The Attraction of an SUV

[presta]

View: https://x.com/but_cyclists/status/2068291769146433868


https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/20/suv-risks-warnings-road-safety-buyers-uk-study

 

[fossyant]

Take my brother and his wife. She originally had a Fiesta, he a BMW 1 series. As kids arrived he bought a Kuga (to carry the crap kids come with). Bear in mind both cars are probably as safe as each other (the Focus being quite a lot newer) - SIL takes the 'big' car to ferry the kids.

To be honest most SUV's aren't much bigger than a standard car, just taller, and research is going into pedestrian safety. They aren't really any heavier. We have a Qashqai, top of the range, so full of stuff, but it was lighter and shorter than my Nissan saloon car.

SUV's is branded about too much - a lot are quite reasonable in size but some of the big stuff - Range Rovers, new Chinese China Rovers, are as big as my van. People do see bigger is 'safer' for them.

My wife did find she wasn't getting people bully her any more after switching from a Yaris.

 

[Drago]

While I tend to agree, the research cited in the Guardian is open to question.

For a start, what are these various researchers even defining as an 'SUV' when the majority of models are actually nothing of the sort to begin with?

 

[fossyant]

The term SUV is branded about too much. The Aygo X is called a SUV, as is the Yaris X.

PS don't get a Yaris X, get a Yaris, why, the rear foot room in a Yaris X is pitiful, I struggled to get out of both my SIL's cars, and one SIL is 'short', so the seat is far forward.

 

[Electric_Andy]

SUV is adopted from the US where their cars are generally bigger, and as we know their attitude to cyclists needs a lot of refinement. I think for us it's purely the driving position, they are higher or at least you feel like you're sitting higher. Our Captur which is probably classed as a smaller SUV, has not a lot of boot space at all. Leg space front and rear was the attraction as well, as we had two 6 foot lads.
I don't see any correlation between larger SUV and bullying behavior. There are twonks driving every type of vehicle

 

[fossyant]

The driving position is better, as is leg room as it allows for a higher seat. I did appreciate the seats being higher after I broke my spine. The only down side, is we couldn't get MIL into the Qashqai as she has to 'fall' into a seat and be winched in - it was too high. TBH my folks find it hard getting in my van - I have to watch them carefully.

 

[Jameshow]

Because the roads are so poorly maintained....

 

[Drago]

Because the roads are so poorly maintained....

They say that, then contradict themselves say having fashionably big rims with slim sidewalls.

 

[Oldhippy]

It's just another large wheeled box clogging an already over populated road space adding to the environment damage we've already inflicted for me.

 

[fossyant]

Because the roads are so poorly maintained....

Funny you should say that - the suspension on the Qashqai was significantly more beefy than my saloon car (arms/springs/shocks). It does handle the pot holes better. TBH, a lot of manufacturers, you can no longer buy a 'normal car', FORD, Nissan. Ford may bring a Fiesta back but it will be the R5 / Nissan Micra with new plastic bits on it.

It's probably why gravel bikes are getting more popular given the state of roads.

 

[Drago]

But there is good news...

https://www.theguardian.com/busines...ver-jlr-battery-supply-delay-somerset-agratas

 

[fossyant]

It's just another large wheeled box clogging an already over populated road space adding to the environment damage we've already inflicted for me.

True, very true. I try and restrict the use of my big white box.

 

[Gillstay]

Because the roads are so poorly maintained....

Or because people are driving around in large heavy vehicles ?

 

[biggs682]

And just thing the majority of car journeys are normally done with up to 2 people in the vehicle but some people still decide to drive round in cars that use too much fuel , cost too much money , loose too much mony , take up too much room and they say people are the intelligent race eh....