Need an SUV? Reasons why the Sport-Ute may not be the one for you

SUVs are outselling sedans in the American market by a ratio of 2:1. The rest of the world is following suit. We get it! The SUV offers several advantages that has helped displace the humble sedan from people’s hearts and garages. And who wouldn’t want a little edge over one’s neighbour, work colleague, or fellow motorist, for whatever reason?

But they also have several disadvantages, some apparent and some that need further investigation, that you may not want to welcome into your life. For your convenience, we have collated a small list of popular reasons why one may desire an SUV and what are their related shortcomings.

Ride height

Arguably, the number one reason why someone may want to purchase an SUV is ride height. Now we aren’t talking about crossovers that sit close to the ground, much like sedans, coupes, and hatchbacks. We are talking about the 4-wheeled mammoths like Nissan Patrols, Jeep Wranglers, and Ram pickup trucks that give people a commanding view over the rest of the highway traffic. And with the greater ride height comes a more imposing road presence, which is yet another powerful motivator for a buyer in Dubai. But being a few extra inches off the ground means that it also requires greater effort to get into the vehicle, which may not be a thing for you, me, and the sugar-fuelled high schooler, but it does make it harder for senior citizens and even young children to get on board. This may also be bothersome for pregnant women and your football buddy who ruptured his Achilles tendon and needs to be picked up from the hospital. So, if you are an avid off-roader or if your only available parking space is in a kaccha area (undeveloped area), go ahead and get the high-riding people hauler, but also give due consideration to the folk that travel with you often.

Fuel economy

Force equals mass multiplied by acceleration i.e., f = m x a. This is an equation we all learn in early high school. If it wasn’t obvious through common sense, this equation proves that it requires greater energy to move an object with a larger mass. And all those extra joules of energy come from burning more fuel. Have doubts? Here is an example to clarify the matter. A mid-size Toyota Fortuner has a gross weight of 2,650 kg, while a mid-size Camry weighs in at 2,100 kg. The result is that the Fortuner 4.0L can only manage a claimed fuel economy of 9.6 km/l while the lighter Camry 3.5L achieves better economy, as seen in the claimed figure of 14.2 km/l.

And it’s not just weight, there are several other factors that give the sedan the advantage. The taller SUV body also means a larger frontal area that is exposed to the wind, which is directly proportional to the aerodynamics of the vehicle. What it translates to is that the engine in the Fortuner would have to work harder to maintain the same speed as a Camry would.

Also note that SUVs are usually equipped with all-terrain tyres, which have deeper grooves i.e., tyre tread, and have a higher profile as well. All of this adds to the rolling resistance of the tyres, which thereby makes it less fuel efficient to run, as opposed to the sedan with smoother summer tyres that have a lower rolling resistance.

So, if you have a long run to the office and back or are in a job that requires you to move about town a lot, maybe you should consider getting something that is fuel efficient, like a sedan or a hatchback even.

Environmental impact

Greater fuel consumption also translates to greater emissions out of the tailpipe usually. They can be measured using several metrics, including carbon dioxide emissions per km. For example, the mid-size Skoda Superb achieves a CO2 rating of 140 g/km approximately, while its SUV equivalent, the Kodiaq produces around 170 grams of CO2 per km. Again, the sedan wins!

SUVs are also appreciably larger and are often built for a rugged purpose, which means they have a larger and more rigid chassis, larger bodywork and parts etc. Again, manufacturing these parts that are of a greater specification can take more energy to produce and result in greater carbon emissions than a 4-door.

A larger interior also means greater cooling is required to maintain a comfortable temperature within the cabin. This implies that even when you are stationary, you are burning more fuel and generating more greenhouse gases than a sedan.

Braking and handling

SUVs generally have a higher centre of gravity. This not only means that their road manners aren’t nearly as good as a sedan, but they also have an increased risk of rollovers in certain situations, which can be of a major safety concern especially if you’re a parent.