We just can’t get enough of them and the manufacturers are so desperate to sell them that they will imaginatively add an SUV badge to just about anything if they think the public will “buy” it.
For 2017 to the end of September nearly 39% of all passenger vehicles sold new in New Zealand were SUV’s (up 3.5 percentage points from 2016). Medium SUV’s are the largest single category with 16.3% market share, with large SUV’s second at 11.5%, and small cars the first of the traditional model segments at 10.8%.
Some of the popularity is logical – the higher ride height gives a better view of traffic and surroundings, the larger size and height makes drivers feel safer, most have AWD which is definitely safer and the interior is roomier, especially in terms of luggage space, whilst many models have seven seats for families and the slightly higher seats can make getting in and out easier. Some of it is more perception – not as boring as a station wagon or people mover and they have a more rugged and adventurous persona. But there are equally some downsides. The extra ride height affects handling, they are heavier and less aerodynamic so fuel consumption is generally higher, and many people are now opting for cheaper 2WD models losing the safety benefit of AWD (not to mention the ability to do some mild off-road travel.
SUV is a somewhat abused term that has now pretty much come to mean whatever the marketer wants it to mean. Originally an SUV (Sports Utility vehicle) was built on a body on frame platform – think Nissan Patrol, Toyota Land Cruiser, but now has been spread to uniframe (passenger style) vehicles.
One of the early trends to widen the definition was to take a station wagon (or even large hatch) and increase the ride height, add some off-road looking trim (different bumpers, plastic arches and body armour, skid plate, etc) and voila – an instant SUV. Subaru has been rather successful at this with its Outback (based on the Legacy wagon) and XV (based on the Impreza hatch) – and they do have some genuine off-road chops with decent ride height (220mm ground clearance for XV vs Impreza’s 130mm), AWD and off-road focussed electronics such as traction control and hill descent control. But now some manufacturers have gone a step further – rebranding what is just a standard hatch as an SUV, no AWD, no or minimal increased ride height – and a few cosmetic add ons – Hyundai’s i20 Cross and VW’s Cross Polo spring to mind, although there are others – no or minimal ride height increases, still 2WD and some different bumpers and plastic trim and lo and behold it’s an SUV – supposedly! Makes me feel cross!
Cathy
