Coupe SUV Facts for Kids

A coupe SUV is a type of sport utility vehicle (SUV) that has a sloped roofline at the back. This design makes it look a bit like a fastback or Kammback car. Car companies make these SUVs look sporty and stylish. They can also sell them for a higher price, which helps them earn more money.

Even though the word "coupe" usually means a car with two doors, most coupe SUVs actually have five doors. Only one, the Range Rover Evoque Coupé, had three doors. Some people don't like coupe SUVs because the sloped roof can make the car have less space for cargo and less headroom for passengers in the back.

History of Coupe SUVs
Why Car Companies Like Them
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History of Coupe SUVs

The first-generation BMW X6, a well-known early coupe SUV

The Range Rover Evoque Coupé, a rare three-door coupe SUV

The SsangYong Actyon is often seen as the very first coupe SUV. It was introduced in 2005. In Europe, the BMW X6 was a very important early model. It came out in 2008 and was based on the BMW X5. BMW called it a "Sports Activity Coupé" (SAC). When the X6 first appeared, its unique style caused some discussion. It had less cargo space than the X5 but cost more.

Other car makers soon followed BMW. Mercedes-Benz released their GLE-Class Coupe in 2015. Audi then launched the Q8 in 2018.

Some people also think the AMC Eagle SX/4, from 1981, could be called an early coupe SUV. It was a two-door car with a raised body and all-wheel drive. It was made for light off-roading. Later, cars like the second-generation Lexus RX and the 2003 Infiniti FX also had sloped roof designs. But they were not called "coupe SUVs" at the time.

At first, most coupe SUVs were expensive, luxury cars. This was because of the BMW X6's success. But now, many car companies offer them. For example, Audi uses the name "Sportback" for their coupe SUVs, like the Q5 Sportback. Mercedes-Benz uses "Coupé" for theirs. More affordable brands also make them now, such as the Renault Arkana and the Fiat Fastback. Some models are sold only in China, like the Mazda CX-4 and Volkswagen Tiguan X.

Some other SUVs have a sloped roof but are not officially called coupe SUVs. Examples include the Tesla Model X and Model Y, Toyota C-HR, and Volvo C40.

Why Car Companies Like Them

Car companies like making coupe SUVs because they can sell them for more money. Studies show that people who buy coupe SUVs are often younger than typical SUV buyers. This helps car brands seem more modern and exciting.

Buyers of coupe SUVs also tend to care less about the price. This means car makers can charge more for these stylish vehicles. For example, the BMW X6 costs about $5,000 more than a similar BMW X5 in the US. This extra cost helps BMW earn a lot more money, even if they sell fewer X6s than X5s.