Has the SUV craze got out of control?

[Jader1973]

I posted a message in the F-PACE topic and got an interesting split of opinions, so thought I'd start a poll.

My view is that the whole SUV thing has got completely out of control. I'm fed up with every press announcement being about yet another derivative with jacked up suspension. BMW and Mercedes seem to be intent on having an SUV of every shape, size and body type (I fully expect to see a 2 seater convertible SUV called the G-SL at some point).

I wish someone would turn round and say that they were never going to build and SUV; that they know what their brand represents and intend to maintain that integrity; that they respect their brand's values; that despite it being a booming market they don't want a slice of it; and that being number one and having a model in every segment is not their aim - they want to be known for a specific product type and want to be known for doing it well.

Sadly it looks as if this is unlikely to happen. Only this week we've had the nonsensically named Jaguar F-PACE (WTF is that all about?) and Bentley have announced their barge is going to be called the Bentagya (I kid you not: Wolfgang Duerheimer, CEO of Bentley Motors, told a press conference today that the name has three sources of inspiration: the Taiga, “the world’s largest transcontinental snow forest"; Roque Bentayga, a mountain peak in the subtropical Canary Islands; and the name of the founder of Bentley Motors: W.O. Bentley.)

Even Lambo and RR are working on an SUV. Although I can find no mention of Ferrari or Morgan working on one, so maybe there is hope.

So, what do you think:
Has it got out of control or do you think the Yanks and orange women deserve more choice?

[kambites]

Personally I hate the things, both to be around in traffic and to drive.

However, manufacturers are just making what the public wants, and what the public seems to want is three tonne tanks.

[LeoZwalf]

Yes, they are ugly and unnecessary monstrosities.
But "out of control"? How were things when they were "in control"? Unsure what control you are talking about.

Also unsure why people get so worked up about this kind of subject. Certainly we are seeing more of these things on the road but if you don't like them, you aren't the target market and won't ever buy one. Do you get angry driving down the road and seeing these things? Does their existence have a negative impact on your personal life? I just don't get it. Ignore them if you don't like them!

[Superhoop]

Jader1973 said:

My view is that the whole SUV thing has got completely out of control. I'm fed up with every press announcement being about yet another derivative with jacked up suspension. BMW and Mercedes seem to be intent on having an SUV of every shape, size and body type (I fully expect to see a 2 seater convertible SUV called the G-SL at some point).

I think they've kind of been beaten to it, OK so it wasn't a 2 seater, but didn't someone on here spot a camouflaged LR Evoque Convertible on test the other day?

[Triumph Man]

It's all BMW's fault! The original X5 started all of this.

[skyrover]

What on earth do you mean "out of control"

what are you proposing?

[IceBoy]

I voted I had enough but totally understand that the manufacturers are making what the consumer wants. On top of that, they are after all trying to make money?!

We as a family have never owned a SUV thingy but Mrs Ice has now shown an interest in the a mid size SUV namely the Volvo XC60 as her next car......not sure what I think to be honest but will give one a go and make up my own mind.

IceBoy
Choice is the name of the game?!

[RobM77]

Whilst I couldn't think of anything that I'd want to drive less, and yes, they make vision at junctions difficult, I firmly believe that people should be free to drive what they want to. I'm not even sure that making SUVs diverts manufacturers' attention away from proper cars, because Porsche have already proven that massive bloated things sell so well that they actually support the business and feed money into other things. So I think it's fine as it is, although I didn't vote 'no' because it includes the words "I like them"

[skyrover]

Triumph Man said:

It's all BMW's fault! The original X5 started all of this.

It's chevrolet's fault... behold the first SUV

[anonymous-user]

How can people get so upset by a type of car, maybe we should all drive around in Trabants

[djdestiny]

The only thing out of control with them are usually the people who can't handle or manoeuvre such a big vehicle

[Johnnytheboy]

The thing that makes me titter is when they are described as "Urban" in some way. What do they bring to urban driving that couldn't be accomplished by a normal car?

[B'stard Child]

Poor roads = More SUV

Larger wheels on cars = Poor ride = More convert to SUV

[skyrover]

djdestiny said:

The only thing out of control with them are usually the people who can't handle or manoeuvre such a big vehicle

Most SUV footprints are smaller than your average mondeo/insignia.

I'm going to hazard a guess that anyone who can't manage an SUV will struggle with a family car as well especially without the benefit of the SUV's superior seating position.

[RobM77]

Johnnytheboy said:

The thing that makes me titter is when they are described as "Urban" in some way. What do they bring to urban driving that couldn't be accomplished by a normal car?

The other thing I find ludicrous is the term Sports Utility Vehicle and the advertising involving people mountain biking or surfing etc. I know of nobody who surfs or windsurfs and drives an SUV, because the roof rack is just so high that it makes it a right PITA to get anything up there and secured properly; likewise for bikes, which are even worse because they're tall and you need to hold onto them so much higher. There used to be a guy on the beach that I kayaked off who had an SUV and it was hilarious watching him trying to get a 5 metre 30kg sea kayak on the roof - my roof rack is at chest height and it took me seconds, but he had to have a friend to help, two ladders and a lot of action that the Chuckle Brothers would be proud of.

As I said above though, people should be free to buy what they want and lots of people these days like the high up driving position and I suspect the fact that it's a bit different to what we've all been driving for decades. Not for me, but there's nothing stopping me buying a proper car so I'm not 'against' them in any way at all.

Edited by RobM77 on Tuesday 13th January 09:27

[Bennet]

Dear Jader 1973.

To help you understand, stop thinking of businesses as individuals. They don't make decisions like we do. The odd exceptions are apple or facebook or virgin or dyson or whatever where the main owner functions as the main director or retains a lot of interest and influence in the activities of the company. Typically he's been there since the beginning. Then you get slightly more human behaviour out of them.

Otherwise they are just massive organisations seeking to increase the wealth of whoever happens to own them at the time and thats more or less the only driving force behind their decisions.

Furthermore, there's nothing actually wrong with that, provided they don't do stupid things like run sweatshops or pay unfair wages to african orphans etc.

Just don't buy an SUV and enjoy sailing past them all in your faster, lighter whatever.

[djdestiny]

skyrover said:

Most SUV footprints are smaller than your average mondeo/insignia.

I'm going to hazard a guess that anyone who can't manage an SUV will struggle with a family car as well especially without the benefit of the SUV's superior seating position.

I know that and most of us do, but try telling that to the school run mums who can't park them for st

[BritishRacinGrin]

Stupid options. Where's "I couldn't care less so long as I can have my Saloon / Estate / Hatchback / Sportscar etc"?

Speaking of which, if any type of car is out of control it's hatchbacks, where's the thread for those? They're everywhere. SUVs and hatchbacks are killing off the estate, the MPV and the 3-box saloon.

[g7jhp]

SUV cab?

[Chr1sch]

We have an oldish x5 and bloody love it but I just can't stand all of these new spin offs, I just don't get the concept of an impractical SUV like the X6 X4 etc etc we love ours because of its practicality and sense of solidity/driving viewpoint etc , turning that into a 4 person vehicle with nag all rear headroom in my eyes seems plain stupid