Team-BHP - Why are SUVs becoming so popular?

various reasons like Macho Image, more metal, high viewpoint, prestige, etc are totted out for the increasing popularity of SUVs.

In my view the primary reason is

Our really bad roads. These leave no real options to the average buyer. Our NHs will be put to shame by the Roman Chariot Tracks, and this is, I beleive, the 21st century.

A Related Thread : SUVs versus Sedans

I would buy them for the passenger space and view of the road that they offer. Of course, prestige would be be another factor . ;-)

Macho image doesn't matter to me. In Kerala you would need a 1613 tippper for macho image.

+1 to the roads. My number one reason to buy the XUV was bad roads and this is in Delhi where roads and infrastructure are supposed to the best in the country!

The other reason is excellent overall visibility and driving comfort. I find driving the XUV is much less stressful than driving a hatch or a sedan in the same price point or below.

Can't remember where I read this - A woman executive in Delhi switched to a Safari SUV after her former hatchback car was harassed by cabbies and other lumpen elements in the night. Many women prefer SUV as it tends to give them a sense of safety on a lonely drive.

Again I read somewhere that SUVs are bought by middle aged men to mask their waning macho feel. I mean no offense to anyone here. In fact I drive a SUV myself.
There was an interesting article in an US magazine which drew some sort of correlation to the type of personality of the owner to the car they owned. Even in the US, SUVs seem to have ardent buyers.

All of the above is true like macho image, bad roads, prestige etc etc.
But do not forget: The ever increasing disposable incomes of the upper middle class, who are now willing to upgrade from Small car > Big car > SUV.

Why not add a poll with the following options?:
- due to deteriorating road conditions
- macho image
- perceived safety
- avoid getting bullied
- upgrading from small car
- family has grown bigger
- higher visibility
- to bully others
- prestige issue

Apart from the logical reasons, there is also an aspirational angle to it.
Cars have always been a luxury, out of reach of many.
As incomes grow, people want something aspirational, something with image. SUVs provide this image boost.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgiitk (Post 2639040)

.....In my view the primary reason is
Our really bad roads. ....

Same with me as well - specifically,

1. Bad roads in many patches in Bangalore, roads dug up for cabling / water supply and left badly patched up, roads cratered by rains, no roads joining two roads and no tar roads in many places.

2. Hopefully better visibility than a sedan (unless all cars turn into SUVs :) ). I feel this especially at night with high beam from buses, trucks and other cars. Maybe the raised seating will help.

Cheers,

Just that people are travelling a lot more than even say 3 years before, I dont have any stats to prove this but just look at the highway tolls especially on weekends/public holidays, hundreds of private cars making their way out, apart from what all has been said in the above posts the pure feeling that "bada hai toh behtar hai"/bigger is better makes people feel safe and the likes of such.

For me it would be purely adventure and the highs of going to places that are not truly motor-able.

Bit :OT

NHAI is mulling the use of electronic toll collection (google it), infact there could be a single RFID installed on your machine and tolls would appear on your credit card monthly statement. I remember the Oz' have it.

1. More disposable income with political parties - perhaps you'll see that most party mid-wigs have moved to SUV s like Scorpio.
Tangent: Corruption that runs deep?:OT
2. Growing family travel needs and affortability. guess you see a lot more family travelling simply because they can do point to point in same mode without too many transfer hassles like earlier. So we dont think too much about taking elders in. This combined with affortability growth is exploding the family SUV segment.
3. Bad roads may come finally. Not sure if this is a major fator.

Size, Space, Go Anywhere attitude, commanding road view, special love towards jeep'ish but dont want to buy jeep due to absence of the basic creature comforts are my reason for proudly owning mHawk

If I ever buy one, it would be for one reason only - To avoid getting bullied by all and sundry (viz Auto's, company buses, cabbies, trucks et al.).

I would make sure that I buy one in White, get some dark tints and preferrably have the numberplate in devnagri script. Oh, and some party stickers on it too :p.