People in the US have always loved big cars. You go back to the 1970s, and brands like Dodge produced some enormous vehicles.
Over time, engine technology got better and people’s tastes refined a little. But what’s strange is that vehicle size didn’t really decline. If anything, the average person is now driving a larger car than before the year 2000.
So what’s going on here? If big cars are so bad, why does everyone want to drive one of these things?
Let’s take a look.
The Comfort
The difference between riding in a small car and a big one is tremendous. When you’re in a little 1-liter hatchback, you can feel every bump on the road. That’s not the case if you’re in a large Hummer with wishbone suspension.
You also get a much larger cabin. You don’t feel like you’re having to slide and contort your body into a leathery envelope. In big vehicles, you have just as much seating room as in your living room.
The Utility
At the same time, bigger cars also offer significantly more utility. You can simply use them to get more done.
For example, suppose you want to take your bikes and luggage with you on vacation. That’d be next to impossible on a small vehicle, but it’s a breeze on a larger one.
You also get extra room for passengers and new family members. Larger vehicles will often provide space for up to seven or eight people, meaning that you can take large numbers of people around the country without having to split them into two vehicles.
The Safety Factor
There’s also the psychological safety factor involved in owning and driving a larger vehicle. Many people worry about what would happen in car accidents if they were inside a smaller car. Being in a vehicle with more mass often provides additional protection in the form of a higher weight and more sophisticated safety features.
The Space
Perhaps the most significant reason for choosing a large vehicle is the space that it offers. You can spread out and do more while traveling without getting in anyone else’s way.
But it’s not just the areas inside that matter. It is also the additional ground clearance that larger vehicles have. When you drive a large SUV, you can drive it over rougher terrain, which is ideal if you live in rural areas or in a city that can’t maintain the roads.
The Lower Environmental Impact
Previously, people didn’t want to own larger vehicles because of the environmental impact. However, new technology is changing that equation and making many SUVs just as planet-friendly as the smallest vehicles.
Most manufacturers now offer hybrid options that use electricity for short city journeys. Others from brands like Mercedes and Tesla are now fully electric, able to travel long distances without using any gas. As such, even people concerned with sustainability can now have their cake and eat it too.
So, there you have it: some of the reasons why everyone owns big cars and why their reputation might not be fair.