Are SUVs Really Useful?

Many classify them as a passing fad, even though they represent more than 25% of registered cars for the Spanish market. It should be remembered that two of these models have won the Car of the Year in Europe in successive years. Regardless, the debate over whether SUVs are really useful is rampant.

A passing fad … with forty years of history

It was not in the United States, nor was it in Asia. The first model to fall into the Sport Utility Vehicle category was built in the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. His name: Vaz 2021, known outside the ‘red giant’ as Lada Niva.

It went on sale in 1977 and was designed with a specific goal: to withstand the roughness of the terrain and roads of the largest country on the planet. But above all , walking without problem between the most extreme climates ; either at 40 ° C in the Ryn Desert or at -50 ° C in Siberia.

In addition, this model was built within a socialist economy and from its conception it has always been an economical car ; with necessary equipment and accessories, without superfluous luxuries. Its assembly line is still in operation; The Lada Niva is the most popular of the vehicles made in Russia.

SUVs ‘Made in USA’

It didn’t take long for American companies to notice what their Communist rivals had accomplished. In 1984, the model that served to spread fashion throughout the entire American continent came on the market: the  Jeep Cherokee XJ.

The American Motors Corporation (AMC), sought to attract a very specific audience: urban families with a spirit of adventure. This three or five door model had a robust and functional body; at the same time, the idea was to offer a use by the city full of comforts.

What is an SUV?

These are cars that are used for (almost) everything; or at least this is what their manufacturers promise. Ideal for urban trips, full of accessories and automotive technologies, a lot of space and comfort. All of the above complemented with the ability to roll on uneven, mountainous or rough terrain.

It represents a middle ground between a compact car and a classic all-terrain vehicle.  It also incorporates elements of the minivan, such as the distribution of seats; they also have adaptability to carry cargo and passengers in a combined way. Are SUVs Really Useful?

With the arrival of the new millennium, this vehicle segment, which is also coined terms such as crossovers or car for everything, has not stopped growing. Today, almost all manufacturers have at least one model with these characteristics for sale.

However, if we compare with the Russian example, many of the current SUVs have little or nothing to do with the Lada Niva. The Soviet vehicle, which has an all-wheel drive system, works well on asphalt, sand or an ice rink; Millennial models will hardly be able to boast of this.

Advantages and disadvantages

Several of the general characteristics of SUV vehicles can be considered simultaneously as pros and cons. Personal tastes and even the economic capacity of users are fundamental in the debate about whether SUVs are really useful.

Vs All Terrain Vehicles

An SUV will usually have lower prices than a ‘classic’ all-terrain vehicle. However, your off-road skills will never be comparable. Even most of the crossovers are 4 × 2 vehicles, almost always with front transmission.

In contrast, for most of those who drive a “compact” SUV, this does not seem to be a very important factor; less than 10% use it for off-asphalt work.

Additionally, the lower capacity in tough and difficult terrain is compensated by an extensive list of technologies, gadgets and driving aids. Systems such as side cameras or 360 ° vision cameras are standard on many SUV models.

Vs Urban Compacts and Tourism Cars

Compact SUVs have a higher viewing height for a car that offers the same length as a “conventional” passenger car.

This height allows the driver to have a better command of his field of vision; likewise, access to the passenger compartment is facilitated. Although not a few critics consider this supposed quality a hoax, which brings only a false sense of security.