It’s the SUV tyranny: where have all the normal family cars gone? | Coco Khan
They rule the roads and, in their wake, even old-style saloons have been supersized. It’s an illusion of consumer choice Recently, while traipsing from showroom to showroom in search of a used car for my growing clan, the iconic line from Christopher Nolan’s seminal Batman movie The Dark Knight came to mind : “You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” And by…
The dominance of SUVs on the roads has led to a decline in more traditional family car models, such as estates, saloons, and hatchbacks. This trend has become so pronounced that in 2023, SUVs accounted for 50% of new car sales in wealthy nations, with them making up 30% of all vehicles on the road. The popularity of SUVs has led to traditional car styles being modified into larger, more imposing frames, even forcing once-prominent brands like Volvo to exclusively offer SUV options in the UK.
This change has made it increasingly difficult to find a traditional family car that meets the needs of modern families, with options being limited to larger, more expensive vehicles. Drivers of smaller cars, like the author, have found the experience of searching for a more practical vehicle to be an emotionally taxing ordeal, filled with reminders of the perceived safety, but also intimidation, that these larger vehicles provide.
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