frame, looking very similar to its previous model. Some controversy resulted after the media highlighted a number of rollovers involving Explorers and Mountaineers fitted with Firestone tires. The Mountaineer has been praised for its excellent handling and stability. The Mountaineer was never sold in Canada. As part of the discontinuation of

3096-840: The Ford Explorer, the Aviator now shares no visible body panels with its Ford counterpart. In May 2000, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) contacted Ford and Firestone about the high incidence of tire failure on first generation Mercury Mountaineers , first and second generation Ford Explorers , and Mazda Navajo 3-doors fitted with Firestone tires. Ford investigated and found that several models of 15-inch (381 mm) Firestone tires ( ATX , ATX II , and Wilderness AT ) had very high failure rates, especially those made at Firestone's Decatur, Illinois plant. Sport utility vehicle A sport utility vehicle ( SUV )

3182-613: The Ford Fusion and Ford Escape has seen only detail changes for 2011 (the Ford Crown Victoria had already ended retail sales in North America), the Ford Explorer underwent a major redesign for 2011; along with several major changes to the model line, the Explorer no longer shared a body with any divisional counterparts. Since 2020 production, Lincoln has marketed a revived Lincoln Aviator. Though again based on

3268-532: The Grand Wagoneer, Ford introduced the 1993 Ford Explorer Limited in 1992. In contrast to the outdoors-themed Explorer Eddie Bauer, the Limited was geared towards on-road driving; it was fitted with all-wheel drive in place of traditional four-wheel drive. The Limited was also distinguished by monochromatic body trim, body-color bumpers, and chrome wheels. As part of the redesign of the Explorer for 1995,

3354-619: The Limited remained part of the Explorer lineup, with the segment gaining additional competitors through the use of badge engineering. For 1996, the Acura SLX (Isuzu Trooper), Infiniti QX4 (Nissan Pathfinder), and the larger Lexus LX450 (Toyota Land Cruiser) were introduced together. As these brands, along with Oldsmobile, competed more directly with luxury brands than the Ford model line, Ford Motor Company sought to develop SUVs for its Lincoln-Mercury division. To minimize model overlap, Mercury

3440-607: The Mercury brand, production of the Mountaineer ended in late 2010. In 1990, General Motors introduced the Oldsmobile Bravada sport-utility vehicle, derived from the four-door Chevrolet S-10 Blazer . Though far lower in price, the Bravada was marketed as a competitor to the Range Rover (and the later Land Rover Discovery ) and Toyota Land Cruiser . While sharing its body with the Blazer, Oldsmobile differentiated

3526-512: The Mountaineer received different front fenders, hood, front and rear bumpers, liftgate, headlamps and taillamps. Previewed by a concept vehicle at the 2000 Los Angeles Auto Show , the 2002 Mercury Mountaineer marked the introduction of a new design language for the Mercury line. The traditional Mercury silver waterfall grille was made rectangular (along with headlamps wrapping into the hood), introducing silver-trimmed taillamps and satin-silver wheels and badging. In various forms, style elements of

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3612-780: The Mountaineer would go on to become the third-best selling vehicle in the Mercury division, behind only the Sable and the Grand Marquis . At its launch, the Mercury Mountaineer was closest in appearance to the Ford Explorer XLT, though trimmed between the Explorer Eddie Bauer and Explorer Limited. To differentiate it from its Ford counterpart, the Mountaineer was styled with a distinct dark-gray lower body color scheme; while visually similar to

3698-575: The Sable and Grand Marquis); ten years later, the model line had become the slowest-selling vehicle of the brand. Following the June 2010 announcement by Ford Motor Company to shelve the Mercury brand, 2010 would be the end of Mountaineer production; the final vehicle was produced on October 1, 2010. Unlike the Milan, Mariner, and Grand Marquis, the Mountaineer was not produced for a short 2011 model year. While

3784-584: The United Kingdom, a crossover is sometimes defined as a hatchback model with raised ride height and SUV-like styling features. The smallest size class of SUVs is the "mini SUV". In Japan, SUVs under 3,400 mm (133.9 in)—such as the Mitsubishi Pajero Mini —are included in the kei car category and therefore attract lower taxes. Many recent vehicles labeled as mini SUVs are technically subcompact crossovers and are built on

3870-474: The center multi-disc clutch to behave like a geared center differential, such that "driveline binding" and "torque windup" do not occur. In the early 2000s, ControlTrac was updated and introduced in 2002 with more advanced software programming, building on the system's artificial intelligence . The four-wheel drive system's updated artificial intelligence allowed the system to predict traction loss before it happened, so that torque can be transferred before it

3956-436: The chassis of the four-door Ford Explorer, following its 1995 redesign. Though heavily based upon the first-generation Ford Ranger , the sport-utility vehicles are wider and are based on a separate wheelbase. As with the Ford Explorer, the Mountaineer is fitted with fully independent wishbone front suspension. For 1997, the Mercury Mountaineer was fitted with a 215 hp 5.0L V8 with a 4-speed automatic transmission. For 1998,

4042-740: The definition for trucks, resulting in cars with removable rear seats, like the PT Cruiser, being classified as light trucks. 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 for emissions. However, from 2004 onwards, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began to hold sport utility vehicles to

4128-478: The design of modern SUVs was the 1940 Humber Heavy Utility , a four-wheel-drive off-road vehicle built on the chassis of the Humber Super Snipe passenger car. The most prohibitive initial factors to the potential civilian popularity of an SUV-like car were their cost and the availability of certain critical parts. Before the war, adding four-wheel drive to a car almost doubled its cost. Compared to

4214-486: The discontinued Aviator, including the option of a DVD-based navigation system with voice control (not offered on any Explorer until 2008). As an option, the Mountaineer Premier offered power-retracting running boards (a feature adopted from the larger Lincoln Navigator, not introduced on the Explorer until 2007). The Mountaineer carried over the 210 hp 4.0L SOHC V6 as the standard engine, introducing

4300-435: The entire back end of a station wagon. Input data came from variable reluctance sensors installed at the front drive shaft, rear drive shaft, throttle, brakes, and steering. The goal was to control clutch actuation by controlling current. However, as the development process continued, engineers at BorgWarner discovered that, with clever software programming , they could control the variable electromagnetic multi-disc clutch to

4386-432: The environment quickly burned out the clutches. But as engineers gained knowledge, the clutches improved. Eventually, the engineers were able to improve the clutch packs enough that the test vehicles could be virtually destroyed from hard off-road use, but the clutch packs would still look good. ControlTrac has different drive modes as well as different operational behavior for those drive modes depending on which vehicle it

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4472-541: The five-door Ford Explorer. Ending its chassis commonality with the Ford Ranger pickup truck, the Explorer/Mountaineer adopted a dedicated platform, introducing four-wheel independent suspension to the model lines. Though sharing much of the same body (from the firewall rearward), designers began to give the model line an identity distinct from the Explorer. While sharing the same roofline and doors,

4558-522: The front and rear axles, it sent a power signal to the multi-disc clutch. The clutch engaged, diverting torque to the front axle in 10 percent increments, until it alleviated the drive wheel slip. As a result, the system could control runaway drive wheel speed in as little as a third of a wheel revolution. Early in the development, BorgWarner had employed a sintered bronze clutch material that exhibited an operating condition commonly known as "stick slip." The slippage had inspired engineers to replace it with

4644-476: The front and rear differentials, up to 100 percent of torque can be sent to any one drive wheel, allowing the vehicle to keep moving, even with two of its drive wheels (one front, one rear) completely off the ground. ControlTrac II was a Ford four-wheel drive system based on a viscous coupling unit . The viscous coupling replaced the typical center differential used in four-wheel drive applications. The system worked normally in front wheel drive but in addition to

4730-466: The front drive shaft to turn, so that it can monitor and compare the rotational speed of both the front and rear drive shafts. If the rear drive shaft starts to turn faster than the front, the system interprets that (along with input from other sensors) as traction loss. When traction loss is detected, torque is sent forward to the front differential in 10 percent increments, via the center multi-disc clutch. As it does so, intelligent control software allows

4816-495: The front wheels being driven, a shaft is powered that runs to the viscous coupling in the rear. If the front wheels slip, the viscous coupling progressively releases torque to the rear wheels. Additionally, the ControlTrac II system provided a mechanical lock of four-wheel drive though there was no low range provided by the system. ControlTrac II has since been replaced by the automatic Intelligent four-wheel drive system,

4902-402: The geared differential was abandoned and therefore never included on the final production version of the four-wheel drive system. We asked ourselves: Why do we need a differential? There was all of that iron, all that weight, all that cost. And here, we saw that we could control the clutch pack very precisely without it. The design team gained confidence in their concept in 1989, when they made

4988-404: The improved Two High mode could help increase fuel economy up to half-a-mile per gallon of gasoline. In Two High mode, torque is routed to the rear drive wheels only, imitating rear-wheel drive . Auto mode was featured on both Explorer and Expedition and allows for all- weather , full-time four-wheel drive capability on pavement as needed. In Auto mode, the engine's torque is normally routed to

5074-540: The intelligent locking multi-disc differential to lock, however it instructs the BorgWarner transfer case to select low range off-road reduction gearing . Reduction gearing is utilized to reduce the vehicle's speed to a manageable crawl, and to increase (multiply) the supplied torque coming from the engine. Thus the drive wheels have ample torque to move the vehicle at low speeds. It is also used to control downward speeds while descending steep gradients and to improve

5160-546: The largest size of commonly produced SUVs. Some, such as the Ford Expedition , and Chevrolet Tahoe , are marketed for their off-road capabilities, and others, such as the Lincoln Navigator and Cadillac Escalade , are marketed as luxury vehicles. While a few full-size SUVs are built on dedicated platforms; most share their platforms with full-size pickup trucks . Some North American SUVs are available as

5246-420: The late 1930s, and the four-wheel-drive station wagons and carryalls that began to be introduced in 1949. Some SUVs produced today use unibody construction; however, in the past, more SUVs used body-on-frame construction. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, the popularity of SUVs significantly increased, often at the expense of the popularity of large sedans and station wagons. SUVs accounted for 45.9% of

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5332-471: The media and the general public. The auto industry also has not settled on one definition of the SUV. 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" to the more general "nearly anything with available all-wheel drive and raised ground clearance". It

5418-497: The mid-1990s. Today, most SUVs in production use a unibody construction and relatively few models continue to use body-on-frame construction. SUVs are typically of a two-box design similar to a station wagon . The engine compartment is in the front, followed by a combined passenger/cargo area (unlike a sedan, which has a separate trunk/boot compartment). Up until approximately 2010, many SUV models were available in two-door body styles. Since then, manufacturers began to discontinue

5504-547: The other car in a collision with an SUV, because the impact occurs at a higher location on the other car. In 2000–2001, 60% of fatal side-impact collisions were where the other vehicle was an SUV, an increase from 30% in 1980–1981. The introduction of electronic stability control (ESC) and rollover mitigation, as well as increased analysis of the risks of a rollover, led the IIHS to report in 2015 that "the rollover death rate of 5 per million registered vehicle years for 2011 models

5590-537: The platform of a subcompact (also called supermini or B-segment) passenger car. The "compact SUV" is the next bigger-size class after mini SUVs. Many recent vehicles labeled as compact SUVs are technically compact crossovers and are built on the platform of a compact (C-segment) passenger car. The next larger size is called the "mid-size SUV". Some mid-size SUVs are based on platforms shared with passenger cars and therefore, are crossovers. Other mid-size SUVs are based on compact or mid-size pickups. Full-size SUVs are

5676-502: The psychological sense of security they provide influences drivers to drive less cautiously, and may in-turn, cause others with smaller vehicles to opt for SUVs in the future under the sense of security, all the while increasing the rate of fatalities of pedestrians. There is no universally accepted definition of the sport utility vehicle. Dictionaries, automotive experts, and journalists use varying wordings and defining characteristics, in addition to regional variations of usage by both

5762-444: The rear drive wheels. A misconception about the system is that it continuously shifts into and out of four-wheel drive as needed. This is not true, for when Auto mode is selected, the front axle hubs are permanently engaged, locking them to the front axle shafts, front differential, and front drive shaft . This is so the front drive shaft always rotates (turns) when the vehicle is being driven at speed . The computer control system needs

5848-473: The same tailpipe emissions standards as cars for criteria pollutants, though not greenhouse gas emissions standards as they were not set until 2010. In 2011, the CAFE regulations were changed to classify small, two-wheel-drive SUVs as passenger cars. 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

5934-502: The seats and rear hatches for cargo area access. Just before and during World War II , prototypes and low-volume production examples of military cars with sedan or station wagon-type bodies and rugged, off-road capable four-wheel drive chassis began to appear around the world. These early models included the 1936 Kurogane Type 95 from Japan, the 1938 GAZ-61 from Russia as well as the 1941 Volkswagen Kommandeurswagen and 1936 Opel Geländesportwagen from Germany. An early predecessor to

6020-512: The second largest contributor to the global increase in carbon emissions worldwide. The "crossover SUV" segment (also known as "CUVs" or simply "crossovers") has become increasingly popular since around 2010. Crossovers are often based on a platform shared with a passenger car, as a result, they typically have better comfort and fuel economy, but less off-road capability (many crossovers are sold without all-wheel drive) than pickup truck-based SUVs. The difference between crossovers and other SUVs

6106-560: The sideview mirrors and bumpers; the grille and tailgate received larger Mercury emblems. Following the discontinuation of the Lincoln Aviator , the Mountaineer again served as the premium mid-size SUV offering of the Lincoln-Mercury division. To better differentiate the model line from the Explorer Eddie Bauer and Limited, Lincoln-Mercury upgraded the interior trim of the Mountaineer and carried over various features from

6192-612: The single trim level of the first generation, the second generation was expanded to a base Convenience trim (slotted between the Explorer XLT/Eddie Bauer) and a deluxe Premier trim (slotted above the Explorer Limited) to align with trims offered on other Mercury models. The Mountaineer Premier offered features including a rear TV/DVD player, rear ceiling air vents, chrome exhaust tip and roof rack, and body-color bumpers. The third-generation Mercury Mountaineer

6278-471: The system was being used on pavement . The intelligent multi-disc clutch would be used to progressively transfer torque back-to-front and front-to-back between the front and rear drive shafts when needed and would also lockup providing a permanently locked front 50:50 rear torque distribution. Within a year, the controller had become larger and more complex. A breadboard electronic version complete with sensor amplifiers and large control modules consumed

6364-576: The two-door models as the four-door models became more popular. A few two-door SUVs remain available, such as the body-on-frame Suzuki Jimny , Mahindra Thar , Toyota Land Cruiser Prado , Ford Bronco , and Jeep Wrangler as well as the Range Rover Evoque crossover SUV. SUVs typically have high ground clearance and a tall body. This results in a high center of mass , which made SUVs more prone to roll-over accidents . In 2003, SUVs were quoted as 2.5 times more likely to roll over in

6450-401: The vehicle did roll over, SUV occupants in the early 2000s were nearly three times as likely to be killed as other car passengers. Vehicles with a high center of gravity do sometimes fail the moose test of maneuverability conducted by Swedish consumer magazine Teknikens Värld , for example, the 1997 Mercedes-Benz A-Class and 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee . The increasing popularity of SUVs in

6536-416: The vehicle's off-road crawl ratio . Both Four High mode and Four Low mode cannot be used on pavement as "driveline binding" and "torque windup" can occur, causing damage to the four-wheel-drive system. The automatic ControlTrac four-wheel drive system can be coupled with AdvanceTrac electronic stability control , which includes four-wheel electronic traction control . The combination of these two systems

6622-505: The vehicles with urban residents of Chelsea, London , and their likeness to vehicles used by farmers. However, in the 2020s, the term SUV has entered usage in the United Kingdom 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." In Europe, the term SUV

6708-616: The world's passenger car market in 2021. SUVs have been criticized for a variety of environmental and safety-related reasons. They generally have poorer fuel efficiency and require more resources to manufacture than smaller vehicles, contributing more to climate change and environmental degradation . Between 2010 and 2018, SUVs were the second-largest contributor to the global increase in carbon emissions worldwide. Their higher center of gravity increases their risk of rollovers . Their higher front-end profile makes them at least twice as likely to kill pedestrians they hit. Additionally,

6794-412: Was anticipated, predicted, or detected. Four High and Four Low modes were also featured on both Explorer and Expedition. Four High mode tells the intelligent locking multi-disc differential to lock, providing a permanently locked 50:50 torque distribution. The front and rear drive shafts are fully locked, forcing them to rotate at the same speed regardless of tractive conditions. Four Low mode also tells

6880-596: Was chosen to sell a version of the mid-size Ford Explorer, while Lincoln would sell a version of the then-upcoming full-size Ford Expedition . The Mercury Mountaineer began production in April 1996 as a 1997 model. As with the Ford Explorer Limited, the Mercury Mountaineer was offered only in a four-door body configuration. After its first year, sales of the Mountaineer fell short of Lincoln-Mercury sales projections. Following several revisions in 1997 and 1998,

6966-516: Was determined that excessive heat buildup was caused by inadequate clutch torque capacity. Engineers increased the system's capacity and equipped a fleet of test vehicles, which they took to the Anza-Borrego desert in southern California . They made a total of 11 trips, subjecting the prototypes to heat, mountain driving, and deep sand with the intelligent multi-disc clutches being called upon for almost continuous delivery of torque. At first,

7052-426: Was discontinued between the 1999–2002 model years. Two High mode was reintroduced on the redesigned second generation Expedition (U222) for the 2003 model year and featured a new full front axle disconnect system with vacuum operated front locking hubs that would disconnect the front axle, front differential, and front drive shaft when not needed for quieter, more fuel-efficient operation on pavement. Ford claimed that

7138-439: Was introduced for the 2006 model year, again serving as a counterpart of the Ford Explorer. Though unchanged in wheelbase, the model line rode on an all-new chassis, gaining nearly three inches in length. In contrast to the Explorer, the third-generation Mountaineer retained many styling elements from the previous generation, introducing clear-lens taillamps, fender-mounted turn signal repeaters, larger wheels, satin-silver trim for

7224-517: Was introduced in a single trim level, offering many optional features of the Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer and Limited as standard. For 1998, Mercury introduced a V6-engined version of the Mountaineer to expand its price range. Though including a different powertrain, Mercury chose to offer largely the same features on both versions. The second-generation Mercury Mountaineer was introduced for the 2002 model year, redesigned alongside

7310-489: Was made standard on examples equipped for towing. The navigation system was upgraded, including traffic flow monitoring and live updates on fuel prices from nearby service stations. For 2010, all trim levels received the Ford MyKey system as a standard feature; the system is a programmable security system designed for vehicles owned by multiple drivers. For 2000, the Mountaineer was the third-best-selling Mercury (behind

7396-445: Was needed. This improvement meant the system could operate more like other "always-on" full-time four-wheel drive systems as it no longer had to "wait" for traction loss to take action. Another improvement was front-to-rear " torque biasing " capability in Auto mode. ControlTrac's intelligent multi-disc differential could now send all 100 percent of the engine’s torque forward, biasing it to the front differential if severe traction loss

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