I'm sure you've already wondered why there are so many SUV and Crossover on the roads, especially in the B and C segments (utilities and small family members).
You probably associate the high sales figures with issues like fashion, or more pragmatic ones — more space for people or luggage — or even the simple fact that most drivers have an Indiana Jones streak and like the idea of owning a car. that allows them some freedom off the road.
Well, the answer to the question that's been plaguing your mind can leave you disappointed. Ease of getting in and out of the vehicle seems to be the number one reason for its success. , justified by an increasingly aging population, therefore with greater difficulties in movement and locomotion.
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Going to an extreme, it's certainly a lot easier to get into a Nissan Qashqai or Dacia Duster than an Alpine A110. Even when compared to equivalent cars, it is certainly easier to get in and out of a Captur than a Clio, or a T-Roc than a Golf.
Imagine that you've reached old age and getting in and out of the car feels more like crossfit training, and in that case, a car you can get in without having to test your contortionist skills will certainly help.
not sexy
It's not the sexiest sales pitch, but I'm not the one saying it. According to Keith Knudsen (in charge of platform development at Ford), customers increasingly want to slide into the seat when getting in and out of the car rather than having to drop into the seat to get in and haul themselves out of it. when they want to go out.The fact that SUVs and Crossovers have larger doors — in width and height — also helps consumers choose, who don't want to bump their heads when getting in and out of their car or having to pass through tiny doors that more like secret passages.
The brands advertise compact SUVs and Crossovers as youthful, dynamic and adventurous cars, but according to many in the industry, as Larry Smythe (an engineer at Nissan) says, it seems the real reason they sell so well is because they being “easier to use”, having better access and allowing a better view from the inside out.
And the MPV?
SUVs and Crossovers aren't the first vehicles to guarantee these types of features, as MPVs are even better at the points mentioned. So why are they selling less and less, with SUVs and Crossovers being the main drivers of their decline?
We can insist on the pragmatic aspects of SUVs and Crossovers all day long, but we return to the argument of their youthful, dynamic and adventurous looks, which make them far more desirable than any “boring” MPV. Ease of use, yes, but strong visual appeal should have a say as well.
Well, that's why most brands are now betting on SUV and Crossover instead of saloons, sedans or coupés. And while we have to admit that it's a shame to see cars like the Honda CRX give way to the Honda HR-V, we have to remember that we're not moving into newer ones either and it's probably going to be nice to have a car that's easy to handle. enter and exit.
Source: Detroit Free Press