There are real SUVs that are not lifted hatchbacks. Land Cruiser, Range Rover, etc. Those actually have capabilities that hatchbacks do not AND they’re more spacious. But nobody buys those for offroading, so it’s a pointless waste of resources and the only gain is a nice high seating position and, yes, extra cargo capacity. They’re also kinda expensive, not particularly sporty (and people do love their grocery-getters sporty nowadays, don’t they? Fuck comfort, everything must be stiff as hell) and as you mentioned, come with rollover risk and bad pedestrian safety.
Most small to medium sized SUVs though? Yes, literally hatchbacks that are slightly taller, yet have barely any extra ground clearance and often have front-wheel drive, and USUALLY have less space than a wagon. So it’s less practical altogether and people who buy them say they do it for the extra cargo space. Please. You’re paying more for less cargo space.
Something like an Audi Allroad or the MB all-terrain wagons will absolutely destroy those “SUVs” in offroad ability, cargo space AND comfort (because the entry level SUVs have horrible suspension). So all the things people think SUVs are good for. Well spoiler alert, SUVs might be moderately good at those things, but crossovers sure aren’t.
To respond to your sporty grocery getters: I actually like those. I have a 2006 Volvo wagonwith a somewhat sporty engine (for the time) and adaptive suspension. The one thing I would want on it is a wider range on the suspension - even in comfort, it’s quite harsh. Not bad, but definitely not soft either.
But it’s got a little zoom zoom for when I’m driving on my own, the cargo capacity of a small van if I put the seats down, and enough space to take the family and all our luggage on a summer trip.
There are real SUVs that are not lifted hatchbacks. Land Cruiser, Range Rover, etc. Those actually have capabilities that hatchbacks do not AND they’re more spacious. But nobody buys those for offroading, so it’s a pointless waste of resources and the only gain is a nice high seating position and, yes, extra cargo capacity. They’re also kinda expensive, not particularly sporty (and people do love their grocery-getters sporty nowadays, don’t they? Fuck comfort, everything must be stiff as hell) and as you mentioned, come with rollover risk and bad pedestrian safety.
Most small to medium sized SUVs though? Yes, literally hatchbacks that are slightly taller, yet have barely any extra ground clearance and often have front-wheel drive, and USUALLY have less space than a wagon. So it’s less practical altogether and people who buy them say they do it for the extra cargo space. Please. You’re paying more for less cargo space.
Something like an Audi Allroad or the MB all-terrain wagons will absolutely destroy those “SUVs” in offroad ability, cargo space AND comfort (because the entry level SUVs have horrible suspension). So all the things people think SUVs are good for. Well spoiler alert, SUVs might be moderately good at those things, but crossovers sure aren’t.
I think we agree.
To respond to your sporty grocery getters: I actually like those. I have a 2006 Volvo wagonwith a somewhat sporty engine (for the time) and adaptive suspension. The one thing I would want on it is a wider range on the suspension - even in comfort, it’s quite harsh. Not bad, but definitely not soft either.
But it’s got a little zoom zoom for when I’m driving on my own, the cargo capacity of a small van if I put the seats down, and enough space to take the family and all our luggage on a summer trip.