A sport utility vehicle or suburban utility vehicle (SUV) is a vehicle similar to a station wagon or estate car, usually equipped with four-wheel drive for on- or off-road ability. Some SUVs include the towing capacity of a pickup truck with the passenger-carrying space of a minivan or large sedan. 

It depends on your point of view: an SUV is a safer vehicle to be in as a passenger in an accident, but it is a less safe vehicle for the person who gets hit by one. Again Age is a big factor. A new small car is probably going to be safer than an old SUV.