Why all the hate for SUV’s/4x4 vehicles?

[FluffyRabbitSocks]

Why do so many people on mumsnet hate SUV and 4 wheel drive vehicles? I don’t think it’s a correct reflection of the UK publics preference because you see so many of this type of vehicle on the roads and in car parks these days. I couldn’t get myself so worked up about what car a person chooses to buy and drive and really don’t think a hybrid Toyota Rav 4 or Honda CRV is any worse for the environment than a diesel MPV like a Vauxhall Zafira.

If you have a higher up car you won't notice it. SUVs are higher with the bright led lights it makes the lights eye level to a person driving a smaller car. I've driven a small car for almost 7 years never had a problem until the last few years. There's been an explosion of SUVs on the road even with yellow tinted glasses I'm still being blinded it happens multiple times driving at night. It never used too. Also making right turns is impacted.

When was the last time you were on a terraced street that had exclusively SUVs parked down it?

road.cc/content/news/suvs-8-times-more-dangerous-kids-walking-or-cycling-295527?amp

usa.streetsblog.org/2022/07/07/study-suvs-are-indeed-death-machines-for-children-blacks/

www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/suv-blind-zone-deaths-consumer-reports-safety/

www.repairerdrivennews.com/2022/09/15/nhtsa-agrees-to-study-child-deaths-injuries-caused-by-large-suv-blind-zones/

www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022437522000810?via%3Dihub

www.fatherly.com/news/suvs-kill-kids-way-more-than-other-cars-study

Also.

www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/oct/07/a-deadly-problem-should-we-ban-suvs-from-our-cities

I can park mine in a regular space, no problem - surely, if its not parked properly, it's a driver issue, not a vehicle issue? I've seen badly parked hatchbacks that leave the space next to them useless.

I don’t understand why so many SUV drivers round here have to drive down the middle of our narrow rural lanes, thereby forcing me in my little car to go into the ditch so they can get past. They’re the ones in the bloody off road vehicle!

Because when they park in a parking space they take up almost all the space so driver in next bay can barely open their car door to get in or out.

I’m on a terraced street. There are a lot of SUVs on it. Not exclusively, that’s true, but a lot. They’re a pain in the backside.

Most hatchbacks, saloons and estate cars are roughly the same height. There's a step change up to SUVs, vans and people carriers in terms of the visibility impact on other road users.

Nobody sensible resents the drivers of vans, people carriers, or rural off-road SUVs, because they understand that they're probably not inconveniencing other people for the fun of it, but because they have a genuine need. It would be like resenting buses, or tractors. But Chelsea tractors in the back streets of actual Chelsea? I very much doubt that they couldn't make do with a Mercedes saloon.

These cars are too wide impossible to get past around our lanes and invariably the driver expects the smaller car to drive into ditches so they can pass !The driver of 4x4 incapable of reversing!
Too high so headlights dazzle oncoming traffic
Cannot turn onto main road at junction or roundabout because 4x4 too high if beside you.
Take up too much space when parking and the drivers are usually rubbish parkers.
In fact I am struggling to find anything positive about these cars TBH !And don't get me on the subject about the environment !
During the heavy snow fall in December a local care home asked if a 4x4 driver was available to help ,getting staff to work and the silence was deafening!

I have a low car too - can't say being blinded by oncoming lights is specific to SUVs.

From what I've observed, a large proportion of people who get the large SUV type cars can't seem to handle them and have no idea actually how large/small their vehicle is. My most uttered phrase whilst driving "ffs you could get a bus through there!".

(My next point refers to the many fake 4x4 types on the roads)
I also have to admit I don't see the appeal of them as they seem to be the worst of both worlds: all the downsides of a 4x4 (extra fuel consumption/costlier to insure/harder to park/poorer handling & wallowing round corners) without any of the benefits (I.e. actually having 4 wheel drive capability). The ones I've had as hire cars have also been really quite small inside compared to their bulky exterior. We hired a Nissan duke once which was far smaller inside than my fiesta. Wasn't very impressed tbh.

The range of American SUVs are in general are FAR larger than SUVs in the UK - a Toyota RAV 4 for example is miniscule compared to a GMC Suburban or Ford Expedition. Any links for UK research?

A driver lost control and mounted a kerb, killing 4 people. The car in your article (Macan) has the same NCAP pedestrian rating as a Ford Mondeo. Would you be calling for Mondeos/all saloons to be banned if it had been a Mondeo involved instead?

I can understand that. I live on a single track lane so I have no choice but to drive on it to get anywhere, but I agree - my car has the better road clearance/capability, so I always pull over to let the other car pass. That's not a car issue, it's a driver etiquette issue.

That was a very selective filleting of that article.

But if you have parked properly, you should have no need to encroach into the other parking space to exit your car surely?

Sorry. That was in reply to this. Very selective reading of all the links.

So, you can in fact find a safe space to cross the road?

But that's the point isn't it. Everyone else has to adapt their behaviour - how to cross the road, how to turn right, what car to buy next, how to not play out on the street - because people want their beloved 4x4s in case they go off-road or camping once a year.

I don't like them because they block my view of the road when turning. Also, in winter, the height means the lights are blinding me from my rear view mirror if one is behind me. I have a small VW Up!. I don't understand the argument about needing the space to carry children and their stuff. My DH has a Tesla and comfortably drove 4 male colleagues plus overnight baggage to an event 4 hours away.

So, you can in fact find a safe space to cross the road?

At least you acknowledge your SUV (and others) make roads unsafe for pedestrians to cross. Because at least other drivers have lower cars to cross near instead.

I'm nodding at most of your post tbh - I'm always commenting about 'getting a bus through there' myself. It's really frustrating. Yes, there do seem to be quite a few SUV drivers that don't know how to drive their cars properly - but that's a driver issue, not a vehicle issue, and isn't exclusive to SUVs. I seen many a wanker in a Corsa or Golf who think they're the second coming of Ayrton Senna, or park as if they can't see the bays.

All my SUVs have been actual 4x4s. None of them particularly economical to maintain or run (but we know that and can deal with it). Handling has been OK in all of them though - that's purely down to how you drive them and knowing their capabilities. Again, that's a driver issue, not a vehicle issue. I wouldn't consider a Juke an SUV tbh. It's just a chubby hatch.

Not really. That article was picked because of the car involved.

For me personally...
They don't fir properly into many parking spaces, which the owners seem oblivious of or don't give a shit about so make it more difficult to get in your car. They also obscure your view when reversing out of a space if you're next to one.

They use more fule than smaller similar age cars so are worse for the environment.

A specific gripe I have is the headlights are high and at more or less eye hight when driving. So at night they often dazzle me.

I also feel the very big ones are going to crush a regular or small car in an accident, so the driver in the suv might come off ok but others would be fucked.

So overall they have a negative impact on others. Which makes me feel their owners are selfish wankers. As a generalisation!