The rugged styling and the "freedom" of being able to climb mountains and cross streams is a powerful marketing message. Still, most consumers rarely use large SUVs for anything but commuting and hauling family. Some simply don't realize that there are many other vehicles that not only get better fuel economy, but are actually safer as well. Many of these safer models have third row seating to carry more passengers or cargo, while others have advanced AWD systems for light off-road duty and superior bad weather performance.

Safety measures are being installed in SUVs to prevent rollovers during accidents. Whether you drive a standard SUV or a crossover (a car-based SUV), safety features are a must but not all of them come standard. While safety features are being improved all the time, some come at a price and it’s important to look at the crash safety test results of SUVs before making a decision. The SUV is being equipped with front and side airbags, as well as sensing devices and stability systems. These features are becoming standardized in the industry to lessen the occurrence of SUV-related accidents and wounded.

SUVs are designed with standard safety features, including anti-lock brakes, shoulder and lap seat belts, adjustable head restraints and frontal airbags. Most SUVs have an "occupant classification" in the front passenger seat that deploys the airbag at an appropriate level of force based on a person's size and weight. Additional nonstandard features are electronic stability systems, side curtain airbags and rollover prevention sensors. Some SUVs come equipped with a sonar-based "park assist" that alerts a driver when the rear bumper of his SUV is backing into a person or another object. With these safety features and increased functionality, the SUV may become the standard of a multifunctional family vehicle.