Mini SUV

Suzuki Samurai, an older model mini SUV

1998 Chevy Tracker,a Canadian-made mini SUV certified as a light truck

Nissan Juke, a modern mini SUV

Mini SUV is a class of small sport utility vehicles with a length under 4,100 mm (161.4 in). This class should not be confused with compact SUV, which refers to slightly larger vehicles, from 4,250 to 4,600 mm (167.3 to 181.1 in).

Early mini SUVs were off-road vehicles built on body-on-frame chassis, such as the Jeep Wrangler and Suzuki Samurai. Earlier mini SUVs are still often used due to their off-road prowess and more manageable size on the trail (for example, a large SUV might not fit in the narrower parts of the trail). The most capable off-road vehicles built earlier were mini SUVs due to them having been built for off-roading, while the trend for larger four-door SUV since the introduction of the Jeep Cherokee and the Ford Explorer has increasingly been toward family hauling and on-road use rather than hard off-roading.

However, current mini SUVs have followed a similar trend, usually having unibody construction and few off-road capabilities, falling into the crossover SUV category. They have substituted off-road cosmetic features, such as large black bumpers and slightly increased ground clearance.

Mini SUVs have become popular in some countries because of fashion trends: for example, wealthy young people buy them just to have a "different looking" car. An advantage over larger SUVs is the better fuel economy, which is very similar to subcompact cars / superminis.

In Japan, as cars under 3,400 mm (133.9 in) in length are classified as kei cars and attract lower taxes; some manufacturers build these cars with off-road looks (such as the Mitsubishi Pajero Mini).

Examples

2003 Jeep Wrangler: American made mini SUV

Crossover

• Daihatsu Terios
• Dacia Duster
• Ford EcoSport
• Honda Crossroad
• Honda HR-V
• Honda Z 1998-2002
• Lada Niva
• Mini Countryman
• Mitsubishi Pajero iO
• Mitsubishi Pajero Junior
• Mitsubishi Pajero Mini
• Mitsubishi Space Runner
• Nissan Juke
• Subaru Impreza - hatchback variants
• Suzuki Ignis
• Fiat Sedici
• Toyota Urban Cruiser

Heavy duty

• AIL Storm
• Daihatsu Taft
• Daihatsu Rocky/Daihatsu Fourtrak
• Jeep Wrangler (except long-wheelbase Unlimited)
• Mazda AZ-Offroad
• Suzuki Samurai/Suzuki Jimny
• Suzuki Vitara/Geo Tracker
• Toyota Land Cruiser Prado (short-wheel base version)
• Troller T4
• LuAZ-967

See also

• Compact SUV
• Crossover SUV
• Mini MPV
• Subcompact car
• Supermini car