For most of us, our car is one of our most prized possessions. Despite so many different brands and models, we still have our favorites. All of us are familiar with the gentle and popular sedans like the Honda Accord or Toyota Camry, which most of us use for daily commutes in day-to-day life. But in the past few years, people’s favorite sedans are getting replaced by bigger and stronger SUVs. Americans are buying a lot more trucks and SUVs than any other country. The trucks and SUVs market has steadily intensified since the end of the recession. On the other hand, sedan sales have been declining since 2014.
Currently, pick-up trucks and SUVs together form 70% of the auto market. Back in 2012, one out of five cars sold was a sedan model. Today, it is hardly even one out of ten. On the flip side, sales of SUVs are zooming up, touching an all-time high of 29.77 million worldwide in 2018. Today, because of the drastic increase in demands, many SUVs are priced similar to competing sedans. Lesser price, off-roading capabilities, higher grade of comfort, bigger trunk space, and a lot more safety have all aided the SUVs demand.
These features help the SUVs become the perfect vehicle amongst people who deal with daily commutes and need a ready machine for outdoor activity, making this an attractive choice for off-road enthusiasts.
The Big Change
This significant change in the automotive industry has forced many automakers to shift from regular cars to SUVs. For example, General Motors announced in November 2018 that they are stopping six of their sedan production models and were planning to focus on the new pick-up trucks and the SUVs. It caused them to shut down 3 of their assembly line, leaving many jobless. Ford, the second-largest automaker in the US, saw a dip in 2017, forcing them to focus more on their SUVs and crossovers.
Ford planned that by 2020 nearly 90% of its vehicles made in North America would be SUVs and pick-up trucks. Automakers have widely accepted the transfer in the customer’s taste of buying a bigger and bolder vehicle. As selling SUVs is much more profitable than selling a midsize sedan or electric vehicle. That’s why major automakers like GM, Ford, Fiat Chrysler, even the premium segment like Maserati, BMW, Porsche, and many more have all jumped to the SUVs world.
Space, Speed, & Practicality
Stronger, bigger, and more powerful is what might come to the mind of a person who is tempted to buy an SUV. Imagine that you are driving a small hatchback on the road, and you get into an unfortunate accident with an extensive and bulky SUV. The person in the SUV is more likely to shrug off any damage that might occur to the car or the driver. You, on the other hand, have to deal with a bigger problem. Let’s face it. It’s taller and bulkier than a sedan which makes the driver feel safer. In addition to this is the ride height that the SUV provides, which gives the driver a commanding view of the road ahead, making it easy to move around traffic or have a better judgment on the road.
Many SUVs provide inflatable rear seat belts that offer even more shielding with driver-assist features, making it a much viable and safer choice for a buyer. Talking about space, an SUV does it better in almost anything, keeping everyone you love in one place with all the stuff you own. A high roof, low floor, and comparatively bigger storage space make it comfortable with everyone and everything on board. It is safe to say that even the most compact SUVs have more cargo space and flexibility than most sedans. People tend to lean towards the type of vehicle that has what they need, even if it’s not required. On top of space and safety, SUVs tend to be more capable than most sedans when it comes to maneuverability.
The higher ground clearance allows SUVs to go to more remote places that are not accessible with a sedan or a hatchback. The addition of hybrid versions and SUVs getting more efficient every year negates the drawback of lousy fuel mileage, so that is one less thing to worry about.
Electrification Is Easy
Summing everything up, SUVs are no longer too heavy on your pockets, fuel-hungry, or dull. There has been a rise in the electric SUVs available in the market these days, like the Jaguar I-Pace, BMW iX, and the Audi e-Tron GT, which can take you up to 300 miles without emitting any CO2. Your heart might want a two-seater sports coupe, but your practical mind knows that an SUV is a more logical option available in the market today. Factoring in all these aspects leads us to understand why more and more SUVs are selling each year.