Groucho Marxism

A sport utility vehicle (SUV) is a car classification that combines elements of road-going passenger cars with features from off-road vehicles, such as raised ground clearance and four-wheel drive. These cars have grown massively in popularity in recent years. The rise in production and marketing of SUVs in the 2010s and 2020s by auto manufacturers has resulted in over 80% of all new car sales in the United States being SUVs or light trucks by 2021. This rise in SUV sales has also spilled over into the United Kingdom, the European Union, and many other countries around the world. As a result, SUVs have become the dominant vehicle type globally, with their market share reaching 54% of all new cars sold in 2024.

SUVs have been rightly been criticized for a variety of environmental and safety-related reasons. These cars generally have poorer fuel efficiency and require more resources to manufacture than smaller vehicles, thus contributing more to climate change and environmental degradation. Their higher center of gravity significantly increases their risk of rollovers. Their larger mass increases their momentum, which results in more damage to other road users in collisions. Their higher front-end profile reduces visibility and makes them at least twice as likely to kill pedestrians they hit. Large SUVs have been shown to have poorer handling and longer braking distances in the dry than traditional passenger cars. Additionally, the psychological sense of security they provide influences drivers to drive less cautiously.

All of which raises an obvious question: why do people buy these cars?! One reason often given as to why people buy SUVs is that they offer more space and versatility. But this simply isn’t true, as SUVs generally offer less space and versatility than equivalent-sized vehicles, not more. If you want lots of space you are better off buying an estate car (station wagon in American English), people carrier (minivan in American), or even a van. Another reason often given is that SUVs feature all-wheel drive and higher ground clearance, enabling better handling in snow or on uneven terrain, and are ideal for towing trailers, boats, or caravans. But the vast majority of SUVs are driven primarily on well-paved roads and are not used for towing heavy loads at all.

A third reason often given is that the increased ride height of SUVs makes it easier for passengers to enter and exit the vehicle and simplifies buckling children into car seats. Again, though, if you want an increased ride height you are better of buying a people carrier. Moreover, many SUVs are so large now, particularly in the US, that they are often more difficult to get into and out of than standard cars. Another reason sometimes given for the popularity of SUVs is resale value: SUVs generally maintain a higher resale value compared to saloons (sedans in American) or hatchbacks. But financial arguments like this make little sense when you consider that SUVs cost more to buy in the first place and are more expensive to run due to their elevated fuel consumption.

The most plausible explanation as to why people buy SUVs is that there is a perception among consumers that SUVs are safer for their drivers than standard cars. It’s certainly true that in an accident involving an SUV and a standard car, the latter is likely to come off far worse. In this sense SUVs are a bit like nuclear weapons: people feel they need them for protection because everyone else on the road has them. Thus, the growth in popularity in SUVs may be compared to an arms race. Another plausible explanation is that the elevated driving position, which offers a better, ‘commanding’ view of the road, improves visibility and makes drivers feel more secure. This enables SUV drivers to (literally) look down on other road users, giving them a sense of superiority.

In my view, SUVs embody everything that is wrong with our capitalist society. When you drive an SUV, you are signalling that you don’t care about your impact on the environment or the fact you are putting pedestrians and other road users at greater risk, as long as it means you are safe and can look down on others. It is the epitome of selfish, ego-driven behaviour. However I think it is a mistake to blame SUV owners for the proliferation of these killing machines on our roads. Rather, I think it is a symptom of a system that encourages and rewards self-serving behaviour. I have always felt that owning and driving a car brings out the worst side of human nature – just look at how irrationally angry people can get when they are driving. SUV ownership is just an extension of this phenomenon.