Current Events > Why's everyone driving an SUV, Truck, or Crossover nowadays

(+) Yeah! (+)

feels like that's all i see on the road anymore

Im not driving one. Are you driving one?

Visibility and fear of being the smallest vehicle in case of collision

I've never been in a crossover, but they seem as dumb as SUVs.

Even a new civic coupe is a full size sedan now

A bit of a snowball effect imo

People see big cars that could fare better in a collision, figure they need bigger cars themselves.

But also: the added ground clearance and space of a crossover, without needing to be an SUV, at a price point that was matching decent new sedans, also made them favorable.

Had two Mazda CX-5's. Some things I didn't like about it (which is why I parted ways with it), but it was handy in some ways.

My reasons:

Better visibility and smaller blindspots
Leg room
Convenience in case of needing to move a larger load, such as moving many boxes, some furniture, a bike, etc

my jeep compass saved my ass when needing to move. much better than the sedans i had up to that point in life.

after my four accident where people hit me, felt like it would be better to get a bigger vehicle. it wasn't planned, was looking at a camry but saw a new used compass of the year and drove it and it felt great. so it was fate, i guess.

I will probably buy a crossover when I need to replace my sedan. Main thing is the extra ground clearance; I live in MN so it will be handy for winter weather.

Can't wait until someone builds teleportation machines

I would love to drive a smaller car, but my legs are too fucking long and my knees almost touch the steering wheel in a SUV anyways.

I hate how large vehicles are "safer" by making the roads more dangerous for everyone else. There need to be laws de-incentivizing truck/SUV use due to their danger.

I have a luxury sports car that Im going to trade in for a Jeep. As much as I love my car, its really not practical

Legal mandates for gas mileage. Auto manufacturers have to hit average X mpg goals for their trucks. The easiest way of doing that is to build SUV and crossover vehicles that count as "trucks" as they're defined by the laws, thus raising the average for their truck fleet.

Marketing

I drive a truck because working with lots of equipment and driving way off road.

hyperpowder posted...

I have a luxury sports car that Im going to trade in for a Jeep. As much as I love my car, its really not practical

why a jeep?

Over-compensation.

sutree posted...

I hate how large vehicles are "safer" by making the roads more dangerous for everyone else. There need to be laws de-incentivizing truck/SUV use due to their danger.

What?? Lol

Arcanine2009 posted...

What?? Lol

The increase in SUVs is directly reflected in the recent uptick in pedestrian deaths in the US:
https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/new-study-suggests-todays-suvs-are-more-lethal-to-pedestrians-than-cars
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2022/03/17/suvs-pickups-pedestrian-fatalities-rise/7075333001/

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They can go pretty high.

I drive a big truck because the roads are so unsafe with all these giant vehicles. Everyone around me keeps getting a bigger truck and I have to as well, then they get a bigger truck and I have to get a bigger truck. You'd think at some point these assholes and their unnecessarily large vehicles would stop but they never seem to get the picture, so I get a bigger truck.

People buy SUVs because they dont know any better, I cant wait till this bullshit fad finally dies

There is absolutely no reason to own an SUV. everything you can do with an SUV another vehicle is better suited for

The only recent fad there is crossovers in place of "regular" car choices.

Whatever the deal is, it's almost a chicken before the egg question at this point. Since what I'd call the ordinary car manufacturers/U.S. dealerships hardly carry cars beyond the bottom of the barrel budget options (which will likely always be there at some level).

You'll get some sense of this looking at the official car websites...but geez, when you actually look at what the dealerships are carrying in stock, car options are limited as hell.

I drive a full size truck because I live in the Midwest and get actual winters, need to haul things often enough I don't want to rent a truck to do that, and tbh because everyone else is so bad at driving it's safer for me. I also grew up with trucks so I like how they ride more than most other things now.

sutree posted...

I hate how large vehicles are "safer" by making the roads more dangerous for everyone else. There need to be laws de-incentivizing truck/SUV use due to their danger.

Nissan Altima drivers are way more dangerous on the road lmao

Arcanine2009 posted...

What?? Lol

What would you rather have hit you: an Escalade or a Corolla?

AlBundy33 posted...

People buy SUVs because they dont know any better, I cant wait till this bullshit fad finally dies

There is absolutely no reason to own an SUV. everything you can do with an SUV another vehicle is better suited for

What is better for driving in bad winter weather than an SUV?

sutree posted...

What is better for driving in bad winter weather than an SUV?

A truck if you get the right one.

I have no doubt that there's a strong correlation between the rising rates of obesity in the country and the rising rates of large vehicles being purchased.

AlBundy33 posted...

People buy SUVs because they dont know any better, I cant wait till this bullshit fad finally dies

There is absolutely no reason to own an SUV. everything you can do with an SUV another vehicle is better suited for

Leg room? Cause I checked 3-4 different dealerships and used cars around my area and my legs will not fit in a smaller car, even in a SUV my knees are dangerously close to the steering wheel.

Cause I live in canada where we experience snowfall so having a large 4 wheel drive vehicle is clutch. Plus I like the cargo space.

LightHawKnight posted...

Leg room? Cause I checked 3-4 different dealerships and used cars around my area and my legs will not fit in a smaller car, even in a SUV my knees are dangerously close to the steering wheel.

Then you need a truck, I cant fit in my wifes SUV very well but my truck(Nissan Frontier) has plenty of leg room

I love my Corolla

CAFE Standards did it.
https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/10/how-cafe-killed-compact-trucks-and-station-wagons/

One of CAFEs biggest impacts in recent times has manifested itself in how auto makers classify products. Under CAFE, vehicles can be labeled passenger cars or light trucks, with the latter category required to meet less stringent standards for fuel economy and CO2 emissions. A decade ago, the Chrysler PT Cruiser was the most egregious example of this.

I drove an HHR for 8 years and wanted something similar in size and function, so I opted for a CR-V.

I was gonna get a Malibu but after renting a brand new one, I just couldn't justify spending $30K on a modern day GM car

I like the visibility without having to drive a pickup truck.

Questionmarktarius posted...

CAFE Standards did it.
https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/10/how-cafe-killed-compact-trucks-and-station-wagons/

Yeah. Rules incentivized car companies to push SUVs and trucks.

I'm fairly diy with most things with my house so a truck makes sense.

I upgraded from a sedan to a crossover for more space when I became a father.

Norman_Smiley posted...

Visibility and fear of being the smallest vehicle in case of collision

Visibility with them is quite poor

You have no idea just how valuable that extra space is until you need it.

I can't speak for others, but in my case I need it for four specific reasons.

1. I'm 6'4, driving sedans are too uncomfortable with my legs/knees touching the steering wheel, my head hitting the roof and my legs going numb too often due to pressure.
2. I have a sizable family. There's my daughter, girlfriend, mother, grandmother, nieces and nephews. My vehicle is the go to when we travel as mine is an 8 seater.
3. Transport of materials/goods. It's just easier to fit groceries, laundry, luggage and larger objects a sedan just couldn't do.
4. I don't have the best vision and SUV tend to have a better headlamps for both brightness/distance. It's just easier to see with on the road at night and it's elevated for a better viewpoint.

Honestly I've seen a lot if people living in their suvs lately because they can't afford housing

Ive owned trucks most of my life but my current job and lifestyle doesnt really need one so I bought a sedan instead and definitely enjoy driving it more than a truck. More speed and maneuverability, and can use tighter and compact parking spaces.

I can fit my camping/road trip setup with room to spare. My mountain bike also fits in the trunk with the rear seats down and I take off the front wheel. It can mount a roof rack and cargo box if I ever need to expand the storage (though Im avoiding that so far to keep the MPGs up)

If I need to haul some big shit as a one-off, I figure I can rent a u-haul or Home Depot truck.

Pitlord_Special posted...

Ive owned trucks most of my life but my current job and lifestyle doesnt really need one so I bought a sedan instead and definitely enjoy driving it more than a truck. More speed and maneuverability, and can use tighter and compact parking spaces.

I can fit my camping/road trip setup with room to spare. My mountain bike also fits in the trunk with the rear seats down and I take off the front wheel. It can mount a roof rack and cargo box if I ever need to expand the storage (though Im avoiding that so far to keep the MPGs up)

If I need to haul some big shit as a one-off, I figure I can rent a u-haul or Home Depot truck.

How can you go back to being so low to the ground?

voldothegr8 posted...

How can you go back to being so low to the ground?

I had to drive an Elantra as the insurance provided rental after my truck was totaled, but before I bought my WRX, so I was already getting used to it.

That said, I keep throwing around the idea of getting the WRX lifted and to get some thicker tires once it comes time to replace the OEM tires.

Trumpo posted...

Visibility with them is quite poor

No its not. They have blind spots sure, but so do cars. You get the added bonus of being as high or higher than other people. Thats huge for down road visibility. In my car I can see the car in front of me, maybe a second if its a Miata or something in front of me. In my suv I can normally see many cars ahead. Gives you much more time to react.

If visibility so good on these monstrocities, then why are pedestrian deaths up?