What is the obsession with modern “SUV’'s” and Crossovers in this country?
Almost all of them are hatchback sized on the inside, they only have 2 wheel drive so they are completely useless off-road, the boots are tiny and they only have 4 realistic seats. They are painfully slow as well.
Raising the centre of gravity of any vehicle makes it worse around corners, the MG HS for example is so bad, you literally get physically sick from the ride.
I use the Ford Puma as another example. It is a Fiesta that has been raised (for reasons I cannot fathom), then they have put it in maternity clothing. A fiesta costs between £17-£22k, a Puma costs £25-£30k…
Genuinely, why do people keep falling for this scam?
The demographic of new car buyers is getting older and less healthy: in the UK, the average age of a new car buyer is around 55, and about 70% of this age group is either overweight or obese. Having a higher vehicle that’s easier to get in and out of can make a significant difference.
Car bloat: Similar to the situation in the USA, when people start purchasing larger cars or trucks, it creates a pressure for other drivers to buy bigger vehicles to avoid feeling intimidated on the road.
The decline of the MPV: Many larger crossovers now fill the niche that used to be occupied by vehicles like the Renault Espace and Ford Galaxy.
Bigger profit margins come from them—they cost only slightly more to produce than the hatch version.
Because of this, they’re heavily marketed with “benefits” like the perceived safety, convenience for launching kids in and out, and being linked to trendy activities you’ll likely never do, like paddle boarding.
Another reason is that it’s easy to make an EV into an SUV since you can simply place a skateboard chassis underneath.
I completely agree that it makes cornering worse, but I think most SUV owners are just driving to school, Asda, work, and similar places rather than taking hot laps around the Nürburgring. So, the cornering performance isn’t a major concern when it comes to purchasing or driving one.
The decision to cease production of the Fiesta (which are great little cars) and switch to the Puma was apparently influenced by the ease of accommodating batteries for electric and hybrid vehicles under the floor.
I think the newer safety regulations make it easier to package all the crumple zones and other safety features.
I agree, it’s frustrating. I’ve rented 3 or 4 cars like this in the past year, and they feel like a big car until you try to fit any luggage in. Then you realize it’s the same tiny hatchback you had when you were 18, just now it’s dressed in about 15 layers and a big coat.