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Soaring SUV sales keep carmakers on collision course with climate policy

12 Comments
By Edward Taylor

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12 Comments
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There are ecological SUVs as well. I'm not sure what the problem is. Eco activists should focus on improving the emission standards on big ships, running on bunker oil. Those are the main pollutants nowadays But extreme margins. But they're not as easy a target for the lazy activist as auto makers are..

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

@Burning Bush

SUVs due to the weight, are much safer in collisions then eco cars.

This is not true due to the SUV tendency to flip over.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

So SUVs are becoming more popular worldwide. It's not just only a U.S. thing anymore.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Whilst I dont like driving SUVs, I understand their appeal, with ever-expanding families all around the world. You cant fit a family of 7 in a compact car or sedan that for sure. The key is to buy eco SUVs - hybrid ones and, in the next couple of years, all-electric SUVs.

Sadly, the sedan will no longer exist in 5 years, except for a handful of niche models.

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SUVs are popular because they are USEFUL, hence the name SPORT-UTILITY Vehicle. The auto market, like any other market is led by CONSUMER demand, not eco+Nazi activism.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

SUVs are not necessarily safer due to body roll during cornering. They are also way more dangerous for pedestrians who get pushed under, not flipped over as with cars with a lower front. A broken leg is much better than being pushed under and crushed to death.

Despite all the hype, most SUVs are crossovers, rugged looking bodywork on a standard chassis that is not actually offroad capable. Many crossovers in Japan will be 2WD.

For all the moaning above, I am actually a crossover owner. We have a CX-5, the turbodiesel one with leather seats. Its a beautiful car, the styling is much more Audi or BMW than JDM, and it really shifts. Its got something like 180hp. We get 13.5 km/l off 120 yen diesel, so it's cheaper per km to drive than most 4wd compact cars, like a Honda Fit that'll get 15km/l off 145 yen regular gasoline. Mazda have been producing some cool cars in the last ten years, a minor success story. Go Hiroshima!

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I still want one these beauties

https://www.autorestorationice.com/2015/06/rare-4wd-isuzu-vehicross-suv.html?m=1

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In the beginning, people bought SUVs because they had a more "rugged" image than tame, domesticated minivans. That jig is up for the most part; nowadays people are more likely to get them for their versatility, high seating position, imagined or real cold-weather capability, towing, ability to carry large numbers of passengers, etc. However, I don't buy it. SUVs often try to be a jack of all trades, but a master of none. For every supposed advantage, there is a disadvantage- the large size and high center of gravity impairs driving dynamics, smaller crossovers are little more than lifted hatchbacks, and even in mid-size crossovers you normally have to choose between passengers or cargo. Bottom line, if you need a truck, buy a truck; if you need a luxury car, buy a luxury car; and if you need to move a lot of people, folks, just go ahead and get the van already.

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Mr Market is led by CONSUMER demand, regardless of the PC/ECO-NAZI agitation. Where I live, luxury sedans(gas guzzlers) and SUVs are the most popular and what I drive as well.

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Climate change happened before SUVs and will happen after SUVs. And the estimated 120 bbs of accessible crude oil (a bit more now thanks to cracking) will be consumed regardless if there are SUVs and regardless what laws some Western politicians pass.

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