The SUV label has always been contested — a look at its contentious history

The term "SUV" (Sports Utility Vehicle) is ubiquitous today, but what actually qualifies as a true SUV has always been disputed. The category's history shows that the boundaries between SUVs, crossovers and station wagons have always been blurry, driven more by marketing than engineering. The debate over what makes a "real" SUV is as old as the segment itself.