Why are types of car so called?

Question

These days on top of the estate and saloon cars, we have SUV's, MPV's and strangest of all 'people carriers'. I ask the question because, for example, an SUV stands for 'sports utility vehicle', usually refferring to a 4X4. Now does that mean the activity the car is used for is the sport, as in off roading, or that the car is used to carry equipment for a sport, such as a surfboard? As according to most people on here 4X4's should only be used by farmers, where does the sport come in? Then MPV's, or 'multi purpose vehicles'. These I think are the Espace or Galaxy type car. Apart from being acar what other purpose are they used for? I suppose with the seats out they become a van, not really multi purpose though. Then daftest of all, a 'people carrier', again used for the larger cars. Now correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the purpose of ANY car to carry people? All cars are people carriers. There, I feel better now, these are my opinions and are therefore correct.

I KNOW people carriers usually have 7 or 8 seats, but they still carry people, as do cars which have 2, 4 or 5 seats, so why are smaller cars not called people carriers?

Answer 1

Concerning the people carrier , i have such a car ! It's a Toyota Townace and is an 8 seater car perfect for family outings with the kids and the dogs. People carriers are usually cars that have more than 7 seats .

Answer 2

Most of those names are results of government legislation in different countries. For instance, a car carrying more than seven passenger including the driver can not use some of the passages on the motorway networks all around the world. Example: Phosphorous Bridge connecting Asia and Europe in Istanbul.

Finding a universal method to categorise the vehicles is necessary but who will do it? Is it possible?