I have recently started refusing to call anything an SUV unless it has off road sporting intentions.
Bronco: SUV
Jeep: SUV
Urus: wagon
Tesla: wagon
Wagons are better vehicles for 99% of the population. Of course, vans are even better for those same people, but they aren't "cool".
Very true. Both about the "SUV" and the vans. I would add 4-Runner to the SUV list. They have stayed true to off-road intentions.
"Back in the day" I used to like to take my SUVs over some jeep roads in CO, like Imogene Pass and a whole host of 4wd-required trails. At that time I had a Nissan 4x4 truck, which I traded for another, then a Pathfinder, then another, then an X-Terra, then another. All of those vehicles got some pine tree pin striping and low-range crawling. Nothing of the sort in the video above, but enough to make me feel superior to all those who never saw dirt.
I did take a home-equity-fueled detour into a Porsche Cayenne around 2004. It had dual range transmission and 5-level air suspension, so I took it off road near Buena Vista, CO. That was hilarious! There was so much automatic traction control, steering control, auto-leveling and other weird Sh!t going on that is sounded like some sci-fi garbage processor while trying to drive on rutted, off camber dirt. It was embarrassing and stupid. Luckily, there was no one around to see and hear my adventure.
My current definition of SUV is that it has to have 4wd, a functional roof and trailer hitch rack for transporting "adventure" sporting equipment (bikes, surfboards, kayaks, skis/snowboards - not golf clubs and little league equipment) and it has to venture off road (and/or significant snow) a few times a year. The SUV itself doesn't have to be the sport, but if so, that seals the deal.
Then there's the new breed of yuppie adventurer. Gotta have the pop-up tent, snorkel, hi-lift jack, shovel and spare water/fuel cans on your "rig" at all times. I think they call themselves "Overlanders."
Side note: we need a new derogatory term for older people who have yuppie tendencies - and I put myself in that category. And pretty much all of you too, since you are mostly all geezers who mt bike.