What's the point of compact SUVs?
Discussion
Genuine question.
Am struggling to see how a compact SUV isn't just a glorified (and more expensive) hatchback
e.g. https://www.carsized.com/en/cars/compare/volvo-ex3...
A Volvo EX30 is smaller than a Nissan Leaf, a shorter wheelbase and has a way smaller boot. And yet, the latter is a HB and the former an SUV.
Am struggling to see how a compact SUV isn't just a glorified (and more expensive) hatchback
e.g. https://www.carsized.com/en/cars/compare/volvo-ex3...
A Volvo EX30 is smaller than a Nissan Leaf, a shorter wheelbase and has a way smaller boot. And yet, the latter is a HB and the former an SUV.
It sounds like you've carefully chosen an example that confirms your view.
I have had Qashqai, Tiguan, 3008, Karoq, Xceed and they were better family cars than their equivalent hatchbacks for not much more money and often no more as they held their value a bit better.
Thankfully hatchbacks and estates are also available so probably not a huge problem.
I have had Qashqai, Tiguan, 3008, Karoq, Xceed and they were better family cars than their equivalent hatchbacks for not much more money and often no more as they held their value a bit better.
Thankfully hatchbacks and estates are also available so probably not a huge problem.
Pistonheadsdicoverer said:
Genuine question.
Am struggling to see how a compact SUV isn't just a glorified (and more expensive) hatchback
e.g. https://www.carsized.com/en/cars/compare/volvo-ex3...
A Volvo EX30 is smaller than a Nissan Leaf, a shorter wheelbase and has a way smaller boot. And yet, the latter is a HB and the former an SUV.
Maybe it's the 'glorifying' people like. Am struggling to see how a compact SUV isn't just a glorified (and more expensive) hatchback
e.g. https://www.carsized.com/en/cars/compare/volvo-ex3...
A Volvo EX30 is smaller than a Nissan Leaf, a shorter wheelbase and has a way smaller boot. And yet, the latter is a HB and the former an SUV.
I don't get them either, but I imagine a taller ride height, slightly easier access combined with very targeted marketing. cheapo finance deals and generally a 'bigger is better' mentality.
Don't get hung up on the marketing, just work out what suits you.
I ran a Tiguan for 5 years. Longest I've kept any car. Normally I'm a massive car fidget.
Fast BMWs and Audis came and went. The Tiguan stayed. Easy to drive, easy to park, easy for elderly parent to get in and out of, easy to fasten child seats into, easy to load up for the tip. A bit dull but so so easy to live with.
It cost a bit more to buy but that premium was pretty much all still there when I sold it after 5 years.
I ran a Tiguan for 5 years. Longest I've kept any car. Normally I'm a massive car fidget.
Fast BMWs and Audis came and went. The Tiguan stayed. Easy to drive, easy to park, easy for elderly parent to get in and out of, easy to fasten child seats into, easy to load up for the tip. A bit dull but so so easy to live with.
It cost a bit more to buy but that premium was pretty much all still there when I sold it after 5 years.
nickfrog said:
It sounds like you've carefully chosen an example that confirms your view.
I have had Qashqai, Tiguan, 3008, Karoq, Xceed and they were better family cars than their equivalent hatchbacks for not much more money and often no more as they held their value a bit better.
Thankfully hatchbacks and estates are also available so probably not a huge problem.
Maybe the now old Nissan Leaf is an outlier, I'll have to double check that. It's definitely a big hatchback (bigger than average?)I have had Qashqai, Tiguan, 3008, Karoq, Xceed and they were better family cars than their equivalent hatchbacks for not much more money and often no more as they held their value a bit better.
Thankfully hatchbacks and estates are also available so probably not a huge problem.
Isn't this like asking what's the point of virtually any specific type of car - replace compact SUV with sportscar, estate etc and the answer is the same.
I can't think of anything better for narrow rural roads, off-roading and just general everyday stuff.
I wouldn't want to put much luggage in one or drive around a race circuit but I wouldn't buy pizza if I wanted soup.
I can't think of anything better for narrow rural roads, off-roading and just general everyday stuff.
I wouldn't want to put much luggage in one or drive around a race circuit but I wouldn't buy pizza if I wanted soup.
Pistom said:
Isn't this like asking what's the point of virtually any specific type of car - replace compact SUV with sportscar, estate etc and the answer is the same.
I can't think of anything better for narrow rural roads, off-roading and just general everyday stuff.
I wouldn't want to put much luggage in one or drive around a race circuit but I wouldn't buy pizza if I wanted soup.
An SUV is a type of car.I can't think of anything better for narrow rural roads, off-roading and just general everyday stuff.
I wouldn't want to put much luggage in one or drive around a race circuit but I wouldn't buy pizza if I wanted soup.
A compact SUV is a category within that type.
It may just be that it overlaps with HC as a whole.
For e.g. the new Renault Megane has a 440L boot, which is as big as say the one in the Nissan Ariya
Is the EX30 really an SUV? And the Leaf is bulky hatchback to compare it to.
Comparing something like a Corolla Cross with a standard Corolla makes more sense to me, you get a significant difference in height for the same underlying platform.
Personally I find the upright seating position of an SUV way more comfortable than the more feet forwards position of a conventional hatchback.
Comparing something like a Corolla Cross with a standard Corolla makes more sense to me, you get a significant difference in height for the same underlying platform.
Personally I find the upright seating position of an SUV way more comfortable than the more feet forwards position of a conventional hatchback.
Edited by RizzoTheRat on Tuesday 13th January 14:04
Pistonheadsdicoverer said:
Genuine question.
Am struggling to see how a compact SUV isn't just a glorified (and more expensive) hatchback
e.g. https://www.carsized.com/en/cars/compare/volvo-ex3...
A Volvo EX30 is smaller than a Nissan Leaf, a shorter wheelbase and has a way smaller boot. And yet, the latter is a HB and the former an SUV.
SUVs generally are shorter than equivalent lower slung cars. They have a more upright seating position which takes up less space lengthwise. The EX30 is really just a slightly taller, shorter hatchback. There is an “XC” version with higher ride height and more chunky tyres for light off-road use. Am struggling to see how a compact SUV isn't just a glorified (and more expensive) hatchback
e.g. https://www.carsized.com/en/cars/compare/volvo-ex3...
A Volvo EX30 is smaller than a Nissan Leaf, a shorter wheelbase and has a way smaller boot. And yet, the latter is a HB and the former an SUV.
The term SUV now basically covers any family car with a relatively upright seating position and slightly raised ride height. It has very little to do with the more traditional off-road definition. Get over that and they do make plenty of sense to most people.
Our compact SUV is a little Daihatsu Terios that has more ground clearance than a hatchback, permanent 4wd, lockable centre diff with mild AT tyres. It's our s
t weather/st road/forestry track runabout, drag people back onto the driveway, tip, and station car. I could do some of that in our Leaf, but I'd end up having to rescue it with a mate's tractor or maybe with the Terios if it is just struggling to drive over a twig. Is the Terios a full fat off roader? No, not at all. No low ratio, not enough diff lockery, not enough ground clearance, not enough articulation. It's an SUV that's a little more capable than a road car and does everything a local runabout car needs to do too. And it cost £1500. It's tyres just cost a fraction over £500. Cheap minger in Le Chameaus.
t weather/st road/forestry track runabout, drag people back onto the driveway, tip, and station car. I could do some of that in our Leaf, but I'd end up having to rescue it with a mate's tractor or maybe with the Terios if it is just struggling to drive over a twig. Is the Terios a full fat off roader? No, not at all. No low ratio, not enough diff lockery, not enough ground clearance, not enough articulation. It's an SUV that's a little more capable than a road car and does everything a local runabout car needs to do too. And it cost £1500. It's tyres just cost a fraction over £500. Cheap minger in Le Chameaus.fooman said:
Why buy just a Compact vehicle when you can have a Sports car and a Utility vehicle all rolled into one. In reality it's a marketing achievement not a technical one
It’s a daft name, especially the “S” part as many of them are far from sporty, but they are still very good at what they actually do. Who cares what they are called? Does anyone know where the term originated? I believe it was originally a US thing, but the “Sport” part is a bit odd. Maybe they meant “Sport” as in hunting bears or whatever!uktrailmonster said:
It s a daft name, especially the S part as many of them are far from sporty, but they are still very good at what they actually do. Who cares what they are called? Does anyone know where the term originated? I believe it was originally a US thing, but the Sport part is a bit odd. Maybe they meant Sport as in hunting bears or whatever!
It's "sport' in the sense of "helps your sporty lifestyle", i.e. getting into the countryside, the beach, chuck muddy things in the boot I think one of the early Hondas had an option for some kind of shower in the backdoor for washing mud off things. Or maybe the rear wash wipe hose broke and someone claimed this was a feature.
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