Your SUV Body Style Guide

Your search for a Schenectady used Ford dealer brought you to the perfect place–DePaula Ford. As veterans in the car business, you can put your trust in us to help you find the perfect SUV for your needs. Do you need a spacious three-row SUV that can meet the demands of your growing family? Or, are you in the market for a compact SUV that’s efficient and easy to maneuver?

If you’re searching for a used Ford dealer, you already know that your options are plentiful when it comes to shopping for a pre-owned Ford SUV. To be honest, having so many SUVs to choose from makes it harder to narrow down your options, especially when words like “SUV” and “crossover” are used interchangeably. There doesn’t seem to be much difference between a three-row SUV and a full-size SUV, or does there?

Trust us; you’re not alone. Luckily, you came to the right place as we explain your options with a breakdown of every SUV body style and some of Ford’s best-selling models that fall into each category. But first things first, let’s solve the mystery–what’s an SUV, and why is it entirely different from a crossover?

What’s an SUV?

When you think of an SUV, what immediately comes to mind? Most of us think of models like the Ford Explorer, the Jeep Grand Cherokee, or the Chevy Tahoe. So, what makes these models true sport utility vehicles? Today, what defines an SUV depends on who you ask, as some claim that an SUV is a vehicle with four-wheel drive capability while others argue that an SUV must be built on a truck chassis to earn the moniker. As with everything, there are exceptions to these rules.

By today’s standards, an SUV is based on a truck platform and features a body-on-frame design. This means it handles more like a truck in terms of capability, maneuverability, and efficiency. In contrast, a crossover is built on a unibody frame, the same platform as a sedan where the frame and body of the vehicle are one structure. A crossover is still considered an SUV because it sits higher and is larger than a sedan even though it’s not built on a truck platform. This goes to show why “SUV” and “crossover” aren’t interchangeable. So, where does that leave Ford’s SUV lineup and the different SUV body styles?

SUV Body Styles

One of your top priorities in shopping for a used SUV is knowing what body style or size of SUV will best suit your needs. Crossovers offer the best of both worlds–the efficiency and agility of a sedan but with more room for passengers and cargo. You’ll find your options don’t end there with Ford’s vast selection of subcompact, compact, midsize, and full-size SUVs that can easily meet and exceed all your expectations.

Subcompact

While SUVs are often associated with models like the Expedition, there are plenty of options for drivers who don’t want to navigate the roadway behind the wheel of a land yacht. Ford’s EcoSport is a great choice and is what many define as an “introductory SUV.” Built on a unibody frame, the subcompact EcoSport offers a higher seating position than a sedan and more room for passengers and cargo without sacrificing efficiency. For example, the 2020 EcoSport offers 50 cubic feet of cargo space, up to 166 horsepower for nimble handling, and a combined fuel economy of 28 MPG.

Compact

If you’re looking for more room than a subcompact SUV like the EcoSport, you’ll find plenty of options in Ford’s compact SUV segment. Keep in mind that these models, like those in the subcompact segment, are among the smallest SUVs you can buy and aren’t designed for off-road driving. Instead, they perform more like a sedan and typically come equipped with a four-cylinder or six-cylinder engine under the hood, which makes them incredibly efficient.

The Escape is one of Ford’s best-sellers in the segment and for a good reason with its large cabin, powerful engine, and exceptional efficiency. The 2020 Escape proves as much, delivering up to 250 horsepower, a combined fuel economy of 30 MPG, and offering over 65.4 cubic feet of cargo room that’s ideal for hauling groceries, luggage, and other gear. Models like the 2020 Escape Hybrid extend the compact SUV’s efficiency to 41 MPG without sacrificing power (221 horsepower) or agility.

The Bronco Sport shares the same platform as the Escape and ushers the legendary Bronco into the compact SUV segment. As one of the newer Fords you’ll find on the used lot, the 2021 Bronco Sport made a lasting impression in its debut year. Like the Escape, the model offers two capable powertrains that deliver up to 250 horsepower and an average combined fuel economy of 26 MPG, which is slightly less since the model comes equipped with all-wheel drive. Depending on the engine, you’ll also see a slight difference in cargo volume, with the space ranging anywhere from 60.6 to 65.2 cubic feet.

One of the surprise additions to the compact SUV segment is Ford’s Mustang Mach-E. The compact SUV builds on Ford’s iconic speed demon with a modern twist and a bold design. Introduced in 2021, the Mach-E is another great find on the used lot because of its recent debut and the fact that it exudes sophistication. As an electric vehicle, the Mach-E offers a wide range of power from 266 to 480 horsepower and a driving range between 214 and 305 miles. Like its siblings in the segment, it’s comparable in size with 59.7 cubic feet of cargo space with an additional 4.8 cubic feet of storage in the front trunk or frunk.

Midsize

Midsize SUVs are the first real transition into truck-like performance thanks to their larger size, beefier engines, and greater capability. This segment puts you behind the wheel of a larger SUV that’s more than capable of venturing off the trail, especially when equipped with four-wheel drive. The standard six-cylinder or eight-cylinder engine adds to their capability both on and off the pavement, while their bigger cabins give you plenty of room to haul everything you need from luggage to camping gear.

Ford’s lineup of midsize SUVs is impressive with the Edge and the Explorer, both of which are staples in the Blue Oval fleet. Over the last few years, the Edge has seen vast improvements in its design and powertrain. A 2019 Edge with a 2.7-liter EcoBoost engine under the hood and all-wheel drive is a remarkable find on the used lot. This combination delivers 335 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque for exceptional power and capability on a variety of terrain. What’s truly surprising is that this power doesn’t diminish the Edge’s efficiency, with the all-wheel drive model averaging 21 MPG combined. As far as space, the Edge has plenty to offer with over 73.4 cubic feet of cargo volume.

Ford’s Explorer toes the line between the midsize and full-size segments with its spacious three-row cabin that offers over 80 cubic feet of cargo space, making it ideal for those who frequently haul passengers and cargo. The 2019 Explorer is like hitting the SUV jackpot on the used lot thanks to its wide range of power and capability, courtesy of its multi-engine lineup that churns out anywhere from 280 to 365 horsepower. This makes the Explorer quick to accelerate and easy to handle, which is a far cry from the lethargic land yachts of decades past.

Full-Size

Full-size SUVs live up to the definition of an SUV and sit on a truck platform; in other words, they have a body-on-frame design. Because of this, full-size SUVs like the Ford Expedition and Bronco are not only spacious SUVs, but they’re also capable workhorses that are equipped to tow or haul heavy loads. In most cases, full-size SUVs offer a higher driving position for better visibility as well as four-wheel drive and towing packages that boost their versatility, earning them a reputation as road warriors with a sense of adventure.

The Bronco is perhaps the best example of an adventurous full-size SUV, but you won’t find many (if any) of these models on the used lot just yet. You will, however, find plenty of Expeditions, and that’s because of their long history in the Ford fleet. The 2019 and 2020 Expeditions are great finds on the used lot since both are powered by a V6 engine that delivers up to 400 horsepower for improved responsiveness, agility, and rapid acceleration whether you’re navigating traffic in the city or cruising at highway speeds. However, because of its size, the Expedition isn’t the most fuel-efficient, with the 2020 model averaging 19 MPG combined. This is easier to accept when you consider the Expedition’s 104.6 cubic feet of cargo space that makes it the ultimate adventurer and cargo hauler.

The Choice Is Yours

What SUV body style best meets your needs? Subcompact and compact SUVs like the EcoSport and Escape are great options for those looking for car-like handling and efficiency with a higher seating position and more cargo space. Midsize SUVs like the Edge and Explorer are ideal for those who need more room but still want the maneuverability and efficiency of a sedan. Of course, it’s hard to beat a full-size SUV like the Expedition or Bronco that can easily do it all, from hauling passengers and cargo to venturing off the beaten path. What will you choose?