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You can tell from the photos you won't be taking this off road.

It's more akin to a people mover with the 7 seat option and the ground clearance being limited. If you look at the most popular SUVs i.e. BMW X3/5, Mercedes M, Land Rover they have a lineage in proper 4WDs.

But let's be honest almost nobody who drives an SUV actually takes it off road.

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The current X3, X5, and M-Class are all built on unibody car platforms. Only the Range Rover models have a remotely "proper" lineage in 4WD vehicles.

Right. SUVs in this category are going after the need-a-van-but-want-a-sportcar market.

The irony is that a van will often handle better than a SUV with a car based platform and a lower center of gravity.

My wife has a BMW X5 and it drives like a piece of industrial farm equipment. We also own a Honda Odyssey which IMO handles significantly better - it's basically an Accord with a taller roof.

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