Criticism of sport utility vehicles
Encyclopedia
Safety
One source of SUVs' popularity is the perception of significant safetyAutomobile safety
Automobile safety is the study and practice of vehicle design, construction, and equipment to minimize the occurrence and consequences of automobile accidents. Automobile safety is the study and practice of vehicle design, construction, and equipment to minimize the occurrence and consequences of...
advantages over smaller vehicles. To this, critics note that SUVs is one of the vehicles more likely to roll over, and in some countries are more likely to be involved in a single-car accident and cause harm to other road users. On the other hand, overall, SUVs are safer for their driver than small cars made by the same manufacturer. However, if the analysis is relative to the cost, smaller cars are often safer.
Rollover
A high center of gravity makes a vehicle more prone to rollover accidents than lower vehicles, especially if the vehicle leaves the road or in emergency maneuvers. Figures from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that most passenger cars have about a 10% chance of rollover while SUVs have between 14% and 23% (varying from a low of 14% for the AWD Ford Edge to a high of 23% for the FWD Ford Escape). Many modern SUVs are equipped with electronic stability controlElectronic stability control
Electronic stability control is a computerized technology that may potentially improve the safety of a vehicle's stability by detecting and minimizing skids. When ESC detects loss of steering control, it automatically applies the brakes to help "steer" the vehicle where the driver intends to go...
(ESC) to prevent rollovers on flat surfaces, but 95% of rollovers are "tripped" - meaning the vehicle strikes something low, such as a curb or shallow ditch, causing it to tip over.
According to NHTSA data, SUV's and pickups are at a disadvantage in single-vehicle accidents (such as when the driver falls asleep, or loses control swerving around a deer), which comprise 43% of fatal accidents, with more than double the chance of rolling over. This risk relates closely to overall US motor vehicle fatality data, showing that SUVs and pickups generally have a higher fatality rate than cars of the same manufacturer.
Construction
Heavier SUVs are typically built with a truck-style chassis with separate body, while some newer, lighter or cross-over models are more similar to car construction, which are typically built with a monocoque unitary construction (where the body actually forms the structure of the car). Separate chassis style designs have typically a higher center of gravity than a vehicle of unibody construction.The British television Fifth Gear
Fifth Gear
Fifth Gear is a motoring television magazine show from the United Kingdom. Originally shown on Channel 5, the show is currently presented by Tiff Needell, Vicki Butler-Henderson, Jason Plato, Jonny Smith and Ben Collins...
programme staged a 40 mph (17.9 m/s) crash between a first generation Land Rover Discovery
Land Rover Discovery
The Discovery was introduced into the United Kingdom in 1989. The company code-named the vehicle "Project Jay". The new model was based on the chassis and drivetrain of the more upmarket Range Rover, but with a lower price aimed at a larger market segment and intended to compete with Japanese...
with a separate chassis and body, and a modern Renault Espace IV with monocoque
Monocoque
Monocoque is a construction technique that supports structural load by using an object's external skin, as opposed to using an internal frame or truss that is then covered with a non-load-bearing skin or coachwork...
(unit) construction
Construction
In the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is a feat of human multitasking...
. The 1989-98 Discovery offered less driver/passenger protection than that in the 2003 multi-purpose vehicle with unitary construction from Renault.
Risk to other road users
Because of greater height and weight and rigid frames, it is contended by Malcolm GladwellMalcolm Gladwell
Malcolm Gladwell, CM is a Canadian journalist, bestselling author, and speaker. He is currently based in New York City and has been a staff writer for The New Yorker since 1996...
writing in The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
magazine that SUVs can affect traffic safety. This height and weight, while potentially giving an advantage to occupants inside the vehicle, may pose a risk to drivers of smaller vehicles in multi-vehicle accidents, particularly side impacts. In 2003 and 2004 in the U.S., passenger cars were involved in 1.65 and 1.58 fatal crashes per 100M miles respectively, compared to 2.14 and 2.05, nearly 30% more, for light trucks (SUVs pick-ups and vans). In 2004, light trucks were involved in fatal two-vehicle crashes with passenger cars (4,765 total, 0.435 per 100M miles) at nearly 3 times the rate as passenger cars (2,422 total, 0.149 per 100M miles). In the same year, light trucks were involved in fatal two-vehicle crashes with motorcycles (869 total, 0.079 per 100M miles) at a nearly 75% greater rate than passenger cars (738 total, 0.045 per 100M miles). The same year, light trucks were involved in fatal two-vehicle crashes with large trucks at a 3.9% greater rate than passenger cars. Fatal crashes between two light trucks occurred at nearly the same (but greater) rate as fatal crashes between two passenger cars.
In parts of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, effective 2006, the fitting of metal bull bar
Bull bar
A bullbar is a device fitted to the front of a vehicle to protect it and its passengers from damage in a collision with an animal. They vary considerably in size and form, and are usually made of welded steel or aluminium tubing, and, more recently, moulded polycarbonate and polyethylene materials...
s, also known as grille guards, brush guards and push bars to vehicles such as 4x4s and SUVs is only legal if pedestrian safe rated plastic bars and grilles are used). Bullbars are often used in Australia and parts of the United States to protect the vehicle from being disabled should it collide with wildlife.
Ford Excursion
The Ford Excursion is a full-size sport utility vehicle that was produced by the Ford Motor Company between model years 2000 and 2005 . Based on the Super Duty pickup truck platform, it served as Ford's largest SUV in its lineup during the tenure of its production and mainly competed against the...
were "horrifying" in its ability to vaulting over the hood of a Ford Taurus
Ford Taurus
The Ford Taurus is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States. Originally introduced in the 1986 model year, it has remained in near-continuous production for more than two decades, making it the fourth oldest nameplate that is currently sold in the North American...
. The big SUV was modified to include a type of blocker bar suggested by the French transportation ministry in 1971, a kind of under-vehicle roll bar designed to keep the large Ford Excursion from rolling over cars that were hit by it. The problem is 'impact incompatibility' where the 'hard points' of the end of chassis rails of SUVs are higher than the 'hard points' of cars causing the SUV to 'override' the engine compartment and crumple zone
Crumple zone
The crumple zone is a structural feature mainly of automobiles. Crumple zones have also been incorporated into railcars in recent years.They are designed to absorb the energy from the impact during an accident by controlled deformation. This energy is much higher than is commonly recognized...
of the car. In order to tackle this problem Volvos first SUV/off-roader the XC90 incorporated structures below the front bumper designed to engage lower height car crumple zones, other manufacturers have followed suit.
Visibility and backover deaths
Larger vehicles can create visibility problems for other drivers by obscuring their view of traffic lights, signs, and other vehicles on the road, plus the road itself.Depending on design, drivers of some larger vehicles may themselves suffer from poor visibility to the side and the rear. Poor rearward vision has led to many "backover deaths" where vehicles have run over small children when backing out of driveways. The problem of backover deaths has become so widespread that reversing cameras are being installed on some vehicles to improve rearward vision.
While SUVs are often perceived as having inferior rearward vision compared to regular passenger cars, this is not supported by controlled testing which found poor rearward visibility was not limited to any single vehicle class. Australia's NRMA
NRMA
NRMA refers to either of two historically related Australian companies:*The National Roads and Motorists' Association, known as NRMA Motoring and Services, is a member-owned mutual organisation offering , motoring advice and other services in New South Wales and the Australian Capital...
motoring organisation found that regular passenger cars commonly provided inferior rearward vision compared to SUVs, both because of the prevalence of reversing cameras on modern SUVs and the shape of many popular passenger cars, with their high rear window lines and boots obstructing rearward vision. In NRMA testing, 2 out of 42 SUVs (5%) and 29 out of 163 (18%) regular cars had the worst rating (>15-metre blind spot). Of the vehicles that received a perfect 0-metre blind spot rating, 11 out of 42 (26%) were SUVs and 8 out of 163 (5%) were regular passenger cars. All of the 'perfect score' vehicles had OEM
OEM
OEM means the original manufacturer of a component for a product, which may be resold by another company.OEM may also refer to:-Computing:* OEM font, or OEM-US, the original character set of the IBM PC, circa 1981...
reversing cameras.
Wide bodies in narrow lanes
The wider bodies of larger vehicles means they occupy a greater percentage of road lanes, leaving less room for error and for other road users. This is particularly noticeable on the narrow roads sometimes found in dense urban areas or rural areas in Europe. Wider vehicles may also have difficulty fitting in some parking spaces and encroach further into traffic lanes when parked alongside of the road.Psychology
SUV safety concerns are affected by a perception among some consumers that SUVs are safer for their drivers than standard cars, and that they need not take basic precautions. According to G. C. RapailleClotaire Rapaille
Dr. G Clotaire Rapaille, or Gilbert Clotaire Rapaille, is a marketing specialist. Born in France, he has a doctorate from La Sorbonne. Rapaille is also the CEO and Founder of Archetype Discoveries Worldwide, located in Palm Beach, Florida....
, a psychological consultant to automakers, many consumers feel safer in SUVs simply because their ride height makes "[their passengers] higher and dominate and look down (sic
Sic
Sic—generally inside square brackets, [sic], and occasionally parentheses, —when added just after a quote or reprinted text, indicates the passage appears exactly as in the original source...
). That you can look down [on other people] is psychologically a very powerful notion." This and the height and weight of SUVs may lead to consumers' perception of safety.
Gladwell also noted that the SUV popularity is also a sign that people began to shift automobile safety
Automobile safety
Automobile safety is the study and practice of vehicle design, construction, and equipment to minimize the occurrence and consequences of automobile accidents. Automobile safety is the study and practice of vehicle design, construction, and equipment to minimize the occurrence and consequences of...
focus from active to passive, to the point that in the U.S. potential SUV buyers will give up extra 30 ft (9.1 m) of braking distance
Braking distance
Braking distance refers to the distance a vehicle will travel from the point where its brakes are fully applied to when it comes to a complete stop...
because they believe they are helpless to avoid a tractor-trailer hit on any vehicle. The four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive, 4WD, or 4×4 is a four-wheeled vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four wheels to receive torque from the engine simultaneously...
option available to SUVs reinforced the passive safety notion. To support Gladwell's argument, he mentioned that automotive engineer David Champion noted that in his previous driving experience with Range Rover
Range Rover
The Range Rover is a large luxury four-wheel drive sport utility vehicle produced by British car maker Land Rover. The model, launched in 1970, is now in its third generation...
, his vehicle slid across a four-lane road because he did not perceive the slipping that others had experienced. Gladwell concluded that when a driver feels unsafe when driving a vehicle, it makes the vehicle safer. When a driver feels safe when driving, the vehicle becomes less safe.
Stephen Popiel, a vice-president of Millward Brown Goldfarb automotive market-research company, noted that for most automotive consumers safety has to do with the notion that they are not in complete control. Gladwell argued that many of the 'accidents' are not outside driver's control, such as drunk driving, wearing seat belt
Seat belt
A seat belt or seatbelt, sometimes called a safety belt, is a safety harness designed to secure the occupant of a vehicle against harmful movement that may result from a collision or a sudden stop...
s, driver's age and experience, so a vehicle's safety also depends on the driver itself.
Sense of security
Study into the safety of SUVs conclusions have been mixed. In 2004, the National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is an agency of the Executive Branch of the U.S. government, part of the Department of Transportation...
released results of a study that indicated that drivers of SUVs were 11% more likely to die in an accident than people in cars. These figures were not driven by vehicle inherent safety alone but indicated perceived increased security on the part of drivers. For example, US SUV drivers were found to be less likely to wear their seatbelts. and showed a documented tendency to drive more recklessly (most sensationally perhaps, in a 1996 finding that SUV drivers were more likely to drive drunk).
Actual driver death rates are monitored by the IIHS and vary between models. These statistics do show average driver death rates in the U.S. were lower in larger vehicles from 2002–2005, and that there was significant overlap between vehicle categories.
US Driver Death Rates from 2002–2005 in recent models (per million registered vehicles)
- small 4 door cars (14 models): 45-191
- mid-size 4 door cars (17 models): 14-130
- large 4 door cars (11 models): 57-118
- mid-size luxury (8 models): 11-54
- large luxury (11 models): 14-85
- large mini-vans (5 models): 36-97
- very large mini-vans (6 models): 7-54
- small SUVs (13 models): 44-132
- mid-size SUVs (34 models): 13-232
- large SUVs (16 models): 21-188
- very large SUVs (6 models) 53-122
The IIHS report states, "Pound for pound across vehicle types, cars almost always have lower death rates than pickups or SUVs." It should be noted that these rates are per million registered vehicles and do not account for driver profiles and thus do not include such factors as driver ability, age, climate, gender, miles driven per year, and traffic conditions. The NHTSA recorded occupant (driver or passenger) fatalities per 100M vehicle miles traveled at 1.16 in 2004 and 1.20 in 2003 for light trucks (SUVs, pick-ups and minivans) compared to 1.18 in 2004 and 1.21 in 2003 for passenger cars (all other vehicles).
Marketing practices
The marketing techniques used to sell SUVs have been under criticism. Advertisers and manufacturers alike have been assailed for greenwashing. Critics have cited SUV commercials that show the product being driven through a wilderness area, even though relatively few SUVs are ever driven off-road.Tax benefits
In the United States, Section 179 depreciation deductionSection 179 depreciation deduction
Section 179 of the United States Internal Revenue Code , allows a taxpayer to elect to deduct the cost of certain types of property on their income taxes as an expense, rather than requiring the cost of the property to be capitalized and depreciated...
, sometimes known as the 'SUV subsidy' allows small-business owners to deduct up to $25,000 of the cost of a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating
Gross vehicle weight rating
A gross vehicle weight rating is the maximum allowable total weight of a road vehicle or trailer when loaded - i.e., including the weight of the vehicle itself plus passengers, and cargo....
of over 6000 pounds (2,721.6 kg) from their income for income tax
Income tax
An income tax is a tax levied on the income of individuals or businesses . Various income tax systems exist, with varying degrees of tax incidence. Income taxation can be progressive, proportional, or regressive. When the tax is levied on the income of companies, it is often called a corporate...
calculation. Small-business owners may deduct $10,610 of the cost of a passenger automobile. This provides a slight tax incentive for businesses to purchase larger / commercial vehicles, such as SUVs, which is criticised on environmental grounds. However, the cost of both SUVs and automobiles is fully deductible over future years using normal depreciation. In previous years, this deduction reached $120,000 and was the subject of much criticism. When the vehicle is eventually sold, the difference between the sale price and depreciated value must be claimed as income and is subject to taxation.
Fuel economy
The recent popularity of SUVs is sometimes given as one reason the U.S. population has begun to consume more gasoline than in previous years. SUVs are generally more wasteful of fuel than passenger vehicles or minivans with the same number of seats. Additionally, SUVs up to 8,500 pounds GVWR are classified by the U.S. government as light truckLight truck
Light truck or light duty truck is a U.S. classification for trucks or truck-based vehicles with a payload capacity of less than 4,000 pounds...
s, and thus are subject to the less strict light truck standard under the Corporate Average Fuel Economy
Corporate Average Fuel Economy
The Corporate Average Fuel Economy are regulations in the United States, first enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1975, and intended to improve the average fuel economy of cars and light trucks sold in the US in the wake of the 1973 Arab Oil Embargo...
(CAFE) regulations, and SUVs which exceed 8,500 pounds GVWR have been entirely exempt from CAFE standards. The CAFE requirement for light trucks is an average of 20.7 miles per US gallon, versus 27.5 miles per US gallon for passenger cars. This provides less incentive for U.S. manufacturers to produce more fuel efficient models.
As a result of their off-road design SUVs may have fuel-inefficient
Fuel efficiency
Fuel efficiency is a form of thermal efficiency, meaning the efficiency of a process that converts chemical potential energy contained in a carrier fuel into kinetic energy or work. Overall fuel efficiency may vary per device, which in turn may vary per application, and this spectrum of variance is...
features. High profile increases wind resistance
Drag (physics)
In fluid dynamics, drag refers to forces which act on a solid object in the direction of the relative fluid flow velocity...
and greater mass requires heavier suspensions and larger drivetrain
Powertrain
In a motor vehicle, the term powertrain or powerplant refers to the group of components that generate power and deliver it to the road surface, water, or air. This includes the engine, transmission, drive shafts, differentials, and the final drive...
s, which both contribute to increased vehicle weight. Some SUVs come with tire
Tire
A tire or tyre is a ring-shaped covering that fits around a wheel rim to protect it and enable better vehicle performance by providing a flexible cushion that absorbs shock while keeping the wheel in close contact with the ground...
s designed for off-road traction rather than low rolling resistance.
Fuel economy factors include:
- High masses (compared to the average load) causing high energy demand in transitional operation (in the cities)
where 
stands for power, 
for the vehicle mass, 
for acceleration and 
for the vehicle velocity. - High cross-sectional area causing very high drag losses especially when driven at high speed
where 
stands for the power, 
for the cross-sectional area of the vehicle, 
for the density of the air and 
for the relative velocity of the air (incl. wind). - High rolling resistance due to all-terrain tires (even worse if low pressure is needed offroad) and high vehicle mass driving the rolling resistance
where 
stands for the rolling resistance factor and 
for the vehicle mass.
Average data for vehicle types sold in the U.S.A:
| Type | Width | Height | Curb weight | Combined fuel economy | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| in | cm | in | cm | lb | kg | mpg (US) | l/100 km | mpg (imp) | |
| SUVs | 70.5 | 187 | 69.7 | 180 | 4442 | 1924 | 19.19 | 12.26 | 23.05 |
| Minivans | 75.9 | 193 | 67.2 | 178 | 4075 | 1939 | 20.36 | 11.55 | 24.45 |
| Family sedans | 70.3 | 179 | 57.3 | 146 | 3144 | 1426 | 26.94 | 8.731 | 32.35 |
Drag resistance (same drag coefficient) for SUVs may be 30% higher and the acceleration force has to be 35% larger than family sedans if we use the figures from the above table. This gives a 40% higher fuel consumption (even for parallel hybrid electric SUVs) using the given formula for the power demand.
Addressing fuel efficiency, several manufacturers now offer hybrid gas/electric models of SUVs, offering improved fuel economy over conventionally powered SUVs. With some hybrid SUV models, the added power generated from the hybrid systems is used some times to give vehicles added performance (increased power). SUVs with hybrid engines can therefore experience gas mileage similar to that of gas powered family sedans.
Pollution
Because some SUVs can use more fuel (mile for mile) than cars with the same engine type, it is sometimes suggested that they generate higher volumes of pollutants (particularly carbon dioxide) into the atmosphere. Various eco-sabotage groups, such as the Earth Liberation FrontEarth Liberation Front
The Earth Liberation Front , also known as "Elves" or "The Elves", is the collective name for autonomous individuals or covert cells who, according to the ELF Press Office, use "economic sabotage and guerrilla warfare to stop the exploitation and destruction of the environment".The ELF was founded...
or Les Dégonflés
Les Dégonflés
Les Dégonflés is a French passive vigilante group that deflates tyres on SUVs parked on the streets of Paris in order to protest against the associated high emissions and damage caused to the environment.|last = Bremner|first = Charles...
have targeted SUV dealerships and privately-owned SUVs because of concern over increased fuel usage. Acts can range from criminal damage (such as arson or deflating the vehicle's tires) to more passive attacks (such as fake 'parking tickets').
In the U.S., light trucks and SUVs are held to a less-strict pollution control standard than passenger cars. In response to the perception that a growing share of fuel consumption and emissions are attributable to these vehicles, the Environmental Protection Agency ruled that by model year 2009, emissions from all light trucks and passenger cars will be regulated equally.
However, total mileage over time must be taken into consideration when considering total emissions volume and there has been investigation in 'Dust to Dust' environmental impact; considering factors other than fuel economy.
The British national newspaper The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
reported on a study carried out by CNW Marketing Research
CNW Marketing Research
CNW Marketing Research, Inc. , known primarily as an automotive marketing research company, is a private company founded in 1984. It operates separate research offices covering the automotive, computer, electronics, housing, and personal investment industries, as well as a research office covering...
which suggested that CO2 emissions alone do not reflect the true environmental costs of a car. The newspaper reported that: "CNW moves beyond the usual CO2 emissions figures and uses a "dust-to-dust" calculation of a car's environmental impact, from its creation to its ultimate destruction. The newspaper also reported that the CNW research put the Jeep Wrangler
Jeep Wrangler
The Jeep Wrangler is a subcompact four-wheel drive sport utility vehicle and an off-road vehicle manufactured by American automaker Chrysler, under its Jeep marque – and now in its fourth generation. It is a successor to the famous World War II 'Jeep' vehicle by way of the Willys civilian...
above the Toyota Prius
Toyota Prius
The Toyota Prius is a full hybrid electric mid-size hatchback, formerly a compact sedan developed and manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation...
and other hybrid cars as the greenest car that could be bought in the US. However, it was noted that Toyota disputed the proportion of energy used to make a car compared with how much the vehicle uses during its life; CNW said 80% of the energy a car uses is accounted for by manufacture and 20% in use - Toyota claimed the reverse.
The report has raised controversy. When Oregon radio station KATU asked for comment on the CNW report, Professor John Heywood (with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)) saw merit in the study saying "It raises in the rest of us some good questions" but "I can only guess at how they did the detailed arithmetic. ... The danger is a report like this will discourage the kind of thinking we want consumers to do - should I invest in this new technology, should I help this new technology?"
The Rocky Mountain Institute
Rocky Mountain Institute
Rocky Mountain Institute is an organization in the United States dedicated to research, publication, consulting, and lecturing in the general field of sustainability, with a special focus on profitable innovations for energy and resource efficiency. RMI was established in 1982 and has grown into a...
alleged that even after making assumptions that would lower the environmental impact of the Hummer H3 relative to the Prius; "the Prius still has a lower impact on the environment. This indicates that the unpublished assumptions and inputs used by CNW must continue the trend of favoring the Hummer, or disfavoring the Prius. Since the researchers at Argonne Labs performed a careful survey of all recent life cycle analyses of cars, especially hybrids, our research underlines the deep divide between CNW's study and all scientifically reviewed and accepted work on the same topic.".
A report done by the Pacific Institute
Pacific Institute
The Pacific Institute is a non-profit research institute created in 1987 to provide independent research and policy analysis on issues at the intersection of development, environment, and security, with a particular focus on global and regional freshwater issues...
alleges "serious biases and flaws" in the study published by CNW, claiming that "the report's conclusions rely on faulty methods of analysis, untenable assumptions, selective use and presentation of data, and a complete lack of peer review."
For his own part, CNW's Art Spinella says environment campaigners may be right about SUVs but hybrids are an expensive part of the automotive picture; the vehicle at the top of his environmentally friendly list is the Scion XB because it is easy to build, cheap to run and recycle and carries a cost of 49 cents a mile over its lifetime.
"I don't like the Hummer people using that as an example to justify the fact that they bought a Hummer," he said. "Just as it's not for Prius owners to necessarily believe that they're saving the entire globe, the environment for the entire world, that's not true either."
The June 2008 release of the "From Dust to Dust" study now places the Prius cost per lifetime mile fell 23.5% to $2.191 per lifetime mile while the H3 cost rose 12.5% to $2.327 per lifetime mile -although as it is still dependent upon the distance driven during the vehicle's life, is still subject to dispute.
Weight
The high gross vehicle weight rating of some full-size SUVs (like the Ford ExcursionFord Excursion
The Ford Excursion is a full-size sport utility vehicle that was produced by the Ford Motor Company between model years 2000 and 2005 . Based on the Super Duty pickup truck platform, it served as Ford's largest SUV in its lineup during the tenure of its production and mainly competed against the...
and Hummer H2
Hummer H2
The Hummer H2 is an SUV and SUT that was marketed by General Motors under the Hummer brand. It is a large truck , while longer, heavier , and taller with room for six passengers , seven passengers in some models. The rearmost part of the H2 SUV was modified to a pickup truck bed for the 2005 H2 SUT...
) technically limits their use on certain roads. These laws are rarely enforced for SUVs as they are classified as passenger vehicles instead of commercial trucks. Fortunately these small rural roads are a rare occurrence for most drivers. In addition many of these rural byways are giving way to more efficient and larger two lanes which support vehicles up to medium weight trucks.
The weight of a passenger vehicle has a direct statistical contribution to its driver fatality rate according to Informed for LIFE
Informed for LIFE
Informed for LIFE is a Connecticut non-profit organization that provides "a free, public service to guide consumers on the use of vehicle crash test and fatality data"....
, more weight being beneficial.
Size
The length and especially width of large SUVs is controversial in urban areas. In areas with limited parking spaces, large SUV drivers have been criticized for parking in stalls marked for compact cars or that are too narrow for the width of larger vehicles. Critics have stated that this causes problems such as the loss of use of the adjacent space, reduced accessibility into the entry of an adjacent vehicle, blockage of driveway space, and damage inflicted, by the door, to adjacent vehicles. As a backlash against the alleged space consumption of SUVs, the city of FlorenceFlorence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, has restricted access of SUVs to the center, and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
have debated banning them altogether.
UK
In the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
where most on-road motor vehicles (except very low polluters) are subject to yearly vehicle excise duty
Vehicle excise duty
Vehicle Excise Duty is a vehicle road use tax levied as an excise duty which must be paid for most types of vehicle which are to be used on the public roads in the United Kingdom...
payments, the government is actively attempting to deter people from using high-CO2 vehicles by taxation with a high vehicle excise duty. The average family sized car would cost around £175 GBP annually (2009), whereas more polluting vehicles (including some SUVs) cost up to £440 GBP based on the CO2 g/km emissions with further increases planned in the future.
However, by selecting a pick up truck, which are similar in all other respects to SUVs, the high taxes can be offset by the reduction in VAT and company car tax each year.
Declining profits for Detroit Big Three automakers
The business model of focusing on SUVs and light trucks is blamed for declining sales and profits among Detroit's Big Three automakersBig Three automobile manufacturers
The Big Three, when used in relation to the automotive industry, most generally refers to the three major American automotive companies:Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler...
since the mid-late 2000s.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Big Three could enjoy profit margins of $10,000 per SUV, while losing a few hundred dollars on a compact car. Consequently, these companies focused resources and design on SUVs over small cars (compact cars were sold mainly to attract young buyers with inexpensive options and to increase their fleet average fuel economies to meet federal standards). As a result of the shift in the Big Three's strategy, many long-running compact and midsize cars like the Ford Taurus
Ford Taurus
The Ford Taurus is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States. Originally introduced in the 1986 model year, it has remained in near-continuous production for more than two decades, making it the fourth oldest nameplate that is currently sold in the North American...
, Buick Century
Buick Century
Buick Century is the model name used by the Buick division of General Motors for a line of full-size performance vehicles from 1936 to 1942 and 1954 to 1958, and from 1973 to 2005 for a mid-size car....
, and Pontiac Grand Prix
Pontiac Grand Prix
Picking up where the Pontiac Ventura model left off, the Grand Prix first appeared in the Pontiac line for 1962. It was essentially a standard Pontiac Catalina coupe with minimal outside chrome trim and a sportier interior...
eventually fell behind their Japanese competition in features and image (relying more upon fleet sales instead of retail and/or heavy incentive discounts), some eventually being discontinued. Jerry White
With soaring gas prices in the mid-late 2000s, followed by a weakening economy
Subprime mortgage crisis
The U.S. subprime mortgage crisis was one of the first indicators of the late-2000s financial crisis, characterized by a rise in subprime mortgage delinquencies and foreclosures, and the resulting decline of securities backed by said mortgages....
, SUV and light truck sales have declined significantly. The Big Three were unable to adapt as quickly as their Japanese rivals to produce small cars and crossovers to meet growing demand for fuel-efficient vehicles; the U.S. offerings were also considered less competitive than their Japanese counterparts. This was due to inflexible manufacturing facilities, the high wages of unionized workers in the United States and Canada (members of the UAW
United Auto Workers
The International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, better known as the United Auto Workers , is a labor union which represents workers in the United States and Puerto Rico, and formerly in Canada. Founded as part of the Congress of Industrial...
and CAW
Canadian Auto Workers
The Canadian Auto Workers is one of Canada's largest and highest profile social unions. While rooted in Ontario's large auto plants of Windsor, Brampton, Oakville, St...
, respectively) compared to non-union workers such as that of Toyota, make it unprofitable to build small cars,
Slang
In reflection of the attitudes and general criticism around SUVs, pejorative terms abound. The term SUV is used as an acronym for "selfish useless vehicle" or "suddenly upside-down vehicle" in reference to criticism of SUVs generally being involved in auto accidents.- The Earth Liberation FrontEarth Liberation FrontThe Earth Liberation Front , also known as "Elves" or "The Elves", is the collective name for autonomous individuals or covert cells who, according to the ELF Press Office, use "economic sabotage and guerrilla warfare to stop the exploitation and destruction of the environment".The ELF was founded...
has referred to them as 'Smog Monsters'. - In the US, the Ford Excursion (Ford’s largest SUV at the time) was nicknamed the Ford Valdez (in reference to the oil tanker Exxon ValdezExxon ValdezOriental Nicety, formerly Exxon Valdez, Exxon Mediterranean, SeaRiver Mediterranean, S/R Mediterranean, Mediterranean, and Dong Fang Ocean is an oil tanker that gained notoriety after running aground in Prince William Sound spilling hundreds of thousands of barrels of crude oil in Alaska...
) - In the United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, SUVs are often referred to in derogatory terms as "tanks" (due to their size), "gas guzzlers" or "ChelseaChelsea, LondonChelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
tractors," due to their popularity among affluent people living in central London areas such as Chelsea. The term SUV is occasionally used in the UK, although such vehicles are often referred to as 4x4s more commonly. - In SwedenSwedenSweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, a country where SUVs are not considered a status symbol, they are often spoken of as "Stadsjeepar", meaning "city jeeps". In official communication from Swedish insurance companies, governmental organizations, and environmental movements, SUVs have been endowed with this epithet. However, a BIL Sweden survey also shows that SUVs in Sweden are not predominantly bought by people in the city, so the term "city jeep" makes little sense. - In NorwayNorwayNorway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, SUVs were very popular among affluent people in the Western suburbs of Oslo (BærumBærumis a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Sandvika. Bærum was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838. A suburb of Oslo, Bærum is located on the west coast of the city....
and AskerAskerAsker is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the Viken traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Asker. The municipality is a suburb of Oslo, the national capital...
), especially in the years 2005-7. During this time, the term "Børstractor," meaning stock-exchange tractor, was coined to reflect the irony of buying such cars but never using them off the tar. - In AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, where the term SUV is rarely used, expensive 4WDs that do not venture offroad are sometimes referred to as "Toorak tractors" or "Mosman shopping trolleys". - In New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, the same type of vehicle is described as a "Remuera tractor".