>>2277308>I don't know what a crossover isA true SUV is basically a pickup truck with a covered bed. They almost always use body-on-frame construction and have true part time 4WD systems, where the system is either locked in rear wheel drive mode or in a 50/50 front/back split. They're often available with locking differentials that evenly split power side-to-side as well. Crossovers, on the other hand, are just tall cars, usually based on front wheel drive models, and when all four wheels are driven it's with an all wheel drive system that's always "on" and distributes power wherever it thinks it should - unfortunately most of these systems utilize open differentials, which by nature send power to the wheel with the least traction, which is exactly what you don't want off road or in heavy snow. Many newer ones use computer-controlled braking to "trick" the system into forcing power to wheels with more traction but it's a janky, clunky system and not great for longevity.
Virtually every "SUV" on the US market today is actually a crossover. The RAV4, for example, is actually the same vehicle as a Camry under the skin. The Wrangler, Bronco, 4Runner, and a few huge GM SUVs are the only true SUVs left here.
As for your Cavalier, you can take anything off road if you give few enough fucks about it. The real reason to have a real SUV or truck for off roading is that they're much better at surviving it. Ironically that Cavalier may have actually been a better off roader than a lot of these modern crossovers too, because 99% of crossovers are built around street performance and have fragile drivetrains, way too many electronics, overly stiff suspensions, and long front and rear overhangs with aerodynamic bullshit that'll get destroyed trying to go up or down slopes. There are crossovers that address some of these issues but they're all worse than midsize trucks or real SUVs.
