The term "scout car" can be replaced with a handful of synonyms, depending on regional terminology. For instance, in the UK, the term "scout car" is commonly replaced by "recce car", which is short for reconnaissance car. Similarly, in military context, terms like "armored car", "light tank", and "combat car" are often used in place of "scout car". In civilian contexts, an SUV or off-road vehicle can serve the same purpose as a scout car, and be referred to as such. Some other similar terms include "patrol car", "reconnaissance vehicle", "exploration vehicle", and "adventure-mobile". Regardless of the synonym used, the main function of a scout car is to explore terrain and gather information.