It's time to stop the nonsense SUV

[White & Nerdy]

A disturbing trend is currently occuring. The nonsense SUV. It's the SUV that's also trying to be a fastback coupe/sedan. SUVs like the BMW X6 and Acura ZDX. Simply put, the don't make sense. Rather than combining the practicality/cargo room of an SUV with the size, fuel econonmy, and performance of a normal car (that would be called a wagon, which is apparently not cool enough), they combine the practicality/cargo room of a sedan-coupe like the Mercedes CLS with the size, fuel economy, and performance of an SUV. They can't even go offroad.

What's the point? They honestly don't make any sense at all. I have no idea how to explain them.

The second type of nonsense SUV isn't really a type, but a type of product line. I'm thinking of the product line with too many crossovers. Look at Ford. They have the Flex, the Edge, the Escape (which is only sort of a crossover), and now the redesigned Explorer. The previous version was a reasonably useful on/off-road hauler with RWD or 4WD and an available V8. The new one is yet another soccer wagon with FWD or AWD and a choice of turbo I4 or NA V6. And it doesn't do anything that couldn't be done almost as well or better by the Escape, Edge, Flex, or a station wagon.

Why is this happening?

 

[homeforsummer]

Why is this happening?

Because people buy them, against all the odds.

 

[NLxAROSA]

Just because you don't understand them, doesn't mean they don't make sense. People like them, obviously, or they wouldn't sell. They're simply form over function.

I for one think they're a logical evolution of the whole SUV thing. Think about it: 99% of people buying SUVs never go off road in them (at least over here in Europe). So why bother giving them off road capabilities at all?. And practicality? Again, like off road capabilities, I think they are practical enough for most people. As for design/looks: that's something one can't measure: you like it or you don't.

BTW, you're mentioning the X6, I really want to know what you think of a car like the BMW X1.

 

[Tornado]

Crossovers are a natural evolution of the SUV. Those who do need a "real" SUV will continue to buy them, and so they will continue to be made. But most people don't, and they've finally started to understand that.



As for the other segment, it is also makes sense if you think about it in terms of precedent. SUVs were originally popular because they represented a way for people to get out of minivans and station wagons without giving up much practicality. These silly off road fastback sedans like the X6 and Accord Crosstour represent the same thing for bread and butter 3-box sedans.

 

[Jim Prower]

The "Coupes" are all copying AMC, anyway.

 

[AMCNUT]

The "Coupes" are all copying AMC, anyway.

YES! That above picture is win!

But, unlike all these modern interpretations, the Eagle SX/4 was actually cool. It was small and capable enough to be handy either in the bush or the parking lot, depending on the situation. And it's like the 1980s equivalent of a factory lift-kit Chevy Cobalt SS Couple with 4wd... imagine how epic one of THOSE would be? I bet they'd sell... kudos to AMC for having the gumption to actually successfully market what basically amounts to a lift-kit Spirit... you would never see that today, unfortunately.

All of these modern... "things" are too big to be useful in the city or offroad, and to me, at least, wagons look MUCH more attractive and in line to suit people's needs. I agree with the OP - some things are too much. What they really ought to do is ask people why they're buying them...

 

[White & Nerdy]

Even better would be to ask environmentalists why they're stereotyping Hummers (which are actually good offroad and have useable space behind the seats) instead of these wasteful, mostly useless... things.

 

[PureAwesomeness]

Even better would be to ask environmentalists why they're stereotyping Hummers (which are actually good offroad and have useable space behind the seats) instead of these wasteful, mostly useless... things.

No-one is 'stereotyping' Hummers. There is no way around the fact that they are huge and use lots of fuel.

 

[homeforsummer]

No-one is 'stereotyping' Hummers. There is no way around the fact that they are huge and use lots of fuel.

Also "good off road" is relative (and depends on the model). They might be okay for rock crawling but anywhere with soft ground they're rather good at sinking which is what an 8,000+ pound kerbweight on an H2 gets you. I'd love to see one tacking the average UK off-road track with soft mud and narrow gaps between trees...

 

[Danoff]

The answer to the question is this:

Most people buy SUVs because they want 4 doors and a hatch in the back without the look of a station wagon.

By the way, most people buy pickup trucks because they want the bed in the back without the look of an el camino.

There are a number of large coupes on the market that are just as big, or bigger, than their counterpart sedans - and yet they are purchased simply for the "look" of a coupe.

Just purchased an AWD Infiniti FX35 myself and have already taken it "offroad" several times (snow counts in my mind) and have made excellent use of the ground clearance. I keep it cleaned and waxed, so you'd never know it by looking at it on the road, and my wife (blonde, high heels, expensive sunglasses) drives it around town, often by herself. I'm sure if any of you saw it you'd assume that it never went off road or got used in any way.

 

[White & Nerdy]

Still, it's better than most of these coupe-SUV things, and it still has more space to put things. The fastback SUVs have neither. They're like a Mercedes CLS with a lift kit.

 

[Danoff]

I'm with you on the X6. It doesn't make any sense to me. But I think it's probably because people want the "look" of a coupe with the hatch in the back without looking like a hatchback. Personally, I don't see the appeal. Like you, the vehicle is a bit of a pet peeve of mine. But I find el caminos similarly repulsive.

Quick side note. When you see the ///M version of the X6, you'll see that the "///M" logo is after the X6, whereas every other BMW has the ///M in front. I think this is because if they put it in front it would be an mx-6.

 

[AOS-]

These strange SUVs just make me think that people want the look of a sporty car, but want it to be comfortable ride like an SUV, so you have the X6 or ZDX...

 

[MatskiMonk]

Quick side note. When you see the ///M version of the X6, you'll see that the "///M" logo is after the X6, whereas every other BMW has the ///M in front. I think this is because if they put it in front it would be an mx-6.

And the X5M would be the MX-5, pretty sure Mazda wouldn't want that (or BMW for that matter).

Personally, I like the X6, and I like the X6M even more. I think it's a great looking vehicle. As a bodystyle/drivetrain combo it makes no less, or more, sense than any other vehicle - given that what a car looks like is a huge part of peoples buying decision, the rest is.. is it practical enough.

Why buy a cabriolet, you don't need to put the top down, and in most cases it compromises the dynamics of the original coupe version.

Why buy a saloon/sedan, it has less space than a tourer.

Why buy a coupe, it offers less practicality than a saloon/sedan.

These are rhetorical questions, people will buy the car they like the most if it does the job they need... X6 buyers don't have to need a coupe like roof line, they don't have to need AWD, they just have to like the way it looks, and not need seating for more than 4 (5 with latest updates).

Looks, Practicality, Performance.

No car will ever give 100% of all these for 100% of the people.

To understand vehicles like this, just accept that other people have different wants and needs, and that the ability for customers to make a choice more suited to them... is a good thing.

 

[CarreraGT]

As much as I despise cars like the BMW X6 and the Porsche Cayenne, there is one positive to come from their existance, and that's that they keep the sports car alive. It's becoming tougher and tougher for companies like Porsche and BMW to survive selling purely sportscars, especially with the technology required these days to meet emissions regulations and the ever growing need to be "environmentally responsible".

So if building the X6 and the Cayenne means we get better a better M3, M5 and 911, I'm all for it. Besides, all those hideous looking, overweight SUVs make the real Porsches and BMWs look even better .

What's the only thing worse than a BMW or Porsche SUV???

 

[AOS-]

Aston Martin Fortwo?!?!

 

[CarreraGT]

Aston Martin Cygnet... Ferrari Fortwo? Even worse...

 

[niky]

It's all about want.

All anybody really needs is a diesel van or a station wagon. In fact, that's mroe than most people need and it keeps all the bases covered.

Now if everyone were to buy only what they need, we'd all be driving around 1.2 liter Honda Fits. No ifs, no buts.

But people who can afford more want something different. SUVs like the Cayenne and the X6 may not appeal to you, specifically, but they drive very nicely, are quite powerful, and feel great on the road. Driving the X6 is almost exactly like driving a 6-series... except you sit higher up and have a useable back seat. The Cayenne, on the other hand, is as posh as any Porsche, but cheaper and available with more engine choices.

I would never buy one, but if I were rich and had no compunctions about who I'd piss off with my purchases, an X6M would be on my list of purchases...

At least it's not as silly a purchase as a Bentley Continental GT...

 

[eSZee]

Well, nerdy white, with gas prices constantly rising, you'll get your wish soon. Just as it happened a few years ago, SUV sales will go down and you'll see less of them on the roads. Sadly, since americans never learn, as soon as gas prices start to fall, SUV sales will once again sky rocket since there is no way in hell gas prices will rise ever again.

 

[mini_roofer_S]

I hate SUV's

 

[01GTP]

By the way, most people buy pickup trucks because they want the bed in the back without the look of an el camino.

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/4798/BMW-E92-M3-Pickup.html


Is this the future?

 

[Danoff]

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/4798/BMW-E92-M3-Pickup.html


Is this the future?

Nope.


Because it's ugly as hell. It's the past. People will spend gobs of money to look good. Oil prices going up aren't going to stop everyone from buying SUVs and pickup trucks. Sales may decline some, but they'll still sell.

 

[Murcie_LP640]

These strange SUVs just make me think that people want the look of a sporty car, but want it to be comfortable ride like an SUV, so you have the X6 or ZDX...

However the unfortunate fact of that matter is that the X6 has a terrible ride.

 

[niky]

It's stiff... but not bad. Nowhere near as bad, certainly as the X3... not even on 20" wheels.