Are SUVs headed towards extinction?

theMAG · 27th August 2008, 00:09

In this country, SUVs are almost as fuel efficient as cars. That cant be said about those in developed countries. Those huge engines there were never meant for fuel-efficiency.

I can rest assured that my X2 will see the light of the day after all.

sridharps · 27th August 2008, 00:35

Indians are still largely practical buyers - FE,space,VFM,service are the main criteria for buying a car. If the sales of the SUVs are going north, as you have pointed out, it is because they are fulfilling the above requirements quite well. And they will continue to do well as long as they fullfill those requirements.
As for the Swiss - good for them, even if they will not make much of an impact, as a small country. Now if this was the americans..but it can never be, right?

shankar.balan · 27th August 2008, 11:01

youre absolutely right man
I couldnt agree more and I also believe 2 wrongs dont make a RIGHT.
however, to echo another post on this thread, the current crop of SUVs in India are give or take highly comparable to cars when it comes to emissions/ fuel efficiency etc.
Luckily, since India is clearly a VFM focussed country and it is ingrained in us to seek the best value for our hard earned money, we will hardly, if ever, become mad gas guzzlers like many citizens of the US of A.
That said, I also agree with Benny about Social Issues and how we as responsible citizens must do our bit.
Promoting / Practicing Car Pooling etc would definitely help to an extent. And one's second vehicle could seriously be a Reva!
cheers

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarScream

Although I agree with you about where the blame lies, in the final analysis it's not going to matter who burnt the house down or which room the fire started in. We are all going to suffer.

Ym-enjn · 27th August 2008, 12:12

Its not about SUVs, in India any car, SUV, bike, auto, truck, train, plane, moped which dosen't give good FE will extinct.

1000Horses · 27th August 2008, 14:13

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DieselFan · 28th August 2008, 12:46

SUVs in India will evolve. India is still a nacent market for SUVs as it was for Cars about a couple of decades back. You will see highly efficient SUVs, Smaller SUVs, Crossovers (4x4 cars with high GC) being introduced in India. SUVs will have its own market. If not for SUVs or UVs one would not be able to travel to more than 75% of our villages/towns in India.

blue_pulsar · 28th August 2008, 13:43

I seriously doubt that the sales of SUVs will increase henceforth, given the rate of rise in fuel prices. Sooner or later SUV sales will fall.

I seriously hope they come out with an "electric-SUV" as soon as possible.

suman · 28th August 2008, 14:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by blue_pulsar

I seriously doubt that the sales of SUVs will increase henceforth, given the rate of rise in fuel prices. Sooner or later SUV sales will fall.

Considering that the bulk of the Indian SUVs sold run on Diesel & with Diesel continuing to remain cheaper than Petrol, I don't think that would happen. If a person has the money to make the initial investment, its a win-win all the way!

Heck, my Safari with about 50% more of daily running than my Fiesta 1.6 still works out marginally cheaper at the end of the month (absolute rupee terms). Between the two cars, they cover approx 200 kms in a day.

obed5579 · 28th August 2008, 16:46

India, China and Russia are going to be the biggest SUV markets. Tata's would not have taken over Land rover if they thought SUV's are going to get extinct any time soon. In our country Size does matter. SUV's will continue to sell irrespective of whether it is petrol or diesel. On our roads along with the Safari's, Scorpio' and Bolero's you alos get to see a lot of CRV's and Vitaras.
I feel that as technology evolves we will have greener and more fuel efficient SUV's

Rough Square · 28th August 2008, 18:02

Agreed that the state of roads in India are terrible (most of them).
But if we were to have good pot hole free expressways, how many would prefer a SUV over a road hugging sedan that is much more stable at high speeds?

I think a good majority would prefer a sedan.

suman · 28th August 2008, 18:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rough Square

But if we were to have good pot hole free expressways, how many would prefer a SUV over a road hugging sedan that is much more stable at high speeds?

How about in the madness of the daily traffic, off the expressways - even if the road surface was top class, I'd still prefer a SUV

gd1418 · 28th August 2008, 19:56

You dream well. But you started your sentence with a 'if', suggesting that you yourself have doubt about this.

As long as there is a considerable difference between the petrol & diesel prices, SUVs are here to stay. Having said that, speaking for myself, it shall always be a SUV irrespective of petrol, diesel or good/bad roads.

Since you raised this question, can we have poll on how many would still buy a SUV if the roads improve.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rough Square

Agreed that the state of roads in India are terrible (most of them).
But if we were to have good pot hole free expressways, how many would prefer a SUV over a road hugging sedan that is much more stable at high speeds?

I think a good majority would prefer a sedan.

bIte tHe bulLet · 28th August 2008, 20:21

i can safely add to this debate by saying that having moved to a safari in the last 6 months from a palio... given a choice while ferrying the kids to and fro from school or just out on a jaunt with the entire jing bang - it is almost inevitably and without a murmur of dissent that the entire family heads to the safari rather than the palio.

thats not to say that the palio is a bad choice of vehicle - heck it has weathered more abuse thrown at it that a world war II jeep (!) and it has almost always come out of a sticky situation smelling of roses - however, in the safari, you just feel safer and a lot less intimidated by the buses, call centre cabs and the many other crazies who regularly inhabit our roads.

even my 26 month old asks (informs) me as we head out to drop him off to school, we're going in the "haathi gaadi" right?

and with diesel at 37 bucks - its still cheaper to run the safari than my palio 1.2!

so - are suv's here to stay .... oh yeah!

is that a good thing? each to his own, so go figure....

anupmathur · 28th August 2008, 21:06

That many of us who are 'manufactured' with some kind of 'defect' will always 'compensate' for it by driving an SUV!
So unless you can change me, you cannot hope to change what I will always drive!
And yes, thankyou, I have heard that one about the size of it being in inverse proportion to the size of the car one drives!!

Big is beautiful.

shankar.balan · 29th August 2008, 12:40

Anup!
The Monster Vehicle Club!
Ha Ha!

27th August 2008, 00:09	#16
theMAG Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Avon, CT Posts: 7,217 Thanked: 1,811 Times View My Garage	In this country, SUVs are almost as fuel efficient as cars. That cant be said about those in developed countries. Those huge engines there were never meant for fuel-efficiency. I can rest assured that my X2 will see the light of the day after all.
	() Thanks

27th August 2008, 00:35	#17
sridharps BHPian Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 400 Thanked: 16 Times	Indians are still largely practical buyers - FE,space,VFM,service are the main criteria for buying a car. If the sales of the SUVs are going north, as you have pointed out, it is because they are fulfilling the above requirements quite well. And they will continue to do well as long as they fullfill those requirements. As for the Swiss - good for them, even if they will not make much of an impact, as a small country. Now if this was the americans..but it can never be, right?
	() Thanks

27th August 2008, 12:12	#19
Ym-enjn Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Jaipur Posts: 1,039 Thanked: 60 Times	Its not about SUVs, in India any car, SUV, bike, auto, truck, train, plane, moped which dosen't give good FE will extinct.
	() Thanks

27th August 2008, 14:13	#20
1000Horses BHPian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Pune Posts: 129 Thanked: 21 Times View My Garage	Post deleted by the Team-BHP Support : Please do NOT SPAM the forum. One-liners that add absolutely no value to the thread are strictly prohibited on Team-BHP. We advise you to visit our board rules section before proceeding any further. Last edited by GTO : 27th August 2008 at 14:27.
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28th August 2008, 12:46	#21
DieselFan Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,584 Thanked: 259 Times	SUVs in India will evolve. India is still a nacent market for SUVs as it was for Cars about a couple of decades back. You will see highly efficient SUVs, Smaller SUVs, Crossovers (4x4 cars with high GC) being introduced in India. SUVs will have its own market. If not for SUVs or UVs one would not be able to travel to more than 75% of our villages/towns in India.
	() Thanks

28th August 2008, 13:43	#22
blue_pulsar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,113 Thanked: 406 Times	I seriously doubt that the sales of SUVs will increase henceforth, given the rate of rise in fuel prices. Sooner or later SUV sales will fall. I seriously hope they come out with an "electric-SUV" as soon as possible.
	() Thanks

28th August 2008, 16:46	#24
obed5579 BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 49 Thanked: 7 Times	India, China and Russia are going to be the biggest SUV markets. Tata's would not have taken over Land rover if they thought SUV's are going to get extinct any time soon. In our country Size does matter. SUV's will continue to sell irrespective of whether it is petrol or diesel. On our roads along with the Safari's, Scorpio' and Bolero's you alos get to see a lot of CRV's and Vitaras. I feel that as technology evolves we will have greener and more fuel efficient SUV's
	() Thanks

28th August 2008, 18:02	#25
Rough Square BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 100 Thanked: 2 Times	Agreed that the state of roads in India are terrible (most of them). But if we were to have good pot hole free expressways, how many would prefer a SUV over a road hugging sedan that is much more stable at high speeds? I think a good majority would prefer a sedan.
	() Thanks

28th August 2008, 20:21	#28
bIte tHe bulLet BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bombay Posts: 441 Thanked: 281 Times View My Garage	the suv debate i can safely add to this debate by saying that having moved to a safari in the last 6 months from a palio... given a choice while ferrying the kids to and fro from school or just out on a jaunt with the entire jing bang - it is almost inevitably and without a murmur of dissent that the entire family heads to the safari rather than the palio. thats not to say that the palio is a bad choice of vehicle - heck it has weathered more abuse thrown at it that a world war II jeep (!) and it has almost always come out of a sticky situation smelling of roses - however, in the safari, you just feel safer and a lot less intimidated by the buses, call centre cabs and the many other crazies who regularly inhabit our roads. even my 26 month old asks (informs) me as we head out to drop him off to school, we're going in the "haathi gaadi" right? and with diesel at 37 bucks - its still cheaper to run the safari than my palio 1.2! so - are suv's here to stay .... oh yeah! is that a good thing? each to his own, so go figure....
	() Thanks

28th August 2008, 21:06	#29
anupmathur Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Delhi Posts: 3,095 Thanked: 311 Times	That many of us who are 'manufactured' with some kind of 'defect' will always 'compensate' for it by driving an SUV! So unless you can change me, you cannot hope to change what I will always drive! And yes, thankyou, I have heard that one about the size of it being in inverse proportion to the size of the car one drives!! Big is beautiful.
	() Thanks

29th August 2008, 12:40	#30
shankar.balan Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 11,392 Thanked: 23,585 Times View My Garage	Anup! The Monster Vehicle Club! Ha Ha!
	() Thanks