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?

So you never board a bus then? What an absolutely ridiculous statement. FWIW, I think there are good and bad drivers, regardless of the vehicle they yes choose. Same way that good and bad cyclists exist.

You've got me started now. And I am utterly sick of country road driving and having a huge SUV driver behind me gesticulating that I won't overtake a bike.

My small car isn't powerful enough to whizz round a bike without masses of space and it's not high enough to have the good view the SUV has of the road ahead. And I'm not a risk taking dick.

SUVs come in various sizes just like standard cars. A previous poster says they have a Mokka which is the size of a corsa but taller. Your logic is flawed.

I had to look for a new car recently. Nearly all the small fuel efficient models that were around just a few years ago, 2015-2020, have vanished. The choice is SUVs are something that looks very like them. Car manufacturers have decided that the trend towards SUVs means we all have to have them. Yay for consumer choice and never any market manipulation by the owners at the top at all.

Because people like them.

Im the same. Hate them because they are more dangerous to pedestrians and children, loads don’t fit in normal parking spaces and makes crossing the road much more dangerous when you can’t see over the top of the SUVs bumped up on the pavement but at the same time I feel more vulnerable being in a much smaller car.
had a near miss when someone attempted to overtake a car on the opposite side of the road and nearly went into us and I have to admit I was googling bigger cars for the rest of that drive. If someone’s going to drive like an idiot and crash into me then I think I want to be in the bigger car.

@Spaghettea · Today 21:08

I hate them. I'm car hunting and fed up with cars all being so much bigger these days. I have very little space to park one at home so I don't know what I'm going to do.

Even a bloody mini is huge these days.

Yep! The mini doesn't deserve that name any more. It's anything but 'mini.....' It was called that because it was so small. It's massive now!

See below... 'Mini' now vs the original mini.

.

We have an MPV which I think is a good compromise. We often need the seven seats with the grandchildren. It has a big boot. It is also higher up than an ordinary saloon car which is great as I have limited mobility. However, it is not as large as most SUVs. Unfortunately, the manufacturer has stopped making this model concentrating more on the SUV market. Perhaps this is another reason why we see more SUVS on the road as the manufacturers are concentrating on their production.

Where I live it’s a mix but there’s loads of small cars like the fiat 500 etc. These smaller cars are easy to park, cost less in insurance, and are fuel efficient. I think there is a swing back to them given the cost of petrol and diesel. When we were looking for a small second hand car recently, they were being snapped up fast. The car dealers said they were the most popular.

Do you mean actual SUVs or crossovers like a Kuga or a Sportage?

Crossovers give you a bit more height (I think the space inside is probably arguably the same). I prefer mine for that reason as I drive a lot of country lanes, and having a bit more visibility is worth it.

The cars I don't understand is the people still driving saloon cars. I get an estate/SUV/Crossover if you've got a dog for instance, but why is any one bothering with an enormous saloon.

I’ve just been for a drive in my lovely, not on finance, paid for, SUV. I use it for my everyday life because I live in the arse end of nowhere and I have very large pet animals and livestock. Plus it’s the car I wanted to buy with my own money.
BUT, there are a few cyclist on the road. They appear selfish and entitled and don’t seem realise it’s an actual road…with cars, as it was designed for. Why don’t cyclists understand that that they are not the most important people on the road?

I bought my SUV second hand 7 years ago, I picked it based on research. I wanted a reliable family car, I wasn't bothered what type of car it was, just that it was reliable. It's 11 years old now and has been a fantastic car.

What has boarding a bus got to do with anything?

I see the 'I bought my expensive oversized SUV outright not on finance' posters are out in force on this thread. Time for this pic again. 😎

Personal choice?!? It’s a ‘personal choice’ to have 10 kids with no thought when you can only afford 1 and the rest are relying on taxpayers to feed them. It’s a ‘personal choice’ to decide to never work and live off benefits. It’s a ‘personal choice’ to play trombones at 2 in the morning! It’s a ‘personal choice’ to own 50 cats who between them ensure no birds or small mammalian wildlife can survive in a 10 mile radius.

In a small overpopulated island with reduced resources ‘personal choice’ becomes a social affair, because it impacts other people. SUVs are a ridiculously excessive use of resources to lug one carcass around (typically, and most of the time) when the job can be done by a car using a fraction of the fuel and outputting a fraction of the poison, or even a bike with none. Personal choice that doesn’t affect other people is very very rare.

Good grief is there really no critical thinking left at all?

Well said @WaryCrow !!!

I don’t have an issue with suvs but I wonder why people that purchase them, then complain about fuel price rises? Due to weight and size they will get less mpg than a salon car, why purchase that type of car then complain about price of fuel when it rises by 15% in 15 years 🤷‍♀️

I've got two 7 seaters... An Audi Q7 and a slightly smaller Skoda Kodiac are they classed as sports utility vehicles? I dunno but they're big. I mainly drive on country roads and a big a road to work when I go in and they are both a lovely comfy drive. I also do a lot of motorway driving for several hours at a time. I have a load of children and a load of sports stuff all through the summer and they fit 7 adults in which is required at times... I pay a shite tonne of tax on them, as I should (one is a big diesel) but I tow trailers and pick up endless building supplies etc and it's the most practical choice for our family. I am not a fan of small cars and wouldn't have one unless I was very old and lived in a city. Cyclists are a bit like reformed smokers and I consider them a bit of a pain in the arse if they're having their leisurely cycle, two abreast, around the countryside when most of us are just trying to get from a to b. I will also say I always give any other roads users, both bikes and horses a load of room because it's just good manners. I'll be honest, I am not concerned about the height of my headlights but like to think I am a considerate driver generally but it is for noone to tell me what I should be driving and to expect me to take extra tests to gain a licence as I already pay more insurance because of the 7 seats... That idea is absolutely ridiculous.

PMSL

So the sports stuff, this is proffesional sports equipment that you play for money? Or recreational, purely for enjoyment?

I drive an electric SUV, it suits our family and big dog. Sorry it annoys you!

Other car is a large estate, hopefully that's ok!

I have a small SUV. The footprint and emissions are almost the same as an equivalent hatchback. Bought on finance but paid off early with inheritance. DH had a huge estate car before we got it and that took up a lot more space. (It fits in a normal size parking space)

I’m disabled. My hips and knees and ankle are buggered. I find an SUV much much easier to get in and out of. My next car will be one.

It's four people who play cricket with a big bag each... To be honest those bags are in the car now and stay there the whole season unless they come out for a shopping pickup... Not professional but certainly serious players, all of them. Cricket is 'equipment heavy' and pleased I didn't let anyone take up the harp or double bass.