Watch out! A study confirms it: SUVs are not city-friendly cars

We had already suspected as much, but we still needed an official study to back us up. The moment has finally come for that study to see the light, thanks to the association New Weather, which has confirmed that three quarters of people who own an SUV live in towns or heavily populated cities. One thing needs to be remembered: an SUV is a car designed to drive on off-road sections, so it has very specific characteristics, tailored to countryside and rough terrain.

Why are there so many SUVs in cities? Because it is the fashionable type of vehicle, and manufacturers know it. Many buyers are drawn to these models, perhaps because of their higher driving position, greater safety thanks to the extra ground clearance, considerable power and equipment that makes it possible to drive off the road. But what happens if you live in the city and don’t use those off-road capabilities?

The consumption of an SUV is considerably higher than that of a car designed for the city. And that higher consumption goes hand in hand with higher emissions. This is a problem in cities, which are increasingly fighting to achieve better air quality and reduce polluting emissions. It is not a type of car suitable for the city and it creates quite a few problems in that regard.

Several British associations support the need to run awareness campaigns for future buyers and to ensure that people buy a car that matches each user’s particular needs. In other words, the aim is for users to understand that if they have to buy a new car, it should suit their individual needs and they should not buy an off-roader if they will mainly be driving in the city.

It is understood that manufacturers are working on SUV models that consume less, but these efforts are concentrating on 100% electric models, such as the Tesla Model X, the Hyundai Kona Electric or the Jaguar I-Pace. These models carry a fairly high price tag and may not be within everyone’s reach.

This is happening in the United Kingdom, although Spain is in a similar situation, as are other European countries. This is a problem that manufacturers are facing as demand for these off-road vehicles keeps growing, and they want to offer a solution to their potential buyers.

For now, we know that buying an SUV for use in the city is not a good idea, even though these models appeal to us for their strong, dynamic looks. The advice from those who carried out this report is that each driver should think carefully about the type of driving they will do most often and adapt their purchase to that specific need. In doing so, we will all benefit and there will be fewer polluting emissions from cars that were not designed for the city.