What is the point of them?
Talking about cars in general last night with friends and whether a tow vehicle or not, I was asked "What is the point of an SUV? They seem to be neither one thing nor the other with no apparent benefit".
In truth, I couldn't answer the question. Anyone got an answer?
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The obvious point is that they are higher off the road giving easier access and better visibility.
You might also get good load space, better ground clearance and 4wd.
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That’s why I said “might”. 👍🏻
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Smaller SUVs' are just small cars on stilts and usually 2wd, benefit is getting in and out for the less agile amongst us.
The larger SUVs' have the same ease of getting in/out, similar commanding view of the road and surroundings, usually comes with a better noseweight figure, and of course 4wd for stability, Also usually a higher kerbweight figure.
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The fact they’re in between for me is the good thing, I’ll be in the market for a down size from my pickup soon. A std car is too much of a change & I need to be off the roads but not serious off road. So I’m researching SUV’s as an in between👍🏻😊
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The higher seat can be an advantage. I have a smallish one. 2005 X-Trail. I have a friend who is very bad with Parkinsons. He can just about able to move around his home very slowly using a Rollator. If I need to take him anywhere I use the X-Trail. He can get his bum on the seat with some shuffling around to turn and getting hold of the car door and I can then lift his legs in one at a time. Also he is more able to get out. He did go down on one occasion and whilst I was able to ease his fall we had to await assistance to get him back on his feet.
Also last year an elderley chap fell on site walking across a grass area. I went across gathering assistance from 3 fellow campers and two of us helped him up whilst a third put a chair in place. We all had a natter and then I brought the X-Trail to drive him back to his caravan. He promised to use his stick next time.
(Nice chap about 84 and he sent a bottle of wine round the next evening and so I went round and we shared a glass and a 90 minute chat). Rarely use the auto 4 wheel drive but do on occasion and I have probaby used 4 wheel lock about 4 times in 13 years.
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personally I like them, higher seating and viewpoint, benefits are usually higher weight and 4x4 and better toys on board. Certainly more space inside and more versatile all round to carry various loads.
But I think that the idea of them might be for car manufactures to sell more cars and calling something a sport utility vehicle is more appealing that car ?
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have been driving a Kia Sorento auto for 3 years now, tows like a dream, drives solo like a dream, and having had both knees replaced is just so easy to slide in and out off, and grandchildren love the 7 seat arrangement, and it is still under warranty, whats not to like
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For motorhomers the advantages are....4wd ones will pull you out of the mud.....7 seaters have more room for passengers when out and about sightseeing or shopping
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same for our one year old Sorento, best towcar we've ever had, and so versatile for storage with all the various seats down/split.
even with the second row in place, can get all the awning gear in easily and lots to spare.
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I don't quite follow the argument about stability of 4x4's. Why should they be any more stable?
You do say that they usually come with a better noseweight figure, but my previous SUV had a 2000kg towload limit but only 80kg noseweight.
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Thanks for all your replies. It seems that the majority consider the main advantage is being higher off the road making entry / exit from the vehicle easier. What I can't understand is where the phrase 'Sports Utility Vehicle' has come from. Utility, yes I can get that but why 'Sports'? There are vary few that could be described as being 'sporty' and I don't think many could perform off-road at all. Perhaps I'm wrong in trying to compare them with the vehicles that I have had in the past, an Isuzu Trooper, two L.R. Discoveries and a Nissan X-Trail all of which could not only handle off-road conditions pretty effortlessly but also had the weight and towbar loading capacities for the biggest of caravans.
Some years ago I went on a L.R. off road course where we had the opportunity to drive Range Rovers, Discoveries and Freelanders. It was interesting that we were told we mustn't take the Freelander on the part of the course that the other two vehicles could go, it would get stuck. I guess this might have been the start of a trend towards vehicles that were not much more than 'Chelsea Tractors', never to see a spot of mud. As Corners has said, SUV is perhaps a more appealing name than 'Car' but what does it actually mean?
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I think the sports bit refers to the fact that as they can have all their seat folded 'flat' and most (?) have roof bars you can carry sports equipment? So a few surf boards or bikes on the roof and a load of footballs in the boot, or climbing equipment? and then the 4x4 part to get you to the beach or mountain? Utility as is more useful than an ordinary car?
I think this is (down by the beach with a surf board) is more a dream or marketing idea than reality?
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As for names...what about the Ford Ecosport? Is it Economic or Sporty, both or neither....
We like our Kuga for the ease of access and the raised viewpoint as well as its towing abilities. Our van is stored on a farm and many was the time when I had to have the farmer put the van back on site with either his Range Rover or tractor due to mud/very wet grass. Never had to ask since the arrival of the Kuga (with its ordinary road going tyres) and it's has been a real relief knowing I would be ok.
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SUVs make a civilised van, better for shifting bikes, camping clobber, dogs and sports gear in general, without the downsides of being a soundbox and the oppressive closed in environment of a true van.
A more utilitarian vehicle without being unsuitable for domestic use.
I often refer to our Disco4 as the "truck", despite these also being the vehicle of choice for transporting many official VIPs.
Looking around SUVs seem to attract a lot of takers, not least with us caravaners.
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we were told we mustn't take the Freelander on the part of the course that the other two vehicles could go, it would get stuck.
At a proper off-road event deep in a Scottish forest my girlfriend of the time took her Freelander (on "road" tyres) on to one of the Red Runs. Except she went up when it was classed Red for downhill! She got stuck.
The problem then was how to recover it, as the Defenders on hand had great difficulty getting to the ditch where she had put it.
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Ooo...... a damn good winch and a snatch recovery! I can feel the mud larks twitching now!
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An alternative view?
Two of the three SUVs we have sat in (CR-V and older Santa Fe) are taller to get into but the seat height above the floor is too low for us.
MPV has the advantages of higher driving position than normal car, step IN rather than down or up, middle seat in the second row is usually a FULL size one, loads of boot room, with 7 seats if you need them. They also usually don't have a transmission hump in the second row,
You can get some with 4 wheel drive if this is a must.
Only the Volvo XC 90 we looked at overcame some of those disadvantages but at a monstrous price and other cost differences.
Obviously, SUV, if you want one, you want it otherwise, you don't.
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Will soon be parting with our BMW X5 which is 15 years old and a brilliant car. Easy to get in and out of, was an excellent tow car when we had the caravan, a great workhouse for moving the kids stuff around and supremely comfortable on long journeys. It will be a sad day to part with it but have ordered an i3 as the size is more suitable. As they say, the future’s electric!
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It seems that the majority consider the main advantage is being higher off the road making entry / exit from the vehicle easier
Many dsiabled drivers and passengers would disagree with that statement. I have always thought SUVs to be over engineered and oversized for everyday use. Why not have a large estate car for load carrying capacity? Myself, I prefer a small nippy car, preferrably an automatic, much easier to use as an everyday run around.
peedee
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