Would SUV & crossover owners ever buy a sedan or hatchback again

Smaller cars are often bullied by other road users, but you hardly see anyone messing with something like a Toyota Fortuner or MG Gloster.

BHPian Aditya recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Over the years, we have seen that people have started preferring SUVs or crossovers to other body styles such as sedans and hatchbacks. Here are some of the reasons.

Size:

SUVs and crossovers are large. In a country like India, where the might is right, size does matter. More road users are likely to give you way if you drive a large SUV than any other type of car. Smaller cars are often bullied by other road users, but you hardly see anyone messing with something like a Toyota Fortuner or MG Gloster.

Macho styling and imposing road presence:

SUVs with big bodies and large wheels & tyres look macho in comparison with sedans and hatchbacks. They have an imposing presence. Not many would like a car that has no street presence. Hence SUVs and crossovers have gained ground in India.

Ground clearance:

SUVs and crossovers provide better ground clearance than most other vehicles - a boon on the poorly maintained roads of India. This helps them tackle large speed breakers with ease. Also, in many rural areas, where roads are almost non-existent, one is much more comfortable using an SUV compared to a sedan or hatchback.

Water wading capability:

In just about every rainy season, you hear about waterlogging in our cities. This is due to the poor drainage systems we have here. Most SUVs are much better at dealing with such situations than sedans and hatchbacks. This is because they have better water-wading capabilities.

Driving position:

SUVs and crossovers are higher than other types of cars. Their seating is also higher than other cars. Therefore, they offer a much more commanding driving position. This gives the drivers a better view of the road which is very important in India. One can easily spot bumps, potholes and irregularities on the road while driving and take action accordingly. This is not so easy in a low-slung sedan or hatchback.

Ingress & egress:

Getting in and out of SUVs and crossovers in particular is a much easier affair than in a sedan or hatchback. Due to the higher roof, you do not need to bend down as you would do in a sedan or hatchback. The seats are also at a more natural height. You simply walk into the cabin and slide into the seat.

Cabin space:

SUVs and crossovers provide more interior space than sedans or hatchbacks. There's more than enough legroom and headroom for most people due to the additional height of the vehicle.

Luggage space:

Most SUVs and crossovers also provide high luggage carrying capacity. Going by personal experience, I can safely state that we Indians just can't travel light. An SUV would be much more apt to carry all the luggage of a family.

People carrying capacity:

Most SUVs and crossovers come with more than 5 seats. So you can carry more people than you could in a sedan or hatchback. This makes them better suited for larger families or outings with more people.

Off-roading capability:

Many SUVs and crossovers are equipped with four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive systems. This allows them to drive out of sticky situations such as driving through mud or sand. They can climb up and down the steepest of slopes - things that other types of cars would not even dream of doing.

Better road manners than before:

Earlier SUVs used to be cumbersome to drive compared to sedans and hatchbacks. Things have changed now. SUVs and crossovers are a lot better to drive now. Despite their height, their handling and body control are pretty good. They might not be as good as some sedans, but the gap has narrowed drastically. The adoption of monocoque construction has improved their ride characteristics as well.

Multiple options:

Just about every manufacturer is making SUVs or crossovers now. You can get one in any size you want and according to your budget, preferences and requirements. We can't say the same about sedans and hatchbacks. The options for these are few and some models are outdated with no replacement in sight.

The above advantages are very hard to ignore. Those who have had the taste of an SUV or crossover, are not likely to go back to a sedan or hatchback. They might look at MPVs / MUVs though. This is because vehicles such as the Toyota Innova offer most of the advantages of SUVs. They are also much nicer looking than before and offer a good deal of luxury and status. We have discussed Why MUVs are a better choice than other cars today. Hence, an SUV / crossover owner might move to an MPV / MUV, but not any other style of car.

So, SUV / crossover owners, would you ever buy a sedan or hatchback or a car of any other body style again?

Here's what BHPian ghodlur had to say about the matter:

For me, it will depend on the need. If my son stakes claim to my SUV, then I will move to a smaller car i.e a hatchback. Sedan will definitely not be on my shopping list for sure. I might even think of a CUV as an alternate for Hatchback.

Here's what BHPian Nav-i-gator had to say about the matter:

I will most probably buy a sedan next. I had a Honda City 5th Gen for around 2 years as my primary drive and I just loved the road manners. No motion sickness on long drives, especially over hilly roads alone is good enough a reason to go for Sedans.

Here's what BHPian Small Bot had to say about the matter:

I know people have strong views on sedans, but I don't find it practical for my use case. I can't stand the low seating, the length, the lack of ground clearance. I'm not crossing 60 kmph on any city roads, so it's either a compact crossover or a hatchback for me any day. I know there are several sedan fanatics here. It's just not the body type for me.

In fact, we're seriously looking at tiny hatchbacks to serve as a second car for my wife's daily use in bumper to bumper traffic. If the Comet had an ICE version, that would be the car for us.

Here's what BHPian emperor had to say about the matter:

If I ever had to purchase another primary car, currently it's the Kodiaq (since 2017), surely it would be an SUV or a Crossover due to their size and our requirements but our secondary car has always been a Sedan. First, it was the Vento and now purchased a week before the Virtus. Yes, SUVs have their advantage but the feel-good factor that sedans have is at times what I miss. Personally, any day sedans look better to me and are more comfortable over bad roads if seating 4 people.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.