An active ride

Advanced suspension technology helps SUVs meet often conflicting requirements to perform better off road and on.

Consumers ask SUVs to perform contradictory tasks. Drivers' demands for fuel efficiency from large, off-road-capable vehicles are one well-known contradiction. Another is the requirement for safe, secure, comfortable on-road handling from a vehicle with the ground clearance and all-wheel-drive systems needed for off-road and bad weather capability.

In the past, on-road ride and handling suffered significantly, but in recent years new SUVs have arrived with near-sedan-like ride and handling while still providing the ability to crawl over rocks or churn through snow. This has come courtesy of active suspension systems that can adapt to the conditions, giving drivers what they need at the moment.