I am sure many people will agree and I personally can confirm as well because I also own a sports utility vehicles.
All these new fancy crossovers are based on car platforms or share their platforms on which cars also also based on. Regardless it is a BMW X3, X5 , X1, Audi Q3, Q5, Q7 , Q8 or Mercedes GLA, GLC, GLE, GLS, VW's Tiguan, and famous CRV, RAV4 and list is long.
The sports utility vehicles or sports activity vehicles as BMW calls it are more of utility vehicles, more space, and multipurpose use in our daily lives. AWD on all these are for more and better traction in case of moderate slush, mud and snow but all these are not true off road vehicles. AWD on these help on clearing a feet or two of snow on paved surfaces, can help cross some slush or mud. Yes you can tow a small trailer as well.
I have Tiguan with 4Motion and I can tell you with 200mm ground clearance, I can move around easily on soft snow 20-25 inches high on paved surface but anything over that on unpaved ground becomes little tricky. Sportage or any other crossovers in the segment it would not be different.
As of ground clearance, Sportage is with 172mm [ few mm less than Corolla ] with unladen weight.. So make sure when you cross a tall speed breaker or try go off-road while driving Sportage you dont rub the under body, exhaust systems or other components especially if you have weight or passengers in it..
CRV has 208mm
Rav4 has over 210mm
