2024 SUV Buying Guide
Everything you need to know when buying an SUV
SUV’s are typically tall and spacious, with a large gap between the road and the underside of the car, helping them cope better if you need to drive on more rugged terrains.
With the popularity of SUVs rising there’s more on the market than ever, including the newer variation - crossovers, which have many of the features of an SUV, but are slightly smaller and are better suited to tarmac roads.
What to consider when buying an SUV:
Crossover or SUV?
Think about whether you need the extra space and ground clearance offered by an SUV and whether you'll need to drive it on more rugged roads at any point, if not you might be better opting for a Crossover.
Do you need Four-Wheel-Drive (4WD)?
Not all SUVs have four wheel drive so be sure to check before you commit if this is important to you. Four wheel drive was typically standard on the earliest SUVs however as it is only necessary if the vehicle is being driven on terrains other than tarmac, many manufacturers now employ two wheel drive as it saves weight and fuel.
Are you planning to drive off-road?
SUVs with four wheel drive can be used off road but if you are looking at driving up large sloped or over rough, rocky surfaces then you will need an SUV that states it is designed for off roading and that the bottom won't scrape across the ground and cause damage to the underside of the car.
SUV Benefits
- Spacious - SUVs typically have more seating and boot space than a hatchback or coupé for example. There are also many 7 seater SUVs available so you can fit more people in on your adventures!
- High driving position - Whilst this might seem daunting if you are used to driving a smaller car, this offers greater visibility of the road and is actually ideal for nervous drivers as it allows a greater sense of control.
- Capability - SUVs are great on various terrains and are equally at home on a snowy mountain as they are a city road!
SUV Considerations
- Fuel efficiency - increased weight and capability can lead to increased fuel consumption and costs so it is important to consider the type of driving you will be doing and how much you will be taking with you. Remember that a crossover will be more fuel efficient than a typical SUV so it's definitely worth not ruling them out on a cost basis.
- Manoeuvrability- As SUVs are bigger vehicles, the turning circle may be larger than that of a hatchback so if you are driving down a lot of narrow roads or squeezing in and out of tight spaces regularly then an SUV might not be the best choice for you.
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