(Bloomberg/Dimas Ardian)

Car producers have captured the market with their crossover vehicles that accommodate the mobility needs of even unfavorable road conditions.

Roads across Indonesia, including in the cities, are notorious for their potholes. And crossover cars seem to accommodate this problem while taking drivers to new thrills on their four-wheel vehicles.

Crossover vehicles have sometimes caused confusion due to their similarities to sport utility vehicle (SUV). What are the differences between the two types?

A traditional SUV is built on a truck platform, combining passenger-carrying and cargo-hauling capabilities. A SUV body is attached to a heavy rugged steel frame, or ladder frame chassis, which houses the vehicle's drive.

On the other hand, a crossover, also known as a crossover utility vehicle (CUV), is built on a car platform. In variable degrees, a crossover has similar features to passenger vehicles such as a station wagons or hatchbacks.

A crossover offers the comfort of a sedan and some of the strength of an SUV. It is not suitable for off-roading but will surely help when navigating potholes or flooded roads.

Crossing Indonesian roads

High ground clearance is one factor that makes a crossover a suitable car for Jakarta's far-from-perfect roads, according to Teguh Tulipe from Suzuki Mobil Kalimalang.

He cited the Suzuki SX4 as an example, as the SX4's 700-millimeter air intake means the car is more than able to brave floodwaters as high as 50-centimeters.

'The Suzuki SX4 is suitable for urban roads and semi- off roads. It works well on the roads conditions in of Indonesia, which are not often in a good condition,' Teguh said.

First launched in 2007, Suzuki SX4 enjoyed Indonesian success with more than 21,000 sold in the first four years of its sales.

PT Toyota Astra Motor and PT Astra Daihatsu Motor, the country's trademark holders for Toyota and Daihatsu respectively, introduced their own crossover version in 2006. Toyota Rush and Daihatsu Terios followed in early 2007 and started to turn heads.

In 2013 alone, Daihatsu sold 25,674 Terios, according to the company's website, while detik.com reported Toyota Indonesia set the target sales for Toyota Rush at 36,000 for 2014.

With the choice of either five- or seven-seat versions, both fit the needs of many urbanites.

The smaller-than-SUV size also draws people to crossovers. It is easier to park a Toyota Rush than to park a SUV, such as a Toyota Fortuner. A crossover also offers easier handling for urban driving than a SUV. A crossover has comfort levels comparable to those of an MPV, but wins over an MPV in the strength department.

'I chose Daihatsu Terios because of the road conditions and the floods,' said Siti Aisyah, a mother who runs a couple of beauty salons in Bekasi. She opted for an automatic Terios.

Nissan Juke crossover came to the Indonesian market later and brought with it a design that wowed many. The car, released in the country in 2011, had sold 18,100 units by the end of 2013, as quoted by kontan.co.id. The unusual design makes this crossover a darling of many urban youngsters, despite the lower ground clearing and some reports about limited space in its passenger's cabin.

'I see a big potential for the Nissan Juke. Our 1.5-liter SUV crossover will be able to compete in the hatchback and city car segment in Indonesia,' said Yohija Horigome, vice president director of National Sales and Marketing of PT Nissan Motor Indonesia (NMI), when the company introduced New Nissan Juke in late 2013.

More choices

But these crossovers won't be the only ones playing in this segment. Other car manufacturers are launching their own crossovers. Ford has joined the fray with Ford Ecosport, which the company first introduced at IIMS 2013 in September 2013.

'Ford Ecosport will be in the same market segment as the Daihatsu Terios,' said Lea Kartika Indra, communication director of PT Ford Motor Indonesia, at the event.

Ford Ecosport boasts higher ground clearing and the ability to wade across water of up to 550 millimeters. The 'urban SUV' offers better features than the Rush, Terios or Juke, as it came out later than the rest. The price tag of the Ecosport may be the car's biggest attraction, as it is lower than the Nissan Juke.

Indonesian consumers wanting a crossover should be prepared for choice. Mitsubishi also has a crossover on offer. Mitsubishi New Outlander Sport offers the strength of a rally car but comes with a higher price, putting it in a class of its own.

'Many car owners are looking for a SUV that offers the comfort of a sedan. The Outlander has those things. It's good for urban driving. With the feather-touch steering wheel, you can rely on this car for maneuvering,' said rally driver Subhan Aksa.

And let's not forget about the Renault Duster, which is set to enter Indonesia. As reported by kompas.com, this crossover, which Indomobil Group will hold the rights to sell, will be assembled domestically to help push the price down.

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