There is no bigger change happening in the automobile market than the rapid shift from the gas and space hogging sport utility vehicle to the somewhat kindler and gentler breed known as the crossover utility vehicle, or more simply the CUV.

Let’s face it. The majority of people that claim they need an SUV probably need a minivan but wouldn’t be caught dead in one. For some, the minivan just screams “Suburban Mom,” too loudly no matter if they are actually suburban moms or not. For nearly two decades, these customers have voted with their wallets and bought SUVs – truck-based vehicles with big engines capable of heavy towing, 4 x 4 running gear and lots of ground clearance for sitting high and going off road, no matter that very few, if any, owners actually take their SUVs off-road.

In many ways, just as the SUV took over from the station wagon as the American family vehicle, the CUV is now set to take the baton from the SUV.