Saloons used to be the most popular car body style amongst new car buyers. Something then changed in 2015, in which SUVs overtook them as the preferred body style. These cars have since dominated sales charts, and continue to remain popular even till today.
Just how commonplace have these vehicles become? Well, 46% of all new cars sold globally in 2021 were SUVs. This high demand has incentivised manufacturers to create sub-variants of these vehicles in a bid to have a slice of this highly-lucrative crossover pie.
Which in turn then fuels even greater visibility and demand for these vehicles. This continuous cycle is probably the reason why they’ve become the go-to option for those seeking a brand new vehicle. But why are they so popular in the first place? What is it about them that vehicles of other body styles are unable to emulate?
They are Just More Spacious
Especially when you consider its footprint. The relatively taller height of the bodyshell makes for greater interior space, making for a more comfortable, long-distance journey. You’ll also reap the benefits of the stretched metalwork, as cargo space is usually in no short supply.
With a body that is less curvaceous than its equivalent saloon or coupe counterpart, access to both the passenger compartment, and its storage compartment, is usually better too. This makes it easier for passengers to comfortably get in and out of the vehicle.
They Make you Feel Safer
The engorged body shell means you’ll find yourself towering over the lesser cars around you. You’d be lulled into a sense of invincibility, thinking that you’d come off better in an accident. Which is a fair point to make, seeing that the heightened ride height and mass used to almost always mean you’ll get away fairly unscathed.
Not that it matters unless you’re actually unlucky enough to be involved in a collision, but a lot of modern SUVs are based on regular cars. The crash structures and mass would therefore be similar, or identical, to the vehicle that donated its guts in the creation of this SUV.
Less Compromised Than Ever Before
You used to have to put up with sub-par ride quality, or less-than-ideal fuel consumption. But these are compromises and kinks that automakers have since sorted out. Advancements in suspension and drivetrain technologies mean these cars have never driven or felt better on-road.
Also, electrification has made these vehicles more efficient than ever before. With greater levels of power, suspension that manages to be comfortable on-road and capable off-road, these cars have become the ideal daily.
A Status Symbol
People are willing to put up with less-than-ideal scenarios if it means portraying to those around them that they’re doing well. There were unrefined SUVs with archaic architecture that still sold in the millions globally.
And it really is a case of buying them just because you can. Being able to afford excess means you’ve probably done quite well, so most with disposable cash wanting some attention will be willing to put up with the compromise.
But I’m not Convinced
I still maintain that there are downsides to this SUV trend. The higher centre of gravity is something advancements in powertrain and suspension technology cannot conceal. They are less fun to drive than a car that rides lower.
Crucially, and more practically, the increased overall height can make it difficult for you to squeeze them into older car parks. And plus, if you really need the additional space offered by an SUV, why not consider a wagon? These combine the handling (as well as the pros) of a wagon, with the space in the rear similar to that of an SUV.
They also happen to be rarer, catering to a market that is more niche. Want a bonafide status symbol? Why not consider that instead?
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