If your car needs replacing, your head might have been turned by the range of SUVs on offer. You might have friends who tell you how comfortable and spacious they are, or have seen ads telling you how much protection they can provide for your family.
The problem is, this is only one side of the picture. SUVs have some serious downsides when compared to normal-sized vehicles. These include:
They’re more difficult to park
If you struggle to find parking spaces now, you can expect it to get far worse when you up your vehicle size. That can soon get frustrating and mean you waste more time looking for an adequate space or have to park further away.
They’re more expensive
SUVs cost more to buy, maintain and run. They consume more gas than the average vehicle, bigger tires cost more money to replace, and so forth. Overall, this extra cost can be significant. There is also an increased environmental cost.
They’re more dangerous to others
Killing or seriously injuring someone in a crash would likely haunt you for life, and driving an SUV makes it more likely you will. Numerous studies highlight the increased dangers SUVs pose to pedestrians, cyclists and those in smaller vehicles. One just out reckons that a child is 82% more likely to die if hit by an SUV than a smaller passenger vehicle, for example. Taller, squarer hoods and heavier body weight are the principal reasons that explain this.
Understanding how to claim compensation will be crucial for those who are injured or lose a loved one in a crash involving an SUV.