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Original poster

Why do people buy SUVs?

542 replies

MuskIsACnt · 08/01/2025 23:37

I need a new car and I’ve always had a small car but it seems every other car now is an SUV, so I’m wondering why and whether I need one.

The boot space is often the same as smaller cars, they’re more expensive and arguably harder to park. Am I missing some great benefit that I should be considering? Or does driving a big car just make people feel big (I used to drive a Luton van and that made me feel big)?

OP posts:
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curious79 · 09/01/2025 07:20

driving a Range Rover (full-size version not evoque - that’s for try hard chavs) not only makes me feel big but allows me to look down on the plebs

BunfightBetty · 09/01/2025 07:20

I wish it were more widely known how much more dangerous a SUV is to pedestrians and other road users.

A child hit by a SUV is 14 times more likely to die than a child hit by a normal sized car.

The two little girls killed in Wimbledon when the driver had a medical episode would not have died if she were driving a normal sized car. It was only because she was driving a large, heavy SUV that the vehicle was able to mount the kerb and knock the fence down and then hit the girls.

If you genuinely need a SUV because you live so rurally a normal car can’t cope with the terrain, then fair enough. But if you live somewhere you can easily use a normal car, please remember the safety issues when you next go to buy or lease a car.

Noidea2024 · 09/01/2025 07:20

We spend a lot of time int e car visiting family, and it's more comfortable. The additional seats enable us to take kids friends out with us. When the rear seats Arendt being used, the boot is bigger which is great for camping. We live semi-rurally, so the 4x4 is often useful for school runs etc, navigating narrow lanes that require getting off the road to pass.

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Cars & vehicles
MerryMaker · 09/01/2025 07:22

BunfightBetty · 09/01/2025 07:20

I wish it were more widely known how much more dangerous a SUV is to pedestrians and other road users.

A child hit by a SUV is 14 times more likely to die than a child hit by a normal sized car.

The two little girls killed in Wimbledon when the driver had a medical episode would not have died if she were driving a normal sized car. It was only because she was driving a large, heavy SUV that the vehicle was able to mount the kerb and knock the fence down and then hit the girls.

If you genuinely need a SUV because you live so rurally a normal car can’t cope with the terrain, then fair enough. But if you live somewhere you can easily use a normal car, please remember the safety issues when you next go to buy or lease a car.

People who drive SUVs do not care

Frostythesnowman1 · 09/01/2025 07:22

whydoihavetowork · 08/01/2025 23:45

I find the sitting position better for my back. A lot of people do. Generally I just like them though plus if it's a proper SUV then it's 4 wheel drive (a lot aren't though and I don't see the point in that!)

I agree. My husband has a mondeo estate and it’s like sitting on the floor when driving

TwirlyPineapple · 09/01/2025 07:23

We have a small crossover SUV and it's much nicer than our hatchback or saloon style cars have been. Ours is the same width as a VW polo and only marginally longer yet the interior and the boot are much more spacious. There are non-SUV cars with more boot or interior space of course, but they tend to be bigger in length or width than I like.

The main advantage is that I like sitting higher up to drive, previous cars we've had have been very low sitting and a pain to enter and exit.

TheListThatNeverEnds · 09/01/2025 07:23

MuskIsACnt · 08/01/2025 23:48

I’m looking for an EV so gas guzzling not an issue.

Show quote history

We ended up with a bigger car than we wanted because big EVs were actually cheaper (and have better battery range) than smaller on the work lease scheme. Madness! To be fair we only found two "smaller" EVs that gave us the boot space and back seat leg room we needed though- the EV market still seems limited on choice of size. I don't enjoy city driving in ours - far too wide.

Tara336 · 09/01/2025 07:23

Comfort, easier to see the road ahead due to the height, I have a disability and it's easier for me to get in and out of. We live rurally and the 4wd is extremely useful also travel long distance regularly so makes a huge difference on space inside etc

Gnomegarden32 · 09/01/2025 07:26

BunfightBetty · 09/01/2025 07:20

I wish it were more widely known how much more dangerous a SUV is to pedestrians and other road users.

A child hit by a SUV is 14 times more likely to die than a child hit by a normal sized car.

The two little girls killed in Wimbledon when the driver had a medical episode would not have died if she were driving a normal sized car. It was only because she was driving a large, heavy SUV that the vehicle was able to mount the kerb and knock the fence down and then hit the girls.

If you genuinely need a SUV because you live so rurally a normal car can’t cope with the terrain, then fair enough. But if you live somewhere you can easily use a normal car, please remember the safety issues when you next go to buy or lease a car.

Absolutely this

ruffler45 · 09/01/2025 07:27

Skoda Octavia diedel turbo, 5 setas and an enormous boot, with rear seats down equivalent to near enough an estate car, easily 55mpg. max was 77mpg.

The Mazda 6 I had before it was the same size wise

thinktwice36 · 09/01/2025 07:27
  1. ground clearance, live rurally and roads are awful. Bottomed out estate car when I had one. Need robust tyres
  2. work means I often lug loads of kit around
  3. comfort, prefer high ride
  4. I drive EV so don’t guzzle extra fuel
  5. i I can park them just fine
  6. i like them and it’s my money, my choice
TidyViper · 09/01/2025 07:27

curious79 · 09/01/2025 07:20

driving a Range Rover (full-size version not evoque - that’s for try hard chavs) not only makes me feel big but allows me to look down on the plebs

And see over that massive chip on your shoulder?

camelfinger · 09/01/2025 07:27

I don’t have a car. If I bought one I would consider a SUV to be able to be higher up and have better road visibility. I’d prefer a smaller car but would feel vulnerable being low down.
I didn’t realise they were a status symbol. I assumed they must be fairly cheap as so many people have them (in city), and they aren’t pretty to look at.

Flopsy145 · 09/01/2025 07:27

I've just upgraded from an astra to a mitsubishi SUV and the boot space is incredible. So much bigger, there's also more room in the back for all the kids. Some SUVs aren't more spacious but others are, that's why I went for the one I did.

WatchOutMissMarpleIsAbout · 09/01/2025 07:27

Live in a village that’s forever flooded. Car (not mine) got stuck this weekend.

Dh has a lower car which due to my arthritis I often can’t get in to without crying in pain. It’s nothing to do with status and everything to do with practicality.

We also travel in the U.K. with dog and dcs and just about get it all in my car. Dh’s we would have to leave dog and DCs behind. and probably me on a bad day! God only knows why Dh has such an impractical car. He uses mine most of the winter.

Whenismytime · 09/01/2025 07:28

Because we outgrew our hatchback and I didn't want a big long saloon car. My SUV is shorter than a saloon but plenty of room and I can pile things higher in the boot. Also most family cars on the market now are SUVs and buying second hand it is usually cheaper than buying a saloon.

Sherararara · 09/01/2025 07:28

Ah another goady SUV thread. Tbf it’s been at least 2 days since the last one.

Namechangeforthis88 · 09/01/2025 07:28

For towing. I've searched loads of second cars and I can get a plug in hybrid SUV with a tow bar for reasonable money. Never thought I'd buy an SUV but it's the car for the job.

buybuysellsell · 09/01/2025 07:29

We inherited ours so I didn't choose it, but I do like driving it. It's very high up and I am short so I can see better in it. We live on the edge of the countryside and it's comfortable driving it along bumpy potholed lanes. Our kids are young so our holidays tend to be Devon and Cornwall and it's good for the long drives.

I actually would like a bit more space though so that one parent could sit in between the two child seats in the back.

CheerUpPeterReid · 09/01/2025 07:31

User2123 · 09/01/2025 07:16

We needed three rear facing car seats across the back and didn't want a hideous people carrier. Also feels safer as we're now the same size as all the other SUVs rather than feeling bullied in the tiny car we had before.

I think this post has hit the nail on the head - it's a vicious circle. People in smaller cars feel "bullied" by SUVs, so they go and buy an SUV. This keeps happening so more and more SUVs. Next thing we know, it will be nigh-impossible to get a bigger car that isn't an SUV.

I am considering one for my next car. I drive a Polo, which I love, and is great for driving in the city where I live, but also handles really well on narrow West Coast of Scotland roads where I travel a lot. However I feel I am almost being forced to get an SUV because of the bloody lights! Because he height, SUV headlights shine right into my eyeline and it's bloody awful.

rubiconartist · 09/01/2025 07:31

grumpypedestrian · 09/01/2025 05:52

We do camping with proper canvas bell tents and metal poles. I find it laughable when people use camping as an excuse to buy an SUV. We have an old estate, the boots of SUVs are tiny compared to what we fit in our estate.

Yeah, you’re not buying it for camping space! Our estate drives over muddy fields perfectly fine too.

I hate SUVs as they’re what manufacturers think everyone wants, so there’s few decent estates on the market for people who ACTUALLY want boot space and not a status symbol.

I do see what you're saying but actually when I was looking at cars with large boots the estates really didn't work for me and I equally always laugh when people are pushed towards estate cars that aren't practical or suitable because of the anti SUV bias.

The ones we looked at were generally really low to the ground so not comfortable for my partner with an injured leg to drive and get in and out of. Plus whilst the boot was bigger it also didn't give the head height needed for a large dog to be able to stand up in it at all so not comfortable for long trips.

Finally, they were much much longer than the SUV I ended up getting and wouldn't fit on our driveway without sticking out onto the pavement where our SUV fits easily.

So an estate often isn't a suitable alternative to an SUV.

Sherararara · 09/01/2025 07:31

FWIW we have a Landrover Discovery. We have it because we like the feeling of superiority it gives us over the little people in tiny cars and because we are rich enough to afford one. It’s also really good in puddles.

NetZeroZealot · 09/01/2025 07:33

Many because they are persuaded by the advertising.
Don’t care about their impact on the planet or safety of other road users.
Obviously there are some people in rural areas who genuinely need them, but most don’t.

itsgettingweird · 09/01/2025 07:37

Ilovemyshed · 09/01/2025 06:41

An SUV covers everything from a compact Nissan Juke to a very large Toyota Landcruiser, so some are pretty big cars, others normal size with extra ground clearance.

I have a medium SUV. It has a decent boot capacity and 5 seats. I have it because of the higher driving position which is safer, better road clearance which is good on the rural lanes around me, plus elderly parents can get in and out of it easily. Plus it fits in a normal parking space and is easy to drive.

Yes. we have the Skoda Kamiq which is basically their version of the Juke!

Fargo79 · 09/01/2025 07:37

username299 · 08/01/2025 23:41

It's a status symbol. Some people are very concerned about how they're perceived by others.

🤣 This absolutely smacks of jealously. Which is silly because lots of people are driving ancient SUVs that aren't worth much anyway (me included).

I drive an old Volvo XC90 because it's practical for us.

  • The boot is enormous and big enough for a pushchair, dog crate, all our outdoor gear, kids' sports equipment etc without me having to spend ages carefully stacking everything to make it fit.
  • It tows the work trailer and our caravan easily.
  • It copes easily with some very challenging rural roads (poor surfaces and steep inclines) near our home.
  • I feel safer and more comfortable being higher up.
  • The tailgate is the best feature on any car I've ever owned. Ideal for nappy changes on the go, makes loading/unloading a breeze and gives somewhere for the kids to sit and get changed out of wetsuits/outdoor gear. We've had loads of "boot BBQs/picnics" where we sit on the tailgate and cook/eat after a day at the beach.

Parking is not an issue because... I can drive. It always shocks me to realise how many people don't possess adequate driving ability. It really shouldn't be a problem for someone who has passed a driving test to reverse park any car.