The Hard Truth About SUVs | 4K
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- Опубликовано: 25 июл 2024
- The popularity of SUVs has soared over the last few years, but if you weigh up the realities, are they actually a bit stupid? Although much loved, the driving characteristics, practicality, performance and economy of SUVs often fall short of their estate rivals, so what's all the fuss about?
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Funny thing is, the majority of SUV's I see on the road in Germany carry only one person and the small compacts are usually 2 or 4 people.
Thats cause you usually drive compacts when your young and still prioritize your friends but drive an suv when they only thing you have to worry in live is how to spend your meaningless money.
You forgot to add that this 'only one person' is mainly 30 years old blond woman in sunglasses and wallpaper on the face, or 30 years old unshaven guy - both of them with a look of superiority on their faces;)
Here in Australia, majority of our SUV's are people that are not confident in their driving. Which is a really bad combo, as they have difficulty maneuvering in tight spaces even with all these sensors. My mum had to scratch her BMW X6 in the shopping center car parks a few times before my dad came to his senses and downsize to a smaller 2 series.
So in other words people with SUVs have no friends!
@@mwmv921 God that stereotype is SOOOOO accurate! :-D I cannot tell you how many times I see those bleach-blonde fake-tanned women in leather jackets and sun glasses driving a Range Rover, X5 or whatever, thinking they look the business when in fact they are just a living cliche. I love to watch them getting stuck in car parks and strugging to manouver/park up those silly cars that are so obviously too big for them. Vanity can be a truly comical thing sometime.
Another issue with SUVs is that ironically, as we buy them in the guise of safety, they seem to increase fatality for those we crash into, especially pedestrians, but also people in smaller cars. The latter ends up making more people buy SUVs and the cycle continues.
Absolutely true!
I drive a Miata to work and let me tell you, SUV drivers straight up don't even see me half of the time.
Not an issue for them as much as me, because if Karen one day DOESN'T stop in time, she will just kill me.
Except SUVs are far more prone to rollovers.
Do the points in this comment and this video also apply to smaller crossover SUVs like the ford puma and nissan Juke
Its like a nuclear war. One country posseses it so the other countries follow to keep up.
I hope the estate body type will make a come back. They are the most practical and aerodynamic. Not so great to package a large battery but engineers will eventually figure it out
Mg5 long range gets amazing reviews
What this guy calls an "estate car" is very nearly identical with the SUV I drive in the US.
Would love to see more Estate cars on the market as full electrics! Please make it happen, Kia/Hyundai!
@@Lewis_Standing I have the short range MG5 EV. It's a great workhorse - think Octavia Mk1, but it's so soft that it's a lot less dynamic than many SUVs.
Vw Passat estate still going strong tho
At last, something both Petrolheads and EV fans can both agree on! Never understood the point or need for these Chelsea tractors unless you actually plan to use it off-road. As Rory has explained, estates are cheaper, lighter, just as/if not more practical most of the time, more efficient and faster but just feels like we’re fighting a losing battle sadly…
But most of these suvs absolutely suck off-road. The differentials they are fitted with are laughable, no better than the ones fitted on station wagons.
@@SilentClouds They really are just pavement pounders. Made to climb a curb here and there, cross a small fording, navigate some potholes and such. They really cant do much else.
@@SilentCloudsI’ve seen saloons that are better off-road than some suvs 🤣🤣
It's my money
Rory you are without peer in motoring journalism. Always, engaging, enthusiastic, knowledgeable, thoughtful, open-minded, articulate. Massive fan.
agreed, he's such a good presenter
Totally agree
Yes! 👌
Respect to Rory!!!
He’s great no doubt, but not the best.
I've never understood the SUV thing, really. Pay more for worse road handling, expensive tyres, higher fuel consumption, etc.
And since I don't feel like I have something to compensate for, I'll stick to sedan and estate.
Bruh, AWD and big size are absolutely worth the extra money
@@yacinealg152 You don't need AWD. The "bigger" (only taller) size is exactly what is causing worse handling.
Seems like a great fit for insecure people.
@@motorpolitan8884 nah, i need AWD in all type of situation, i enjoy my family's santafe more than the Passat TDI simply because the santafe got AWD and it feels like you're bigger and scary on SUV
Unlike a car, big is cool mate, i once wanted to buy a Varadero 1000 or a R1200GSA because they aren't toys, they are big intimidating bikes that if you hit them, they will not get a lot of damages, unlike roadsters or sport bikes
And no, they aren't insecure, SUVs are like tanks, they are more secure than a car
SUV are great for car manufacturers, as this type of vehicles are designed to extract more money from their owners. Car manufacturers have good marketing departements which can efficiently convince people to donate their money to them.
@@motorpolitan8884 what about trunk space? I find that I can never fit my costco run into my wife’s sedan.
Wow! This has been true for 20 years but I never thought I’d see the day when a motoring channel would have the bottle to take on both the manufacturers and readers and say the unsayable. Well done Rory! You’ve got a lot of bottle. 👏🏽👍🏽👊🏽
Rory, I'm from Canada and don't normally subscribe to UK content (mostly because you get all of the good estates we can't have ;) ), but your videos are some of the most informative and well researched that I've ever seen! Seriously, half of the other outlets on RUclips, may have dove into doing a direct comparison of models between SUVs and their non-raised counterparts (though maybe not a direct trim level [that's how I'd compare it]), but none of them would have actually compared them to what we as humans actually choose; let alone cite articles comparing them to a polluting nation...
Keep up the good work!
Finally someone who is pointing out the truth about SUVs. I know there are some benefits in owning SUVs but the negative aspects are far greater!!! Anyway, as always, excellent video!
Lets not start with americans and their trucks xD
Yeah you’d be pissed at how many f-150s are sold a second lol
Dude, I’m from Texas. Here buying an SUV is the reasonable thing to do as opposed to a massive pick up.
unless you have disabilities which mean the higher access is useful, OR you actually NEED an off road capable vehicle (which an SUV should be, these crossovers are just a gimmick) then i see NO advantage at all!
@@petelattimer6808 I don’t even need a car lol I work from home and take my BMW X5 only to chill on a cool smoke spot in La Jolla. Welcome to the San Diego life! People here live to flex and chill lol
Car purchases are emotional decisions. Doesn’t matter how impractical they are. Awesome video Rory!
Sure but if they are actually bad for people around you, i dont think its fair to just say "but it makes me feel good"
@@DennisJosephin If I lived in a big city then yes most likely.
@@bingoberra18 Why not in small city? A small city car will always be more ecological than a sporty sedan no matter the place. Cars are not brought for saving the planet but for fun/utility/status/feel. It is because of climate change happening Suv are considered bad otherwise no one would have any problem.
I own an Up! GTI. Perfect blend of a cheap/reliable/sporty car. It wasn’t long ago a car of this size was a ‘normal’ sized hatchback 20years ago.
@@thecraigmachine69 perfect daily in my opinion!
I have the new Subaru Outback on order. I do need 4WD occasionally due to where I live and what I do.
With 8.5” of ground clearance and highly advanced 4WD control systems and a low centre of gravity it is a match or betters most SUV’s on the market but looks like an ordinary estate car. Tonnes of useable space and a very refined drive.
A less “prestigious” badge? I certainly hope so.
lol, what do you do? what type of environment do you live in? Does 'occasionally' mean once a year? I bet it does.
This video, or concept, should be known as a requirement by every car seller and he should let every customer know about this
Thank you Rory
This touched on one of the biggest misconceptions I hear from SUV owners about why they chose it. So many are convinced that by buying the bigger car they've got massively more cargo space, but when you compare the dimensions to the car equivalent (hatchback, estate/wagon, etc) the numbers are usually similar and sometimes are even in the car's favor. For example, the i30/Elantra GT has a full four cubic feet more cargo space than the Kona, but most when asked would believe it's the other way around
I personally hate SUVS...buts it not just about cargo space...SUV's are usually to offer more shoulder room and head room then their wagon counterpart
I bought my Honda Pilot 2009 for the smooth ride, superior visibility, and not sitting on the pavement feeling. Would not trade or sell it. Will drive it till it dies. So far 2 small minor troubles, changed a sensor and the overhead cabin light.
@@puppetmaster3371 So you have sacrificed speed, fuel efficiency, a better ride, cost, ease to park, and you likelihood of killing pedestrians in a collision all because you don't like the feeling of "sitting on the pavement"? Guess what... if you are in a vehicle, you are on the pavement.
@UC_v8z_VxaTWMsIT-IdppYYA A Honda Pilot is objectively worse in almost every way to most cars. The only thing you gain is offroad capability.
@@a_single_white_female Ok if you say so. The 2009 model was rated 4.5 out of 5 in nearly every car magazine.
I enjoy the physics on smaller, lighter cars personally. I have no kids so I can't justify an SUV to myself. I chose the other end of the spectrum. I drive a SEAT Ibiza FR with a tiny 1 liter engine, which is only really fast when you think about the engine displacement.
I agree. I am eagerly awaiting some cheap, agile electric Ibizas and Fiestas and Polos etc.
Weight is even more of a performance killer on EV's than ICE engines it seems anyway.
Bring on the e-hatchbacks for everyday folks! Accumulatively they also pollute a lot simply because there are so many of them. That's where we can really improve air quality. In the mainstream.
And we already know that an efficient hatchback is often also a fun one to drive.
Minimalism has its charms also.
I drive a VW UP TSI. 1 liter, 3 cilinders, turbo, 105hp, 950Kg. Amazing ride!
@@ThiagoAbelhas I know what you mean. My Ibiza has 115 HP and it's fun to drive a 3 cylinder turbo. It still amazed me how fast they are, all things considered.
Completely agree with the sentiment, I think superminis are being overlooked in more ways than one. I'm looking for a hyper hatch or sports car right now and the only reason I'm not considering a supermini is because I'm shopping in the 300-400HP range.
Granted I'm likely going for an RS3, which isn't much bigger, but is there really no market for a 300HP supermini or small sports car? I genuinely think there is considering how well the Yaris GR sold. Small sports car top out at about the same power too (Miata, GT86). Missed chance imo.
@@WildReefer I've got a Skoda Citigo, only 85hp but it drives fantastic. SEAT Ibiza FR or a Polo GTI are probably the next car I'd be looking at
Couldn’t agree more with this!
I had a shock when I saw the MPG figures of these cars, seemed impressive 39-43 MPG... But then I remembered this is the english MPG and not US MPG. I hate it because I'm neither of these 2 and I prefer the metric system with Liters per 100 km.
I once got really confused in a conversation about fuel efficiency with a guy in Scotland until I realized he was speaking in imperial gallons. (Using liters/100km would have removed the ambiguity.)
I was in the market for a hybrid recently and noticed that there are a lot of hybrid SUVs out there now, that use all this advanced technology just to bring the fuel economy of a giant SUV up to the point you'd expect of a conventional sedan. It does seem like a waste, more like buying an indulgence than any kind of eco-smart decision.
@@MattMcIrvin That's the rebound effect; solving a problem to see it reappear shortly after for a different reason. Hybrid SUV are better than standard SUV but are nowhere near a proper eco car who will do 3-4L/100km.
I like your clarity, honesty and charisma. People hate to be told that their SUVs and other excessively large cars are bad for the environment. But that's the truth. Keep up the good work
If you're living in the country dealing with gravel roads, snow etc then the increased ride height and AWD / 4WD makes sense - however the vast majority of SUVs do the school run in inner cities. My personal preference is the AWD versions of estates - Passat Alltrack, Volvo V90 Cross Country, A4 Allroad etc. You get better handling and comfort but still the ability to deal with rougher road conditions.
Most SUVs aren't even 4x4. I guarantee I went more places with my old '97 Audi A4 Quattro than most people do with their ginormous X5s.
Tires are far more important than any other factor on snow and ice. AWD doesn't help you slow down, nor does it prevent you from breaking traction. It would only help when accelerating in snow, and even then, tires are far more important.
@@a_single_white_female Awd also helps getting out of the snow, also you are more stable in corners. But I agree that tires are most important.
In many snowy places like Sweden and Norway and Austria, sedans are so common and handle snow just fine
And also the Subaru Outback and Forester which are estates disguised as SUVs to sell in the US.
I have owned all different types of luxury and performance cars over the years. I once had a lease on a Range Rover sport and couldn't wait to turn that thing back in and get another car by the time it was due. I see the appeal in owning one if you have a family, but they get boring. Its also weird to pay more on gas for something that is slow.
Slow uno . Ur flying past in a svr or amg mate
I went on a Land Rover experience driving a Range Rover Vogue and it was dazzlingly good on the off road course, but when I got it on the road I was like... wow... this is actually shite.
@@bwmim9709 The fastest suv's are only hot hatch fast and in the corners will get eaten by any semi decemt car, they are garbage for posers.
@@redline589 search Porsche gt cayeene Lool about hot hatch fast . This isn’t 2005
@@bwmim9709 The Cayenne GT is £144k haha - The Cayenne S is hot hatch fast and 70k as fast as 45k hot hatches
Brilliant video Rory. Absolutely essential to educate buyers SUV's are inherently flawed. I have one myself, so I'm as guilty as the next man, but it's going next year to be replaced by a hatch/estate EV.
Great video. I just don’t get the obsession with SUV’s. I drive a Land Rover because I live on a farm in the countryside. I drive through fields and I tow a trailer every now and then so I use my vehicle as it was designed for. Not because I want to sit up high. If I lived in a village or a town, I wouldn’t “need” an suv and would be more than happy with an estate or a hatchback.
There's a niche where they're practical - we have a Duster because we live down a gravel lane in terrible condition and wanted the ground clearance. But when it gets onto the road, it's reasonably economical compared to a full-on 4x4, getting 55-60 mpg on a long run. But for the vast majority, they don't make sense. Personally I think they look silly with low profile tires. If you've got a vehicle that's attempting to look "rugged", why would you want those.
Do you drive an old defender or discovery1/2, something like that?
Towing a trailer across a muddy field with an SUV is not an obsession. It’s a necessity.
Exactly. SUVs were invented for farmers (and people who go off-road). But they've become hugely popular with people who never leave the town and don't need such ride height or towing capacity.
@@cocazade7703 Exactly because of such people SUVs have also become softer in the name of comfort. They are loosing away the truck like ladderframe and solid axles. Also even worse, they are coming with tiny engines that are less reliable and less economical for heavy duty stuffs.
Great input Rory! Here in Canada, we’re basically forced in to SUVs as almost all wagons are gone or are premium and therefore too expensive. My dogs fit comfortably in our AllSpace Tig, and it was the only one in its already large size of class that would work for us.
Are subarus wagons also that expensive?!
Tbh the estates being gone is the consequence, not the cause.
It's because people stopped buying estates that they stopped selling them, not the other way around.
@@ZesPak I totally agree with you and with mentalities, people always associated estate to a category of old people or uni/school teacher...... its a shame.
But the thing is that over there you have Tahoes, Suburbans, Escalades, Yukons, Expedition and Navigator that are loaded with decent specs, and offer a much broader sense of security and safety, also it offers a far taller ride height and these factors do put the estates, mpvs (minivans) at a disadvantage. For example, why would I buy a brand new Chrysler Pacifica when I can buy a 1year used Chevrolet Suburban LTZ..
I drive a VW golf wagon and I think it's the perfect car for our family, I also don't understand the fascination with SUVs and everyone's perception about the "need" for all wheel drive. Now we get the Taos SUV to replace the wagon which I would never even consider. The golf wagon would be my next car but I guess I'll be looking at the used market when it comes time to replace my old one.
Rory. I'm an estate guy, practical with space. Great to see someone tell it like it is. Its an emotional thing that costs money and does not necessarily help the world. We'll keep on doing it until we can't me thinks. That's life, enjoy it when you can, 'cause you won't have it for ever.
Give me the old school four door saloon and estate wagon every time. Practicality has become a dirty word amongst the feel good mob! Carry on sergeant major, carry on!!
Them ridiculous speed humps in London drove me to get a Q5 actually. Yes, speed humps slow us down but when they’re every flipping 50meters, it gets tiring fast. I do acknowledge that I’m a part of the problem though
That's a vicious circle : speed bumps are now purposely designed to slow SUVs down, and getting too big for regular cars. Next thing you know, everyone that can afford it buys a SUV..
That's something I haven't thought about before.
I feel that doing 15mph in 30 zones is becoming more and more common these days...
How does jacking a normal car up in the air, help with speed bumps? Ground clearance isn’t an issue and SUVs don’t have tougher suspension
@@IverKnackerov wider track so they aren't as effected by them? Just speculating. Thinking of those ones that are only in the middle of the carriageway.
That has to be the stupidest reason to get an SUV over say a normal estate that I've ever heard.
Great article, plenty of food for thought here. I hadn't realised how much SUVs cost over a similar estate model. This will definitely influence my next car choice.
Really like this approach on comparing cars. The next level would be to measure and check these numbers in real life, not just on paper (difference in the fuel consumption at the pump and also real weight of the cars) we know that even the WLTP figures not reflected the reality very accurately :)
Very interesting comparison, thank you sir! Though I bet if you compared SUVs with the most popular choice 10+ years ago, that was likely a family hatch rather than an estate and the environmental gap would be much bigger. How many of us really need the boot space of an SUV or estate? Some, sure, but most of us would be fine with a good hatchback.
I'd argue otherwise. If you look at outdoor data, tourism, etc etc. Data growth supports that our lifestyles have ALSO changed compared to 10+ years ago. We are doing things that make us go "hmm...I kinda need an SUV for that don't I? Even if it's once or few times a season/ year, I want the flexibility to be enabled to do that thing"
Lots of hatches have really small back seats compared to crossovers and also lots of crossovers have many features in back for passengers like vents, storage, shades, etc Most compacts don't have those features.
The best mix would be a hatch, lifted up decently for easier access to people who are physically struggling, and also for the random BS life throws at you when you need the ground clearance. Also it would need to be a bit bigger than a compact to have good space for all passengers.
@@baronvonjo1929 You make some good points there and I really like crossovers. We had two Qashqai's and they were great. My problem is with the large, heavy SUVs that drink fuel and spend most of their time on the school run.
i had a quashqai as well. and found it to be way to small. tiny boot space. not enough back seat space either. but it works for allot of people though.
Rory this is a first time I have listen to your review. Fantastic honest content and delivery. I like the way you say what it is I am definitely a fa of yours
I would argue against the boot and interior space arguments. SUV's are usually wider, that's the only real advantage, if you're a ++ size. But it comes with disadvantage in exterior size and I find width being more constraining than length, when parking. The extra headroom is wasted, a Golf has enough headroom for a tall person. SUV boot size might be also comparable to a wagon, when measured in Liters, but it is less usable in real world, people never cram the boot full up to the roof. Usually only the below-cover space is used, leaving wagon with a large advantage
My friend has a Qashqai and I swear my i30 has more interior space. Even my boot is more practical. He said it helps his short wife see more of the road - she's crashed it twice. On the last one she wrecked a tyre - I can replace all four of my tyres for the cost of his replacing one. Absolutely ridiculous.
Right. Also, many say that the higher from the ground boot makes loading easier. I dare to object. Higher boot means you have lift your heavy loads higher to put them into the car. My backache wouldn't be happy. Today I have a very satisfying Skoda Octavia SW but I remember when I used to have a Renault Kangoo and loading was just a matter of rolling things into it (I was able to load a washing machine by just placing two wood boards.)
@@carloduroni5629 this lol, I aswell heard the argument how a higher boot is easier to load. It makes no sense, it's literally the opposite.
Exactly, estates are better as it's easier to load longer items in them. Also, if you fit a roof box they're a lot easier to access on an estate than an SUV.
@@davidholden2658 And no side step ....!
One major, major point missing from this article, and that is the huge increase in pedestrian injuries and fatalities with SUV's over standard cars. Pedestrian fatalities are actually RISING, and according to latest report from the IIHS in the USA (please do your own research on this, there are LOADS of similar articles with similar results - this was just the top one from a quick Google search!), a pedestrian is 20% more likely to be killed when hit between 20-39mph by an SUV over a car, and nearly 100% more likely to be killed by an SUV over a car at speeds over 40mph (SUV - 100% fatalities, Car - 54% fatalities). Even more worrisome, is the increasing rate of injuries and fatalities to children, due to the higher SUV not being able to see kids walking behind (or in front!) when moving...... usually from an actual school where all these kids happen to be!
I doubt many SUV owners will care about this though...... so long as they're safe, nothing else really matters.
They're not looking where they're walking thanks to their 'smart' devices dominating their field of view; and that applies to both the pedestrians and the drivers! Statistics will say whatever 'they' want them too: bit like 'vaccines' are safe!
@@gav10001 You're not really that bright, are you? Why don't you read my post again: how does the distraction of the pedestrian have anything to do with their survival rate, depending on whether they've been hit by a car or an SUV? Facts are facts my friend - a bit like 'vaccines are safe'.
@@GarryMcGovernWell I'm bright enough to not resort to ad hominem (look it up) comments when someone makes a valid point that wasn't at odds with your original point; just added to the discourse. And I am certainly not 'your friend'.
I'm not sure the US can be included in this comparison. 1 petrol is so much cheaper than in Europe, meaning they can buy bigger cars. 2 Roads are also bigger. And 3 in some states people don't even walk (not sure where they are getting hit). A Range Rover taking up two lanes in Norfolk is not the same as one driving along the huge byways in the US. And, in some parts of the UK, the speed limit is 20mph which is rather a waste of a 6.6l V8.
Great video, and great topic of discusion.
I've never seen the point of SUVs. Living in Australia we have this misconception we're all bush-bashing campers, ready to take the family onto rough dirt roads and sandy beaches every weekend.
Some of us definitely are and yes NEED a propper four wheel drive.....but only occasionally.
The vast, vast majority of SUVs here however never leave the bitumen.
They're dearer, cost more to run, and aren't as comfortable....so, why have one?
I wanna see more of Japanese Kei car approach. With the efficiency of modern engines and EV I think that's a better answer to the issues..
Depends on use i suppose, i very much like wagons and minivans but i think a Kei-esque vehicle could be cool. Basically a larger kei van with a significantly larger engine.
I'd go into debt for a Mitsubishi Delica Mini lol
Rory, I think you have taken the lead in Automotive journalism. Your perspective on topics are usually spot on, it's nice to watch automotive content that is more than just flash and fluff. CHEERS
I've always thought that SUVs looked like impractical, bulky hot hatch - essentially the opposite of what I love about hot hatches. I've always preferred Estates/SWs as "big" cars, given that the extended boot combined with the folding seats allows you to carry pretty much anything you want, or MPVs/minivans like the Fiat Multipla and the Renault Espace for carrying large groups, most of the family trips of my youth were done on a 1999 Chrysler Voyager back when the company was the property of Mercedes and they imported some of the American vehicles to Europe, and it was a fantastically practical car, able to carry up to 9 people with the weird folding seats in the boot. My aunt drives an Opel Mokka (or Vauxhall Mokka to our British fellows in the audience) and it's bloody awful to drive and ride in - I am a tall guy, but the seats of that car are minuscule compared to the ones in my family's Fiat Tipo Estate.
I agree, people who are now looking for practical cars, go for a big fuel hungry SUV, when a much better choice for them would have been an MPV or minivan, they’re much more space efficient, less ride height, which increases efficiency and comfort, lastly they’re also safer for other road users.
Been watching your videos for a while now, so proud of you Rory. Your knowledge is incredible, the baddest automotive journalist ever. Don’t stop!!! (Fire)
Awesome clip. Great quality, and information. Couldn't agree more, I am myself an advocate for the same cause. Love my Legacy Estate, and even though it's not a small car, people call it "little" 😞 People's perception of cars has changed so much. Taller seating makes everyone feel more significant, looking at others downwards, I guess. Otherwise worse in every way. Humans are stupid. Sad times.
So sad. I love Legacy and Outback estates
I really do enjoy this consumer advise and the way in which Rory delivers it....Keep it up Rory and Team!
I've always preferred a sedan/wagon over SUV. I also think it's more comfortable in the long wrong, to not have a 90 degree bend in my knees. I know I'm one of the few, but yeah. And they drive better, a lot better actually.
Yeah
And then the marketing men demand a Nissan Juke has 18+ inch wheels, otherwise it looks crap (worse). So massive wheels, skinny rubber, elevated height, stiff suspension to jiggle the kids around and make them sick. Who thought that was a good idea?. As you say, drive and ride like sh1t (unless your Uber expensive suv has 48v anti roll and 3 chamber everything, which most don't)
Estate fam :D but that said, i do want to have an SUV atleast once in my life.
Excellent content! Giving us numbers to think, will probably not hold us back, but at least will let us know how nonsense our choices usually are.
Great article Rory. Ive had SUV's and estates. the deciding factor for me is the back seats. I have 3 kids and SUV's are the only option with 3 full size rear seats, I find most others have the middle seat passenger straddling a transmission tunnel
This is a great insightful video as an owner of multiple SUVs. Love to see more of these along with the car reviews!!
That was one of the more insightful, efficient, and effective PSAs on estates v. SUV s that I've seen/heard. Thanks!
Hey Rory, that was a great presentation. You're absolutely right about SUV's being inefficient compared to a station wagon. I know it's just a matter of time before there will be a demand for more efficient smaller electric cars vs the offerings we have today when the cost for charging goes up substantially.
Well done Rory! Keep up the fantastic work 👊🏾
Best car reviewer. Ever. So compelling and insightful. Had this same debate before I bought my own E class estate several years ago. Estates are on the decline and SUVs are the popular choice. Why do people continue to buy SUVs when they are compromised? Peer presssure - a good motivator.
alot of people don't like the stretched look of a wagon...my wife thinks they look like hursts
The Estates look terrible its not peer pressure theyre just ugly af.
I half agree with this. I used to want a Mini Cooper, but my friends thought it looked ugly. I decided I wanted a Buick or Mazda instead.
People really find them ugly sadly.
@@baronvonjo1929 True, but that should not be the main consideration. They're generally actually not these days, I think it's more about not looking as sporty as a saloon or SUV.
I'd guess that most people who buy an estate do so because they need the space; most people who buy an SUV do so because they want the perceived prestige. Think of the capabilities of a Range Rover (offroad etc.), how many buyers actually need or ever even use that?
One thing I would say in their favour is a lot of people probably buy them because they believe they're safer in the event of an accident.
I'm definitely in the estate camp. I can't however claim it's for eco reasons, I drive an audi a6 avant v6 tdi quattro that spends most of its life with a roof box on... I simply prefer the looks and handling of an estate. To each their own I reckon.
Estates are so low and sad though. Kinda look like hearses.
@@jandersen6802 SUVs are just less practical Minivans. The smart cars for a family should be a minivan with a wagon or some smaller car as a secondary. Minivans have sliding doors, better for parking and loading kids while still having room to fit plywood in the rear.
@@reggie132 What if you need relative practicality, but don't want to look like you've totally given up on life by driving a minivan? What if you're a car enthusiast that needs a do-all, go anywhere vehicle? Still a minivan?
@@deadlydizzle7588 just buy a big estate
I’ve got one of those too, couldn’t agree more, was going to buy an X5, very pleased I changed my mind!
Sold my X5 last July. I don't fancy another SUV because of it's handling abilities. Great family car.
Beyond car review, it is a great advocacy video on sustainability issues at the nexus of human nature and technological innovation. Once we understand how the automobile industry operate we can better understand how the world operate and learn how to smoothen our desires. Thank you Rory.
Great video as always Rory, I’m ex military and now disabled with spinal injury and pain, suv style cars are of the perfect height for people like me because it’s much less painful to get in and out when we can just rest against the seat and slide our legs round. I have the X1 and the economy comes second to a less painful entry, there’s also the boot floor being a good height to put things in and get them out without having to bend down to remove cumbersome items, flush load lip along with electric tailgate just makes life much easier and gives more feeling of independence to people in the disabled sector.
Awesome work as always Rory, look forward to the next video 👍
Totally agree with you Sir! Respect to you Wesley!
I also have a spinal injury and predominantly use a wheelchair. I prefer estates because it's easier for me to transfer to and from my chair to the drivers seat as it's a similar height. Also find the boot height in an SUV too high for me to load items in.
Disabled or not, everyone wants a less painful entry. ;)
How many innocent people you killed?
If you are interested in the history of SUVs the book High and Mighty is an eye opening read
Thanks I'll read it
Briefly checked it on goodreads. Looks too old to still be entirely relevant/accurate?
Still not a fan of SUV's though.
Volvo v70 and Skoda Superb on the driveway. Estate all the way babyyy
very helpful, thank you so much... makes so much sense in easy words, love your personality... bravo...
Thorough research and engagingly presented. Great job. Food for thought.
My SUV is going in a few weeks to be replaced with an estate from the same manufacturer. The estate is 6 k cheaper, 10 mpg better, bigger boot 0.7 quicker to sixty and way better to drive. The big issue is that because SUVs are in such high demand the residuals for the estate are much worse so the payments are close.
But you'll save on running costs all round, not just on fuel economy, generally speaking.
Love your honesty and thoughts Rory. I'd also love some Engineers to literally dissect an SUV and reveal its inner wasted space ~ I know weight and perhaps Drag coefficients are easier measurements, but what are the benefits of that higher ride height other than ingress/egress and easier load heights? And perhaps visibility-for-safety ~ which by the time everyone owns an SUV is negated!
speaking of weight, why would you possibly need an electric motor to lower the back seats for you, thats gotta be a few kilos you can shave off instantly...
it’s because they look good, no ones thinking like a scientist
@@thesherbet because car manufacturers can charge you extra for those features... and people want convenience or just lazy...
The catch is: individual transport is inherently compromised. Great video, however! Well done and more critical than much of what I've seen on RUclips!
What a great, engaging presentation. First time I've seen this guy, hopefully will catch more.
I appreciate your depth in research and comparison between the SUVs and the estate (I think here in Malaysia, we call it station wagon more often). Well said; we are human, we want what we want. However, one should really look back at what we need. If the driver goes offroad a lot, then an SUV is more practical to own.
Otherwise, they should look at other more sustainable alternatives that offer the same, if not better practicality.
Another excellent video. I’m glad you are out of the shadow of Top Gear, you always outshone Chris Evans and Matt Leblanc anyway , true journalism real reviews !
Two things I feel I should say here. 1) Thanks to crossovers becoming so commonplace my grandmother could get in and out of one almost up until the day she died at 100 years old. With the mobility she had in her 90's this would have been almost impossible in a traditional hatchback. Same for my dad who, until his passing a few weeks ago, found it vastly easier to be in their C-HR than my Civic. A hell of a lot of people do genuinely benefit from those designs and that shouldn't be discounted.
2) Rather than blaming SUV's how about we look at the ridiculous rush to ever more powerful machines? Rewind to the 90's and an M3 made 300ish HP and did 0-60 in 5.5 seconds. Now a mid spec Merc or Bimmer isn't far off that and... why? Our roads are congested, most journeys are point a to b basic transport and the vast majority of drivers won't ever go looking for that sort of speed making it all overkill. Regardless of body style how much greener could cars be if we dialled performance back a touch in favour of economy?
Oh and one small comment on electric cars: we're still waiting for the tech to mature. It's getting there remarkably quickly but probably needs one more generation to make small cars with decent range / charge speed a practical reality. Right now most EV's are still very much luxury goods so they target that end of the market, that'll correct itself soon enough.
Well said and great points!
All well thought out, cogent points Stephen !
Yep, even younger people have bad backs, hips, knees etc. I dislike having to crouch getting into a car
It’s true that many people prefer cars with higher seat positions, due to mobility issues with their joints. Another factor at present is deteriorating road quality - potholes e.g. , which tend to be troublesome with tight ground clearance.
I think the reason as to why cars have more and more BHP with every iteration is for 2 reasons. 1) the technological improvements made, meaning that it's relatively easier to get more power out of an engine because so much money and effort has been invested in improving it. Secondly, and most importantly, because people are consumers and as such want an easy thing to see the difference. If your current car has 200BHP then you won't find it as impressive if the new version has the exact same amount. It doesn't give the incentive to pay for the upgrade because it doesn't seem like it is one. Whereas if your new car has 250 BHP, well it must be better because it's a higher number and that's how it works right... This is the same for most products, I think the clearest example is smartphones, every year a new phone comes out with the exact same stuff just "more and better" and "the best ever!!!" Until next year where that has "even more and even better and even bester" we're cattle and companies know how to play us to make as much money as possible!
You have a lot more knowledge than just cars. Your channel is so damn sophisticated and every time I watch your videos I learn something new. What you are doing is AMAZING.
Great video... polished presentation! 😃
I think if we thought about it we would have predicted this outcome but SUV's does feel better to drive even if it's just perception. Love your videos Rory!
Well researched, well presented thought provoking video. SUV's take up considerably more resources in their production, the wheels are huge so more magnesium alloy, the tyres are huge so more rubber, the body is larger so more metal work and steel, the list goes on. But I understand the appeal, you get a commanding view of the road, people with disabilities or bad backs find them easier to get in and out of and many have air ride suspension which smooth out our terribly maintained roads here in the UK.
Good points well made. Unfortunately forgot to mention one of the most important points about SUV ownership, you can take it off road. You can’t really take an estate car off road , not enough ride height.
But almost no-one ever does take them off-road. And with many SUVs actually having pretty disappointing ground clearance and low profile tyres many of them are not even built for off road. The most off road most of these cars do is a gravel path. So theoretically they might be the 'most important points' but for most users it is not important at all.
What percentage of SUV owners do you think take their vehicles offroad. I'm guessing 2-3%. My Golf has seen more offroad action than most SUVs.
Most of the people that own SUVs would not have the skills to drive off road.
Great Video! Very informative!!!!
Great, great video. Really well presented. A properly intelligent balanced contribution to the debate. I recently went from a 2 Series to a Z4 so my conscience is clean (ish). The X5 has to go !! New 3 series estate looks great, what are you waiting for?! Thanks for this 🙏
Rory nails it again! Managing to support both sides whilst raising the questions that need to be raised.
very amazing video, thanks
Thanks for the great video!!
polution put aside, as a car enthusiast they objectively makes no sense: interior is not actually bigger than a wagon, they handle worse, range is bad, dyna;ically they are shit VS a sports wagon> Want an X3? get a 3 series wagon. etc.
I think the view down the road more than makes up for the interior space.
Such an SUV hater... which is why I completely agree with you!
Joking aside, there are some advantages that SUV user told me but never mentioned in any media. First is ride height. Apart from added visibility, it makes it easier for you to get in or out. Because you don't have to duck down like a saloon. It also easier to get up as your butt is already at the standing height. And if you are an elder person with crappy knees, that is understandable an a massive advantage.
Secondly, if you in a third world country with humid climate like I do. Road, even in a middle of a city, can be flooded quite often. Like every monsoon season. So SUV is quite helpful there. It can traverse water while maintaining creature comfort.
So, with some Top Gear logic, if you are not in your 60 or poor, don't buy an SUV.
And before you asked, I don't drive SUV. I prefered my saloon become submerged over driving SUV home.
@@jackrobinson3392 get a lorry. view is fantastic
@@VcrThunder Get a siege tower. Even better than a lorry.
@@punnboat9817 Get a skyscraper. Even better than a siege tower
You should put this on the One Show, get the message a bit more widely spread.
Me, never had an SUV, I've got a 3 series hybrid, I don't need anything else.
What a superb article, I’ve always felt this to be the case and always pity the fools who swallow the status BS and marketing nonsense. I’d love to see you extend this argument further and include less premium comparisons and to look at the perceived but false safety aspect. Expertly and humbly presented as well. Nice job.
Inertia, Newton’s first law of motion is the issue. When you compare a modern vehicle (I'm talking modern something with a modern safety cage not a 1990 sardine can vs something modern) winning physics is going to be with the larger vehicle, mass is more likely to win. As stated in the video, the GLE is 2280kg or 5000lbs. Take a 2021 Hyundai Sonata, that's 1500kg or 3300lbs. There are so many force calculators online you can go and plug in vehicle details and see for yourself.
You pity Rory then, he's one of the fools you describe. Except he's clearly not a fool, is he? That's the trouble with high horse statements like that.
Why are you even watching a motoring channel, go glue yourself to a pavement somewhere
@@allosaurusfragilis7782 Trouble with the internet is everybody who has a different opinion than your own is a fool. Unfortunately those idiots who think so are too dumb to realise they're only making a fool of themselves.
Excellent really enjoyable informative and interesting cheers
For me the biggest drawback in SUVs is that they block the visibility for other drivers. Buying a SUV basically you trade of other people’s safety for your ego(debatable).
No different to a van... you simply sit further back to see ahead and allow for breaking distance.
such a bad comment…
Yep. So many times at an intersection I can't see past the bloody things!
Cool review. When adding an extra car to our work fleet, we chose a Volvo V60 , more unique, better dynamics ,smaller footprint or around town - no brainer.
Just had that dilemma . Have opted for an estate over an suv the numbers just didn’t make sense for a suv . Great video
Brilliant video, Rory's stuff on Autotrader is fantastic
Here in Africa it’s SUV territory so we are very happy with SUVs . Love them to bits
Completly agree. But alot of these SUV's are awful off road and are sometimes even front wheel drive. A proper range rover/ford ranger/Toyota land cruiser are brilliant. But an X5 or a GLE would be no better off road than a normal car.
Bingo.. the issue is really subjective to where you reside in the world
@@jameshedges3857 GLEs and X5s with their clever AWD system and air suspension are actually decent off road, you should check them out but of course they're not as good as Range Rovers and Land cruisers
It's Africa where there are many unpaved roads so SUVs that have great off road capability make all the sense in the world.
@@melchorvincentagot1002 in south africa we have tar roads, and still some suvs are very popular here.
Style is subjective, its weird how many ppl on here pretend they make choices based on climate change issues
Not going to lie I was definitely expecting you to find there to be less of a difference between SUV's and Estates. I'm actually surprised at how great the difference is.
I did some maths using the Merc GLE/E Class figures. Over 30,000 miles (3 years of average ownership) the SUV will produce 12,553kg MORE CO2 than the estate. Or, to put it another way, the SUV would need to tow 200 fully grown trees behind it in order to offset the extra CO2 it creates over the estate 🤯
The Earth only has a circumference of 25,000 miles. Surely 3 circumnavigations by a jet uses more fuel than the difference between a car and suv circumnavigating once.
@@henrytang2203 Thanks for your question, I was comparing CO2 figures, not fuel figures.
Just for clarity:
The circumference of the earth is 42,075km. The GLE produces 26g/km of CO2 more than the Estate. That, over 30,000 miles (48,280.32km), equates to 1,255,288.32g of CO2 or 12,552.8832Kg. A Boeing 747-400 produces 92Kg of CO2 per hour when cruising meaning it could run for 136.44 hours. At its cruising speed of 910km/h that means it can traverse 124,164.388km. Dividing that by the circumference of the earth gives a value of 2.95 circumnavigations.
Please let me know if I've ballsed up on something obvious. I've triple checked but it's been a long time since my maths classes!
I'm not worried about your maths. I think the 90kg co2 / hr figure is wrong. Hard to find reliable data, though.
Edit: try searching for "Calculating The Carbon
Dioxide Emissions Of
Flights"
Give you lots of solid data. Don't forget to multiply by no. of passengers.
@@henrytang2203 Ah thank you, I think that's why it's surprisingly low then. I wasn't aware that it was calculated and published per passenger! 🤦🏻♂️ I'll amend it now.
@@rjpm92 check your math.
Great video. Thanks.
I bought a 2009 Forester instead of a truck. I can fit a ton of stuff in it. It was a happy accident when I found out that just about everything that fits under s STI fits under a Forester. So now after sway bars, coilovers and wider wheels I have a SUV that handles like a sports car.
We don’t even get many estate/wagon models in the US. That we don’t get a CHOICE is BS!!
It would be interesting to expand on the point Rory makes about cars being an emotional purchase.
I agree with this as a car enthusiast, but I think a big chunk of the general population buy cars like they buy an appliance.
For this reason, marketing must have done a hell of a job to convince these people that an SUV or any kind of jacked up hatchback is the car they should buy, even though they’re slower, more expensive, less economical, dynamically poorer to drive, and generally no more spacious inside.
I don’t judge SUV fans who make emotional purchases at all, we’re all car fans for different reasons, but it seems the go to car style for your average motorist is now an SUV, and I can’t understand why this is the case, with the obvious few exceptions such as people with poor mobility.
I think the main reason people want an SUV is for the apperant safety you get driving them in case of collisions.
@@m.ahussain4005 it's not just apparent, a bigger car always wins out in a collision with a smaller vehicle. having better chances in a collision with other cars could be the main concern for many people I think. then there is the ride height, lots of older folks prefer it because it's easier to get into the car when you have bad back. higher ride also provides better road visibility. parking on curbs is easier due to better clearance, and it works better for bumpy roads. lots of younger people might be sold on the adventure lifestyle "do anything, go anywhere" aspect of it, even though a weekly trip to the mall is most adventure these cars usually see. they also look more rugged and chunkier, like they can take a beating.
@@dsego84 But a smaller also car can also be just as safe to drive in, I won't deny the Benefits for older drivers but you would have to admit that most SUVs bought aren't used for their intended purpose. As such their incredibly wasteful and take up a lot of space on the road making it harder for other drivers to drive and park.
@@m.ahussain4005
> But a smaller also car can also be just as safe to drive in
at this point it seems like an arms race, a small car is safe until a big suv plows into you.
I agree with what you're saying about wastefulness and purpose.
@@m.ahussain4005 I am not so sure they are all that much safer, and you can watch those vehicle crashes videos right here on RUclips and see what I am referring to. I was actually surprised ay how many of those SUVs and even Crossovers just flip right over in situations that a car does not. And yes smaller vehicles can be more at risk in an accident, but people also die in SUV to SUV crashes as well. Any accident leaves you exposed to an injury no matter how supposedly safe the size of the vehicle is.
Fascinating review. Thank you.
Rory, what a breath of fresh air, faultless delivery by far the best I have seen for years. You are the “Attenborough of the auto world”
Very concise well produced, interesting, informative and entertaining videos.
top notch 👌
And, speaking of environment, having a nationwide support for electric cars supporting vehicle-to-grid is 30-70x more important than mere electric cars.
Thanks for the video.
Thanks Rory. I love estate/wagons. An SUV was a Range Rover when I was a kid and no-one drove them in town so I've never seen the point. It's a real shame that the only electric estate is an MG5 coz they are boring af, but I'm going to get one none the less because it makes sense to me. Clearly I'm pretty much alone!
Quality and very informative video 👌🏿
Another superb vid. Thanks Rory 👍
all valid points cant argue with but ... I'm 6' 7" tall and have just had a total knee replacement and my xc90 provides all the space and ease of access I need. Have spent a load of time this past month trying a load of cars hoping to mind something smaller/lower/more agile but I cant get into and out of anything easily or get a comfortable driving position while in there - there are no other options so what am I supposed to do?
Bro I’m the same height with the same car 🤣
i don't know what you tested, but im 192cm/6'4" and i cant touch pedals and steering wheel in max position in my Opel Astra. When i sit there, i can sit behind myslef so i assume, it's enough space for almost everyone
Totally agree with this... we looked at a GLE... my mrs wanted the GLE. I wanted the CLS. We got the CLS as its better equiped for less, better to drive, faster and in my opinion better looking 👌🏽
Well good choice! But for how long you had to sleep on the couch after the purchase?
@@silviannistor not a single night 😉😉 even on the rare occasion sne drives it, she likes it and i butter her up drunk saying 'you look so good babes behind the wheel' 🤣
Brilliant review, great job 😃
Excellent, thanks!
Since leaving top gear, I like you more and more Rory
Can't imagin myself driving an SUV. I like to throw my car hard in a corner and get out of there without flipping over or wobbling inside the cabin during it
Bloody hell your content is good Rory. Nicely done.
I just had to sell my 3-series Touring as I’m moving from the UK to mainland Europe, and I eventually went for an X1 as a replacement. I’m already really missing my 3-series a lot.
Pretty sure my next car will be an electric estate, if manufacturers eventually start making them.
Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo. My dream car at the moment.
Rory is the best motoring journalist. He should have his own telly show.
Matt from Carwow plays golf right
As a 6'9" dude I can safely say I buy cars that I can physically fit into, and has space enough for frequent travelling. Wanted a Mach E but wasn't quite released yet so sprung for a 2019 Tiguan instead. Works for me.
Your comment and username don't seem to match?! Is the Lotus a car that has to remain a dream?
Thanks Rory! I think you've opened up a big can of worms, but always good to start a conversation about touchy subjects
I've been reading the comments and listening to what you had to say, and strangely not a lot is being said about what I think is an SUV's biggest forte; ground clearance
In Indonesia where I'm from, SUVs have also taken the roads by storm. Hell I even own a VW Tiguan myself haha. For us SUVs make a ton of sense since the roads here are crap. Even the roads in our glitzy capital Jakarta are littered with potholes and uneven grades of terrain. It gets worse if you travel to smaller cities and far-flung, underdeveloped provinces. And don't get me started with annual big floods that turn roads into oceans. I imagine fellow citizens of other developing nations like India, Brazil, and South Africa also face similar challenges as well which make SUVs the obvious choice for us! As a car person I hate to admit it, but SUVs lately have been the most logical choice especially for people like me who can only afford one vehicle.
Excellent video. I like sedans and they tend to handle better, but as I am getting older, it is easier to get in and out of SUV.