Going back to when the SUV term was first used, it was in a Jeep Cherokee advertisement in 1974. It referred to the vehicle as a new entrant in the "sport utility field", and positioned it outdoors. For me, the "sport" in SUV was not about the speed or handling capabilities, rather the sports/recreations that could be enjoyed because of its load carrying capacities and AWD capabilities above a sedan or station wagon. Load it up with sporting equipment such as golf bags, cricket gear, kids bikes etc and there is still room to spare. It is more an RUV: Recreational Utility Vehicle. And small SUV/RUVs, those the size of a Corolla, are one of the biggest selling segments in Australia right now, outselling all sedans of all makes.