Gonna be honest here, I believe crossover SUVs are actually more practical than sedans/hatchbacks for the average user. Higher ground clearance makes it easier to enter/exit for the average Joe, better visibility for new drivers, and the feeling of a more spacious interior; and more ride height helps with potholes/bumper scraping too. This may not be a issue in America I presume, but it is a daily problem in developing countries like India.
I get that it’s popular to hate on crossovers online, but really not every car buyers care about driving dynamics, or suitability for track days, or whatever. Do what you want, but people mostly won’t care and some will not like it regardless.
Taller vehicles have a higher center of mass and ar thus more prone to tipping over. They are also less fuel efficent and more dangerous to pedestrians in the event of an accident. Them being taller also makes it harder for people using lower riding cars to see by both impairing forward vision or by shining their headlights into the cabin.
I own an accord and I can’t tell you how many times someone in an SUV behind me blinded me at night by making my cabin as bright as the sun.
Higher ground clearance makes it easier to enter/exit for the average Joe
Maybe if the average Joe is 70 or severely overweight. I weigh over 130 KG (300 lbs) and have little problem entering/exiting a normal car. Tiny hatchbacks can pose an issue if getting in the back seat, but that’s about it. They also make crossover versions of those tiny hatches and they’re no better for me.
better visibility for new drivers
Not necessarily. Many crossovers have massive pillars, making visibility worse. As they’re heavier than a similarly sized normal car, they need to be able to withstand more force in a rollover (which is also more likely to occur). Smaller and lower cars are actually better for newer drivers because they’re easier to control properly if you have to abruptly swerve, stop, etc.
and the feeling of a more spacious interior
You actually get less interior space for more money, generally speaking
more ride height helps with potholes/bumper scraping too
The average crossover SUV has barely any more clearance than a non-sporty sedan or wagon. I’ve done mild offroading in a Chrysler 300M, a sports sedan. I’ve driven cars like that to places where most people wouldn’t dare go in a Toyota RAV4 or a Nissan Qashqai, despite the little bit of extra ground clearance those cars have. People don’t grasp the capabilities of their cars.
but really not every car buyers care about driving dynamics, or suitability for track days, or whatever
You mean comfort, cost, interior space and fuel economy. You get a better balance of all those on a normal car compared to a crossover for the same price. I don’t care about suitability for track days either - if I did, I’d be buying a tiny hatch or coupe, not a floaty luxury wagon like I currently drive. Which has better (more comfortable, not sportier) suspension than any crossover I’ve tried and I didn’t even get one with the air suspension.
The auto industry pushes crossovers because they can make significantly higher margins on them. Truth is, you’ll get much more car for the same money in a wagon compared to a crossover. Example: The MB GLC costs about as much as the E-Class, but the latter is significantly comfier and roomier, because the GLC is based on the smaller C-Class.
People tell themselves all kinds of lies to justify buying SUVs, but the truth is, they buy them because they’re more of a status symbol thanks to the height.
And yes, I realize there are people who actually need the extra height, but those make up for maybe 5% of crossover buyers. And anyone who wants to actually go offroading, is better off buying one of them all-terrain wagons with adjustable height. Comes with the comfort of air suspension as a bonus. And they have all-wheel drive, unlike the average crossover (the more budget-friendly ones, even if they do have AWD equipped, don’t really have proper AWD, the rear wheels only do any work if the fronts have already broken traction).
Gonna be honest here, I believe crossover SUVs are actually more practical than sedans/hatchbacks for the average user. Higher ground clearance makes it easier to enter/exit for the average Joe, better visibility for new drivers, and the feeling of a more spacious interior; and more ride height helps with potholes/bumper scraping too. This may not be a issue in America I presume, but it is a daily problem in developing countries like India.
I get that it’s popular to hate on crossovers online, but really not every car buyers care about driving dynamics, or suitability for track days, or whatever. Do what you want, but people mostly won’t care and some will not like it regardless.
Taller vehicles have a higher center of mass and ar thus more prone to tipping over. They are also less fuel efficent and more dangerous to pedestrians in the event of an accident. Them being taller also makes it harder for people using lower riding cars to see by both impairing forward vision or by shining their headlights into the cabin.
I own an accord and I can’t tell you how many times someone in an SUV behind me blinded me at night by making my cabin as bright as the sun.
Maybe if the average Joe is 70 or severely overweight. I weigh over 130 KG (300 lbs) and have little problem entering/exiting a normal car. Tiny hatchbacks can pose an issue if getting in the back seat, but that’s about it. They also make crossover versions of those tiny hatches and they’re no better for me.
Not necessarily. Many crossovers have massive pillars, making visibility worse. As they’re heavier than a similarly sized normal car, they need to be able to withstand more force in a rollover (which is also more likely to occur). Smaller and lower cars are actually better for newer drivers because they’re easier to control properly if you have to abruptly swerve, stop, etc.
You actually get less interior space for more money, generally speaking
The average crossover SUV has barely any more clearance than a non-sporty sedan or wagon. I’ve done mild offroading in a Chrysler 300M, a sports sedan. I’ve driven cars like that to places where most people wouldn’t dare go in a Toyota RAV4 or a Nissan Qashqai, despite the little bit of extra ground clearance those cars have. People don’t grasp the capabilities of their cars.
You mean comfort, cost, interior space and fuel economy. You get a better balance of all those on a normal car compared to a crossover for the same price. I don’t care about suitability for track days either - if I did, I’d be buying a tiny hatch or coupe, not a floaty luxury wagon like I currently drive. Which has better (more comfortable, not sportier) suspension than any crossover I’ve tried and I didn’t even get one with the air suspension.
The auto industry pushes crossovers because they can make significantly higher margins on them. Truth is, you’ll get much more car for the same money in a wagon compared to a crossover. Example: The MB GLC costs about as much as the E-Class, but the latter is significantly comfier and roomier, because the GLC is based on the smaller C-Class.
People tell themselves all kinds of lies to justify buying SUVs, but the truth is, they buy them because they’re more of a status symbol thanks to the height.
And yes, I realize there are people who actually need the extra height, but those make up for maybe 5% of crossover buyers. And anyone who wants to actually go offroading, is better off buying one of them all-terrain wagons with adjustable height. Comes with the comfort of air suspension as a bonus. And they have all-wheel drive, unlike the average crossover (the more budget-friendly ones, even if they do have AWD equipped, don’t really have proper AWD, the rear wheels only do any work if the fronts have already broken traction).