The Hard Truth About SUVs | 4K

The popularity of SUVs has soared over the last few years, but if you weigh up the realities, are they actually a bit stupid? Although much loved, the driving characteristics, practicality, performance and economy of SUVs often fall short of their estate rivals, so what's all the fuss about?

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[Max.]

Funny thing is, the majority of SUV's I see on the road in Germany carry only one person and the small compacts are usually 2 or 4 people.

[BboyCustomz]

Another issue with SUVs is that ironically, as we buy them in the guise of safety, they seem to increase fatality for those we crash into, especially pedestrians, but also people in smaller cars. The latter ends up making more people buy SUVs and the cycle continues.

[marquisdaily]

I hope the estate body type will make a come back. They are the most practical and aerodynamic. Not so great to package a large battery but engineers will eventually figure it out

[andrewwilson]

At last, something both Petrolheads and EV fans can both agree on! Never understood the point or need for these Chelsea tractors unless you actually plan to use it off-road. As Rory has explained, estates are cheaper, lighter, just as/if not more practical most of the time, more efficient and faster but just feels like we’re fighting a losing battle sadly…

[howlinguts]

Rory you are without peer in motoring journalism. Always, engaging, enthusiastic, knowledgeable, thoughtful, open-minded, articulate. Massive fan.

[jbogren]

I've never understood the SUV thing, really. Pay more for worse road handling, expensive tyres, higher fuel consumption, etc.
And since I don't feel like I have something to compensate for, I'll stick to sedan and estate.

[AyoHues]

Wow! This has been true for 20 years but I never thought I’d see the day when a motoring channel would have the bottle to take on both the manufacturers and readers and say the unsayable. Well done Rory! You’ve got a lot of bottle. 👏🏽👍🏽👊🏽

[johnnybgood]

I have the new Subaru Outback on order. I do need 4WD occasionally due to where I live and what I do.
With 8.5” of ground clearance and highly advanced 4WD control systems and a low centre of gravity it is a match or betters most SUV’s on the market but looks like an ordinary estate car. Tonnes of useable space and a very refined drive.
A less “prestigious” badge? I certainly hope so.

[rmr]

Finally someone who is pointing out the truth about SUVs. I know there are some benefits in owning SUVs but the negative aspects are far greater!!! Anyway, as always, excellent video!

[EmjayO]

Car purchases are emotional decisions. Doesn’t matter how impractical they are. Awesome video Rory!

[MrJamesguy]

Rory, I'm from Canada and don't normally subscribe to UK content (mostly because you get all of the good estates we can't have ;) ), but your videos are some of the most informative and well researched that I've ever seen! Seriously, half of the other outlets on YouTube, may have dove into doing a direct comparison of models between SUVs and their non-raised counterparts (though maybe not a direct trim level [that's how I'd compare it]), but none of them would have actually compared them to what we as humans actually choose; let alone cite articles comparing them to a polluting nation...

Keep up the good work!

[simonfesting]

I like your clarity, honesty and charisma. People hate to be told that their SUVs and other excessively large cars are bad for the environment. But that's the truth. Keep up the good work

[SteveHarrellRally]

This touched on one of the biggest misconceptions I hear from SUV owners about why they chose it. So many are convinced that by buying the bigger car they've got massively more cargo space, but when you compare the dimensions to the car equivalent (hatchback, estate/wagon, etc) the numbers are usually similar and sometimes are even in the car's favor. For example, the i30/Elantra GT has a full four cubic feet more cargo space than the Kona, but most when asked would believe it's the other way around

[downwind_david]

If you're living in the country dealing with gravel roads, snow etc then the increased ride height and AWD / 4WD makes sense - however the vast majority of SUVs do the school run in inner cities. My personal preference is the AWD versions of estates - Passat Alltrack, Volvo V90 Cross Country, A4 Allroad etc. You get better handling and comfort but still the ability to deal with rougher road conditions.

[ecurb]

Great video, and great topic of discusion.
I've never seen the point of SUVs. Living in Australia we have this misconception we're all bush-bashing campers, ready to take the family onto rough dirt roads and sandy beaches every weekend.
Some of us definitely are and yes NEED a propper four wheel only occasionally.
The vast, vast majority of SUVs here however never leave the bitumen.
They're dearer, cost more to run, and aren't as comfortable....so, why have one?

[onilovni]

I had a shock when I saw the MPG figures of these cars, seemed impressive 39-43 MPG... But then I remembered this is the english MPG and not US MPG. I hate it because I'm neither of these 2 and I prefer the metric system with Liters per 100 km.

[WildReefer]

I enjoy the physics on smaller, lighter cars personally. I have no kids so I can't justify an SUV to myself. I chose the other end of the spectrum. I drive a SEAT Ibiza FR with a tiny 1 liter engine, which is only really fast when you think about the engine displacement.

I agree. I am eagerly awaiting some cheap, agile electric Ibizas and Fiestas and Polos etc.

Weight is even more of a performance killer on EV's than ICE engines it seems anyway.

Bring on the e-hatchbacks for everyday folks! Accumulatively they also pollute a lot simply because there are so many of them. That's where we can really improve air quality. In the mainstream.

And we already know that an efficient hatchback is often also a fun one to drive.

Minimalism has its charms also.

[MaestroMassiah]

Great article, plenty of food for thought here. I hadn't realised how much SUVs cost over a similar estate model. This will definitely influence my next car choice.

[paulbroderick]

Give me the old school four door saloon and estate wagon every time. Practicality has become a dirty word amongst the feel good mob! Carry on sergeant major, carry on!!

[flyme]

Great video. I just don’t get the obsession with SUV’s. I drive a Land Rover because I live on a farm in the countryside. I drive through fields and I tow a trailer every now and then so I use my vehicle as it was designed for. Not because I want to sit up high. If I lived in a village or a town, I wouldn’t “need” an suv and would be more than happy with an estate or a hatchback.