Why are there so many SUV's on the road?

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I've just had a wonderful cycle ride (we used to cycle a lot during lockdown but not since).
We really noticed how busy the roads were, which was unsurprising, but we also noticed that most people drive suv's now, which is a pita.
Why is this, and how do people afford them?

Because people are happy to buy things they can't afford by doing payment plans. Keeping up with the Jones.

why are they a PITA? I have an SUV & I love it ,
feel safe and plenty of room for my large dog .
I bought mine brand new a few years back and got a very good deal 😊

Yes why are they a PITA? We have one, more for longer trips with the whole family but I also have a mini and I don’t think I drive them any differently…

Why is this

Because they're popular/fashionable.

and how do people afford them?

Because they have the money.

I'm answering in good faith by the way, as your questions seem a little odd?

What a strange question, it's a bit like asking why do so many people wear jeans? Or shop in Sainsbury's?
I marvel at those adults who make/find the time to go for bike rides, but wouldn't consider you or anybody else for that matter a PITA?

Because there are relatively few estate car options now so if you want something bigger than a hatchback then you're more likely buying an SUV.

Went car hunting and there’s just more SUVs for sale now! Money wise they’re not too different to cars now either (not an suv owner btw!)

Also, they've been very popular since waaaay before lockdown.

And I don't even drive or cycle.

Such a pain, take up too much of the road, can’t see around them as a pedestrian or cyclist and just impossible to get past when all Parker

Why? Because I have five dogs and two DDs and the SUV version of my car has 300L more space when the back seats are down than the estate version.

How do people afford it? By having money, the same way anyone affords anything.

God I hate them. I live in London so there is absolutely no need for them here. They take up so much more space, which is a real problem on London's many Victorian residential streets. They are so much more dangerous to pedestrians. I really worry for my year 6 child walking home from school as they are so huge compared to her.

Before any one bleats on about needing the space. We function fine as a family of 4 with a corsa.

Very glad to have sold mine. Cost a fortune in diesel

I don’t like them. The headlights are higher up and dazzle me in my non-SUV car, and as a cyclist (as well as a driver) I don’t think the line of sight is as good to things lower down (e.g. me).

I've driven SUVs for the last 20 years. I like the higher seating position and the boot is big enough for the dog cage.
My SUV cost a lot less than the neighbour's Mercedes.

Because safer for you = less safe for everyone else. (By which I mean other road users and pedestrians). And people don't tend to like selfish wankers who put their lives at risk.

Hth.

Why are they a PITA?

1. parking spaces are often not big enough for them which impacts other road users
2. they are heavier (especially electric ones) and are a contributing factor as to why roads are deteriorating so quickly these days.
3. they take up an obnoxious amount of room on the roads, if they’re parked on a public road they are a bigger obstruction or if a road that has parked cars can still enable 2 way traffic this possibly is reduced if the oncoming traffic or the parked car is an SUV.
4. they are more dangerous when involved in collisions.
5. the SUVs parked badly outside of schools are particularly a nuisance, all types of cars do this obviously, but SUVs are particularly difficult to see around if a pedestrian (particularly small children sized ones!) are trying to cross.

I’ve kept this relatively neutral except for my obnoxious description, as that’s how I view them, I could have added a few more personal things from experiences but honestly I think that’s a sufficient amount of reasons already!

Much better view of the road than a low to the ground car. Better trunk access.
Lots of price point options.

I love mine. It’s roomy, suits my family needs, very safe and it’s just as fuel efficient as a normal car (hybrid).

Is a Qashqai an SUV? Cos we have one of those and it fits in parking spaces fine. And is way safer for pedestrians and cyclists etc than out previous car as it has cameras and sensors everywhere and beeps at me whenever I do anything it considers even slightly risky.

I love mine. Had a jaguar xf for a while then bought my latest car and forgot how much I love them and feel much safer. How did I afford it? I saved and bought it outright.

Oh also we got it because we went to several second hand garages for an estate car and couldn't find one anywhere.

We have two big cars. The reason is we have 5 children so needed a car we all fit in.

I have a suv, it wasn’t that much more expensive than the model down. I have 3 kids so wanted a decent sized car.

We need the space for 3 kids (2 car seats) and we can afford them because we just can? It’s as simple as that

I think smaller cars in general are just less popular now and less get sold. SUV’s have definitely taken over.
I live quite rurally and we are farm folk so mine is very much a workhorse vehicle for transporting things- feed bags, bedding for animals, dogs etc.