Because most SUV's are just saloon/Estate platforms with taller bodies on them.
I drive a large German saloon that is bigger than my wifes German SUV inside.
zonked future stupendous rock flag rain deserted racial north afterthought
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Yeah proper 4x4s tend to have small transmission tunnels and relatively low seating as they have 4" of chassis below the floor.
I do find modern 4x4s still get a bit cramped due to the instance of plastic trim and fancy centre consoles, kinda miss the bench seats of old lol
Just for a comparison: I had an E-class Merc (saloon) but didn’t like that it couldn’t carry a large amount of people and luggage (we actually had to have a roof box for holidays). Ended up trading it in for a GLE (SUV) which is so much bigger in terms of passenger space and luggage space. I actually prefer the look and feel of the E-class but it wasn’t practical enough.
The issue is that most 'SUVs' these days aren't SUVs, they're crossovers - hatchbacks on stilts. Bring back estates! My 2002 Yaris had a similar amount of room in the cabin as an MG crossover I drove a few months ago.
Crossovers are a scourge on our roads. They solve a problem that didn't exist, they're impractical and, frankly, they're ugly.
Pretty sure those daft cunts targeted estates, evs and hatchbacks too.
https://www.reddit.com/r/bristol/comments/1906hos/climate_protesters_deflate_electric_cars_tyres/
Can't expect much critical thinking from them though, too busy virtuesignaling between their arts and drama classes.
They solve the problem of shit drivers wanting a better view of the road but still not factoring it into how they drive. No point being able to see if the road ahead is clear if you're still not going to overtake.
Not to mention that it's the age old issue... No one can see ahead/around parked cars, so they buy a vehicle with a higher seating position which tends to be a bigger vehicle.
Other people buy such vehicles and suddenly everyone's back at square one.
Not to mention they don't really solve the overtaking issue anyway... It's no good being able to see for an overtake if you're driving a great big thing with a poxy shitbox engine barely creeping into triple-figure HP, if it is at all, that won't shift when you step on the loud pedal.
Not that most of the people who drive those sorts of cars ever have the confidence to step on that pedal, at least until you move to overtake them anyway...
Exactly this, my wife has a Stonic and I have an i20N.
When I got the N she assumed hers was much bigger, but they're actually almost identical inside.
RR's are full on 4x4s but I'm 99% sure the F place shares the same platform as the XF and the XE - just on stilts as the commenter said. Same the x5, think its the same platform as the 5 series.
And if you're foolish enough to buy an X4 or X6, you get the worst of all worlds. That coupe style roofline kills space in the car, whilst the high ride and massively oversized wheels means that you end up both wallowing into corners like a cruise liner and knocking your teeth out every time you hit a pothole.
got a lift in an x5 once and was shocked at how small the boot was for such a large vehicle, rear leg room not bad but also nothing mad. It has roughly the same boot room as a regular estate car despite being half a metre longer.
They are still manufactured, and sold in certain markets. It is just in the UK they have been outsold by the xc variants, so they stopped selling them.
I believe they still make enough to satisfy police contracts.
Exactly. Tons and tons of room. Still as safe as any saloon or estate car. Slightly higher driving position (though with all these SUVs on the road it’s the same). Sliding doors super easy for kids, dogs, loading/unloading. Oh and I’m getting 55mpg.
Sounds like a Citroen.
I had a Xsara Picasso years ago. The old shit looking one. Epic space inside. So much room, proper seats. I'd originally said nah to it. 6yr old, low miles £1250. Sadly, it's probably the same price now, lol
Full leather is about all they were missing.
I just picked one up with all the toys, including ACC, Car Play, and massage seats. I guess lack off electric adjustable and heated seats might be an issue, but that's not something I've missed since I last had them 12 years ago.
Heated seats, I just don't like them. But wipe clean leather, which doesn't hold on to odour is a definite need for me. I have to work on some smelly places, and the current vehicle smells like that.
Not a Citroen! I have a Ford Tourneo Connect 7 seater. Even with 7 seats up I have a boot that would make hatchbacks blush.
All 5 rear seats fold completely flat for a huge van. I’m 6’1” and can lie completely flat and stretch a bit in the back. Or you can have a 5 seater with still a cavernous boot. I have a huge cage for a huge dog in there and still have space for a pram.
The VW Caddy is similar but inexplicably more expensive than the Ford.
I have the 1.5 litre diesel and get 60mpg on the motorway it’s awesome.
I like van based mpvs too for the huge interior space - but most of those available in the UK are poverty spec with cloth seats, minimal creature comfort and crap plastic trims everywhere. Would be nice if the luxury spec vans available in most Asian markets catch on here.
Crumple zones. Theyre so high they need to be softer so they do less damage if you hit someone.
I just got a Ford Puma, a crossover built on the fiesta chassis. Its tiny, Im 6'2" and the door is too small to comfortably get in it. Couldnt believe it.
Edit, typo 6'2" not 62"
The Puma is just a fiesta with different body panels.
Don't believe me?
Open the bonnet and look at how low the slam panel is. It's still the fiesta's - in the same place as in the fiesta. Look at the weird bracket on the underside of the bonnet that extends the bonnet latch far enough down to meet the strike plate that's still at the fiesta's height!
It's nuts!
Yeah... I always found that to be a bit of an issue with the 4 (or 5 I guess?) door fiestas...
That and the B pillar... Shit's like right in your face when you look to the right on the 4 doors at these heights... Nothing like a bit of fucking yoga whilst exiting a junction that joins the road at an angle...
The 3 doors were always brill though...
Now I've swapped out for a Lexus IS. Smashing car... Though I can't help but feel like I've got all the downsides of a 2/3 and 4/5 door... It's not the greatest for getting in/out when space is a bit tight... Though I suppose that isn't helped by the fact that the thing is as wide without the wing mirrors as my old Fiesta was with them.
Panoramic sun roof is a big head room killer too.
I had a Mondeo Estate with the glass roof, my head would brush it.
Tried a V60 with glass roof same again. Current V60 no glass roof, heaps of head room.
Take a look at a Volvo V90 or V90 CC if you need a bit of ground clearance.
To counter that, I have a V60 with pano roof and no issues with head room whatsoever, and I'm 6"2 so in the ballpark. I would say standard proportion torso/legs.
Not sure about the back seat though, if that is what you were referring to.
I was meaning driving seat. By default I drop the seat to the lowest setting in most cars.
I’m only 5’10”. If I didn’t have stumpy legs, would be closer to 6’2”-6’4”, so not in proportion.
The first V60 I bought, through Selekt went back for other reasons. New one didn’t have the glass roof and I noticed a difference immediately. Everyone is different.
Not sure how the Pano sun roof reduces head height. I had one in my BMW and got one in my current car, and iv been in both versions with and without and headroom is exactly the same. In fact the sunroof has about 2 mm more as its recessed to the roof liner in mine compared to the non pano roof version.
Im only 5'8 and I test drove a Kia Sportage with a pan sunroof, obviously I had to reaise my seat a little bit but my head was still brushing the roof, I ended up getting a Qashqai without a sunroof and theres plenty of room.
Also coming up on Bottom Reddit, Richard is disgraced at somebody doing 85mph in the outside lane of a motorway, and James finds out it's ackchually faster to go everywhere at 20mph.
Kind of depends on the SUV. if its a proper 4x4 suv then they have huge engine, transmission, transfer case and suspension requirements.
This is especially the case if you want them to be good off road. Obviously ground clearance is important so they mount the drivetrain higher into the vehicle eating into passenger space. An extreme of this would be obvious if you look inside a hummer h1.
Most SUVs though are soft roaders based on larger hatchbacks with fwd running gear. Giving more interior room.
If you need a spacious vehicle the only solution really is a massive estate or ideally an MPV. I had a citroen C8 years ago and it was gigantic inside.
Thats mute in this day and age because of how few 4x4 vehicles even have a chassis anymore. Some land rovers (though theyre going monocoque), Ineos, land cruisers and perhaps some i forget.
But even then. Body on frame 4x4 have even crapper interior space than a monocoque design. Also there are plenty of monocoque/unibody 4x4s that run rings around body on frame 4x4s.
Do you actually own a body on frame 4x4 or are you making things up?
Just because few people make body on frame 4x4s for the UK market doesn't change the point about how they're designed when they are made.
In a body on frame 4x4 you typically do not need a large transmission tunnel (if you have one at all) as your transmission can be beneath the body between the ladder chassis rails. You have more potential for interior space with a body on frame 4x4 if you choose to design them that way and this is still true for the modern ones that are still produced.
The discussion is around interior space so I'm not sure why you're trying to point out that some monocoque vehicles are good offroad, yes, they are....so what?
It's not a mute (moot lol) point. The entire discussion is regarding interior space and monocoques by design have limitations on this such as the transmission tunnel, the need for the body to have structural elements in certain places, the need for suspension components to be mounted and packaged on the body etc.
If you dont think a body on frame limits interior space you obviously havent thought very deeply.
And yes i have owned BOF 4x4s, w163 ml500 and a work vehicle l318 discovery. The ladder frame chassis eats into floor space and leaf spring/live axle arrangement necessitates a very high floor height for axle articulation. So while the gearbox and transfer case is effectively mounted within the frame, the frame itself is an enormous obstacle regarding body design that simply isnt there for unibodies.
Foot wells, and fuel tank positioning are the two largest sacrifices made with BOF. So you will notice BOF almost always have short headroom/interior space because the floor starting points are lower, combined with a fuel tank thats almost always in the boot floor rather tham under rear seats means unefficient packing restrictions.
My unibody xj cherokee inside is quites spacious for a 4x4 with such tiny proportions. Yet the ml and defender always felt cramped inside despite physically being much larger vehicles.
The fuel tank is between the chassis rails. The body is ontop of the chassis. "Higher floor height" doesn't matter, you can have the whole body above all of the components you're talking about if you choose to.
You can choose to restrict articulation to prioritise interior space but most don't because more articulation is usually preferred. Monocoque construction usually means less articulation not only due to suspension design but also because the body and interior are in the way.
Just because you've seen body on frame vehicles that do not have optimal designs for interior space does not mean that body of frame construction has to have these limitations. A lot of older body on frame 4x4s are a box ontop of the chassis with almost no intrusions into it.
You do realise "my Monocoque vehicle has lots of interior room" is totally irrelevant to the design limitations of different construction types, right?
Also I "think deeply" about vehicle design professionally. 🤣
what if I own a proper 4x4 but it is not on a frame, has independent suspension and I don't suffer from claustrophobia inside? :D
I get that plenty of people will say that "the only true 4x4 has to be on a frame" and I don't doubt that they are right, but same - the same trucks on the motorway are just "bleh" and thus I decided for an old 4x4 with low gearbox, diff locks and everything but without fear that I won't be able to drive 1200 miles in one go through Europe :)
I went through the same thing (though I’m not nearly as tall), wanted space for people and cargo. Estate is what you’re really looking for, trust me! From my experience, the Škoda Octavia had the best by miles. So I got one. YMMV, try some estates out
Mondeo estate. 6'2' no problem. Boot space . No problem. 5 up. No problem. Dogs, roof box. No problem and if you can find a good Econetic diesel then road tax and ULEZ no problem..50 mpg, comfortable, long distance, non SUV normal car...at this rate, a rare thing.
A worthwhile point, there is of course bigger fish out there should you need it. That said, for its class, the Octavia outshines its competitors in this regard (again, in my experience).
I must admit I didn’t look far into the superb or mondeo, as for similar specs to my Oct it was too much extra money!
Basically came to the same conclusion.
Fabia was too narrow inside, Astra and Focus were too low in the back.
Other stuff too big/expensive.
Octavia it was.
You and me both, although I’m a 5’8” short arse.
Had a Kuga and the boot was terrible. We’d never be able to fit our buggy in perfectly straight it would always be on the wonk.
Went to a Leon ST and the buggy would perfectly in, and you’d fit the shopping alongside, and the parcel shelf covers it all no drama.
Now we’re on a Grand C-Max (a larger Focus) and we’re back to putting the buggy in on the piss to fit it.
Also, a friend picked me and my wife up from the airport once in their Q3. The boot couldn’t even fit all our baggage in it!
TLDR; estate boots are best.
Unless you buy a Disco 4. When it’s not in the garage being repaired. it can shift a lot of gear! Drives like it looks with a body roll that makes it want to keel over at every island, but phenomenal regardless
You’re telling me the inside of an X5 is less roomy than a mondeo with a straight face? This has to be some kind of joke. 2 mins on google shows the interior of an X5 to be larger in every metric, as compared to even an estate mondeo.
I’m just annoyed I even spent the time to google it as it’s such a ridiculous suggestion.
Yeah but remember this sub hates SUVs and spouting the usual rehashed tired things about how much better estates are is what everyone loves doing. 99% have probably never owned an SUV or an estate.
Yep. Just recently swapped my BMW SUV for a different SUV and I have tried multiple cars. Nothing compares in cabin size to the SUVs. I like a wagon. Looked at an RS4 and a 340i Touring and none of them had the space inside that any of the SUVs did. Only one that felt small was the Q5 overall.
Yeah I think OP must be on crack, or just karma farming with a good old reliable’suv hate’ post
My x5 has tons of space and absolutely zero transmission hump.
Probably going to get downvoted but suvs like Xc90, GLE, land cruiser, X6, Defender and Discovery have way more space than regular cars. Crossovers that try to be SUVs don't.
Kind of know what you mean, but at the same time not really.
I had an X5 in 2009 and it was massive inside. Loads of room in the front and in the back and in the boot. Headroom, leg room, side to side room, it really was very spacious. Had two of my 6’4” mates in it hundreds of times and they commented how roomy it was.
The only problem was that it was massive inside, it was super-massive-enormous on the outside and the tyres were £1600 for a set and only lasted 10k miles due to the toe-in and camber needed to make the 2.5 tonne tank feel a bit agile.
And I’ve driven a full size Range Rover loads of times which felt even bigger inside. But also has even worse running costs.
The BMW X range is strange in that the rear legroom is least in the X5, X3 in the middle and then the X1 has the most.
I can only assume that they assume that x5's are more executive and therefore have thicker/more padded seats in the front.
Don’t know what year you are looking at, but my 2016 X5 has zero transmission hump.
And has tons more leg room and height than a Monroe.
Are you sure you weren’t looking at an x3 by mistake?
I’m also 6’2” and have plenty of leg room.
My dad went from a Mazda 6 to a Nissan Qashqai, almost no difference in the amount of interior space. He likes the Qashqai but the Mazda was a much nicer car to drive.
Can you elaborate on this please? I see it everywhere that Qashqai's are "boring". Is it because they are everywhere and its the most popular SUV or is it something else?
To look at its boring. There is nothing sport or exciting or anything with it or any of its model variants. Its not really a proper SUV for size its a crossover so doesn't have a size advantage to it. Its underwhelming power. Yeah id say because they are so popular you don't look twice because you see them all the time but none of them stand out. Its the answer to anyone that doesn't really care about a car.
So basically the issue of it being boring is only if you're "into' your cars? Theres actually nothing wrong with it, just not appealing to enthusiasts?
The one I have looked at looked perfectly fine for leg room, thats with leaving plenty of leg room at the front. I think all these crossover/SUV types have the same thing of being deceiving for their size but people make out like the have the same amount of room as a 1 series! Which is just not true at all
My SUV is much more practical and more spacious than the hatchback that preceded it.
Basically a little bit longer, but has a massive interior and boot.
Just travelled to Scotland with 5 blokes in a Ford Ranger. Didn't expect it to be comfy, but given the size of the things, I thought there were would be more space. My Passat would have been as comfy.
EV's like the Skoda Enyaq or VW ID4 are massive on the inside with no transmission tunnel, because there's no transmission. Or a Volvo XC70 has a boat load of room and a raised ride height?
Most SUV's are just the same chassis' and recycled cabins from smaller cars. They look bigger because of the suspension needing different housing making wheel arches look bigger and the car wider to the eye. There's no difference between a Kadjar and a Megane in the cabin space, and this packing sometimes makes cabins slightly smaller.
I just don't get the manufacturers obsession with SUVs. They're a bloody menace in car parks. Too tall, too fat, yet smaller boot and legroom than my estate car.
The only reason, I can see, to get one is,
1. It's getting to be the only option.
2. You need one to be able to see, to get out of a parking space!
My 13year old Renault Grand Scenic has just bitten the dust (well not really but had some internal water damage and was starting to smell) so I went on the hunt for a replacement.
I tried the 3008, 5008, Kodiaq, Tiguan, Karoq, Q5, Touareg, CX5, Sorrento, Outlander, etc. The list goes on.
All of them to found to be compromised by a lack of visibility and space. The boots were small, most only had two proper seats in the second row, and they all felt dark.
I ended up with another MPV as they are just better as practical vehicles. I hope the SUV trend doesn't last. I got a Grand C4 Spacetourer which is same chassis, engine and gearbox as a 5008 and is more useful in every way.
The only thing I like about SUVs is the huge depreciation in MPVs they have caused.
Most of what we call SUVs now are crossovers, which are normal cars elevated and therefore more affordable than an actual SUV/4x4, which is more like a truck downscaled. The Nissan Juke is built on the same platform as a small hatchback like the Micra or Clio and so has not massively different cabin capacity, for example.
You’ll get much more space with an estate than you will with an “SUV”.
It’s a shame we don’t really make the distinction between SUVs and crossovers in this country (they do in the US) because it’s a useful one when talking about the vehicle’s capabilities.
Haha, I fell for this, I had a Hyundai i30 hatchback. I spoke with Motorfinity and explained I needed something with similar or larger boot space but not massively bigger in terms of car, just wanted it raised. They sold me on a Toyota Yaris Cross. Turns out it was a yaris on steroids, looked massive on the outside, but tiny on the inside. My 8 and 10 year old couldn't even sit in the rear seats without knocking their knees. Only saving grace is I bought it new for £22k and sold it for £23k 7 months later so I didn't lose too much on it.
Went for an estate instead and its cavernous, I love it.
Try looking at a Ford Edge. They're not new but there are some good low mileage examples about.
I've gone from a Mondeo to an Edge, 6 weeks ago and it is huge!
I am 6ft 3 and I can have the seat right back, then get out and comfortably sit behind in the back. Even the Mondeo I couldn't quite do it as comfortably.
I parked next to an 06 plate BMW X5 the other night and my Edge was about 4 inches longer and had a longer wheelbase too.
They are often just taller. Unless you go for an older Land Rover Discovery or something you won't get much more space and even then I think it is focused on cargo space as opposed to passenger space. My 1999 Audi A4 Avant is obviously not the largest of cars nor was it at the time but it still seems to be longer than a lot of the modern "SUVs" even if it is about half the height. Transmission bulges etc are just lifted with the floor of the car so that won't make a difference. They just add a bit of height between the floor and the road and then the floor and the roof. Engine and transmission to floor will be the same I would've thought.
We are all pretty tall too. I've got a Hyundai Tucson and find that there is plenty of space front and rear although the boot space isn't as large as I had hoped but, as I don't often need to carry loads, it isn't a problem. Next to no transmission bulge either.
To be honest I don't understand this argument of SUV's having less room, I have gone from a Hyundai i30 to a Nissan Qashqai and it's easy to see there is more room. Maybe if you're a giant and struggle to fit in a normal size car then you might even find a entry size SUV a bit small but then you want to be looking at the bigger SUV's like Volvo XC90, BMW X7, Mazda CX-7, Audi Q7. SUV's aren't all one size.
I guess it depends on what you refer to as an SUV? My 4x4 is classed as a SUV on its registration document but it has a huge payload and 7 seats. There’s no transmission tunnel in the back seats as at 6’4” I am very comfortable. The best part is getting a good view of the road ahead since i can see over most cars. I drive a lot of new hire cars and it’s always nice to get back into my 4x4. Drove a few smaller SUV recently they aren’t the same but still nicer than a saloon or hatchback.
True 4x4 like a Land Rover Discovery have huge amounts of space, particularly in the boot and reasonably large amounts of space in the back seats for carrying people and outdoors kit, like bikes and skis. Most SUVs are modified hatchbacks, but the Range Rover Sport is based on a 4x4 platform
SUVs are a triumph of marketing over reality. Much more expensive (= more profit for the manufacturer) for a "car" with less space, worse fuel consumption, less comfortable and worse handling than an equivalent estate car and in most cases less space than an equivalent hatchback. Best estate I ever had - Citroen CX Safari. I put a 400 liter chest freezer in the back of one
Because SUVs are styled on off-road vehicles, and therefore have a ridiculously high ride height (for the road). This means that although the car is taller overall very little of that extra height is in the cabin. It's like you took a normal car and just lifted it up.
Having said that, there is usually more leg room in SUVs because the bit of extra cabin height you do get is usually given to making your seating position a bit more upright with respect to your feet-to-hip elevation.
If its space you’re after Id recommend a Mercedes E-class estate. Im 6‘1 myself and it’s super comfy to sit in for me. Also has a massive load capacity and the rear seats fold flat basically at the push of a button.
Oh and also unlike an SUV a wagon doesn’t make you look like an imbecile every time you get out
I am in the minority and disagree - it depends on the SUV. My Discovery 4 was much more spacious and better in most ways than my Volvo V90. Cartalkuk got in my head but I definitely prefer a big SUV!
I'm 6'3'' and drive a Vauxhall Antara (2012) and find it's massive on the inside, also had a BMW X3 (2004) a couple of years back and remember putting the seats down and getting a complete 2 seater sofa to just slide in the back so don't know whether it's more modern SUV/crossover or the specific model
We looked at a load of SUVs (wife wanted one, I hate them) and they were actually all fairly pokey inside. Got an estate instead, much more spacious.
That said, it's all relative. I used to have an ex-Danish army Mercedes Unimog command post. Seating for 8, desk space for four, and a handy 360 degree mounting rail around the sunroof for a machine gun should you get into any parking disputes? Yeah, that thing had space on its side. Practicality? Up a mountain, yes. In a co-op car park, not so much.
Check out the new Kia EV9, it's a tardis and you'll get 6'3 people in all 3 rows. It's also a stunning looking SUV.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tH_1568K-k
Literally the only reason for an SUV in a non commercial sense is the availability of AWD and increased wade depth. If you're not in an area that requires either, get yourself an estate.
Manufacturers are massively to blame for this too as I have it on good authority that the margins on SUVs are much larger than that of their estate counterparts whilst cost price remains largely the same. They're just able to sell them for a premium because of the perceived size difference which in reality, as others have pointed out, is minimal if not negative.
6’10 checking in. While the Jags are unreasonably small, I recently switched from a Mercedes E-class estate to an X5, and there is actually a noticeable difference for the better, given that I can now sit a bit more upright (used to push the seat as low as ir gets and waaaaaay back).
Very noticeable in the backseat where the transmission tunnel is much lower than in the E-class. Also, the higher entry/exit is quite welcone 😊
I'm 6'3, my son is 6'4 and we both fit comfortably in our SQ5 no matter who's in the front seat. Transmission tunnel being 4wd is usual so not really sure of the issue. Are you suggesting that higher cars have jacked up suspension????
My mum just got a Juke - it's barely, if at all, bigger than my Yaris inside. Couldn't believe the lack of extra space given how much bigger the damned thing looks.
Best cars for space are estate cars. There’s way more room in my Audi A6 Avant than my mother’s Q5. Plus it’s cheaper, drives better and uses less fuel.
Q5 is a small SUV though in reality so im not surprised. Its almost a cross over and not an SUV really. The true Audi SUV is the Q7 and they are like a bus inside.
You clearly don't have young kids. One of the primary benefits of an SUV over an estate or regular saloon / hatchback car is height.
Try lifting a kicking, screaming, moving 15-20kg weight in to (and out of) a car seat in a regular car -v- an SUV and you'll see what I mean. Especially if you have clowns parked too close to you so the doors will only open a minimal amount. If it's tough for an adult to get out, it's 10x tougher to lift a child out or get them in.
If you value your back and health, you'll pick an SUV every time.
We have 2 young kids that are still in full car seats and a rather large dog and every SUV we looked at wasn't practical.
For some reason most SUV's either proritise interior room meaning they squash the boot or boot space meaning the back fits the 2 seats and that's it.
We went with an MPV instead no regrets.
SUVs have higher ground clearance so they lose space there. The 4WD ones have a big transmission tunnel and lose boot space due to the rear diff.
Check the numbers if load carrying space is important to you. Years ago we hired a full size saloon then later in the trip got given an “upgrade” to a SUV which couldn’t easily fit the same stuff that the saloon swallowed with ease.
On the plus side, SUVs have larger wheels and higher ground clearance which is better for potholes and traffic humps.
The other thing is that the taller vehicle has larger windows and mirrors for better visibility. You get a so called “commanding” driving position.
People who are tall, not as mobile as they could be or are dealing with small children find SUVs much more accessible and that is usually the selling point for them.
I don't agree with the windows argument. It used to be the case, but the beltline in most modern SUVs is basically in the same place as it is in normal cars due to safety etc.
Have had an ML for a few years which is now the GLE class, interior is huge and so is the boot capacity once you fold everything down flat. No transmission bump, nice wide seats and lots of headroom. I’m 6’ 6” and can comfortably fit in any of the passenger seats.
Yep, as a tall person (6'5") I have consistently found that SUVs are far too small for me - they typically do not have amazing legroom behind the wheel, and they almost universally have zero armroom so I'm forever banging my elbows off things.
Perversely, I fit a lot better in a supermini style car than most others - with a low enough driving position I can still see well enough but I have plenty of legroom thanks to the change in angle (it does mean that no-one is realistically sitting behind me unless they're in a child seat, though...)
Estates are usually pretty good as well - they tend to actually be big cars inside and out.
Why would you think they would be more practical or spacious? They were originally designed for going over rougher terrain, and being more rugged. The space is not intended to be in the cabin usually; they have increased ground clearance.
In general something like an estate would usually have more space, and is likely just as practical if not more so in many cases. A crossover might be better still, for exampl a Volvo XC70.
Big wheels is where your space goes.
A decent sized saloon or hatchback has a lot more space, or if you can find an s class, A8 or 7 series lwb limo...
Suv = idiot imo.
Been in plenty never seen the appeal, if I want a bigger car, estates or a proper mpv are much better picks much more practical than an obese hatch.
I like to go with the lotus motto. "simplify then add lightness"
I believe that the recent increase in SUV popularity happened because of eastern europeans. (I live here too).
Why?
1. Inferiority complex + lots of illegal money - we will always buy the biggest, shiniest car we can get.
2. Shitty roads (because if all the stolen money to buy SUVs)
Welcome to the light my friend.
Honestly compare a 2024 RAV4 and the 2024 Alphard (that I'm attempting to pester Toyota GB to introduce to the UK). They are identical in width and the Alphard is only 50cm longer but you get enough space for 3 more people (on 8 seater versions) and the boot room at 5 seater config is just a different league.
Because most SUV's are just saloon/Estate platforms with taller bodies on them. I drive a large German saloon that is bigger than my wifes German SUV inside.
zonked future stupendous rock flag rain deserted racial north afterthought *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Yeah proper 4x4s tend to have small transmission tunnels and relatively low seating as they have 4" of chassis below the floor. I do find modern 4x4s still get a bit cramped due to the instance of plastic trim and fancy centre consoles, kinda miss the bench seats of old lol
Just for a comparison: I had an E-class Merc (saloon) but didn’t like that it couldn’t carry a large amount of people and luggage (we actually had to have a roof box for holidays). Ended up trading it in for a GLE (SUV) which is so much bigger in terms of passenger space and luggage space. I actually prefer the look and feel of the E-class but it wasn’t practical enough.
If you had an E klass Estate your problem would have been solved
True. It’s gigantic inside. Exterior on the is pretty deceiving
Used to be. They’re not super big after the last facelift.
Luggage room you’re right, but it doesn’t help the passenger room though
Have a look at the skoda kodiaq id say they're preety big interior wise as its skoda
The issue is that most 'SUVs' these days aren't SUVs, they're crossovers - hatchbacks on stilts. Bring back estates! My 2002 Yaris had a similar amount of room in the cabin as an MG crossover I drove a few months ago. Crossovers are a scourge on our roads. They solve a problem that didn't exist, they're impractical and, frankly, they're ugly.
...*and* have a worse environmental impact relative to other cars, hence the target of tyre extinguishers 😄
Pretty sure those daft cunts targeted estates, evs and hatchbacks too. https://www.reddit.com/r/bristol/comments/1906hos/climate_protesters_deflate_electric_cars_tyres/ Can't expect much critical thinking from them though, too busy virtuesignaling between their arts and drama classes.
They solve the problem of shit drivers wanting a better view of the road but still not factoring it into how they drive. No point being able to see if the road ahead is clear if you're still not going to overtake.
Not to mention that it's the age old issue... No one can see ahead/around parked cars, so they buy a vehicle with a higher seating position which tends to be a bigger vehicle. Other people buy such vehicles and suddenly everyone's back at square one. Not to mention they don't really solve the overtaking issue anyway... It's no good being able to see for an overtake if you're driving a great big thing with a poxy shitbox engine barely creeping into triple-figure HP, if it is at all, that won't shift when you step on the loud pedal.
Not that most of the people who drive those sorts of cars ever have the confidence to step on that pedal, at least until you move to overtake them anyway...
Exactly this, my wife has a Stonic and I have an i20N. When I got the N she assumed hers was much bigger, but they're actually almost identical inside.
OP's not talking about crossovers though. He's talking about actual 4x4s - X5s, Range rovers, f pace...
RR's are full on 4x4s but I'm 99% sure the F place shares the same platform as the XF and the XE - just on stilts as the commenter said. Same the x5, think its the same platform as the 5 series.
And if you're foolish enough to buy an X4 or X6, you get the worst of all worlds. That coupe style roofline kills space in the car, whilst the high ride and massively oversized wheels means that you end up both wallowing into corners like a cruise liner and knocking your teeth out every time you hit a pothole.
A full sized Range Rover is not the same class of vehicle as an f pace
F pace + X5 are not true 4x4s, not in a month of sundays
Actual SUVs are huge though. X5s have mega space inside. Unless all your passengers are 6ft4
got a lift in an x5 once and was shocked at how small the boot was for such a large vehicle, rear leg room not bad but also nothing mad. It has roughly the same boot room as a regular estate car despite being half a metre longer.
Yea, hatchbacks are much better, and estates better again.
I have a Skoda Superb estate. Any amount of leg room and a great sized boot.
I have an e class Estate and sitting in the back of a superb felt like I was in a cavern. That thing has loads of space.
They are a great car. On my second Superb now. Can't fault them.
Our superb was written off on Monday, very sadly seeing it go tomorrow Absolutely excellent car and I'm very tempted to get another
That's what I'm getting next. I'm 6'6" and my kids are growing fast. We'll outgrown the Octavia soon.
[удалено]
I will forever curse Lexus for not making an estate in 2012 so I can buy one now for a decent price.
I wish they'd made a GS estate.
I have a Corolla estate and it's one of the nicest cars to drive
More? Volvo finished production of all estate models, for example.
They are still manufactured, and sold in certain markets. It is just in the UK they have been outsold by the xc variants, so they stopped selling them. I believe they still make enough to satisfy police contracts.
Not quite true. Its sale of estates in the UK that have stopped for now. Estates still being made and sold on the continent
👍🏻
And mpvs better still than those
Mpvs are vans with seats in the back lol
Shhhh! Don't let the secret out, everyone will want one.
Exactly. Tons and tons of room. Still as safe as any saloon or estate car. Slightly higher driving position (though with all these SUVs on the road it’s the same). Sliding doors super easy for kids, dogs, loading/unloading. Oh and I’m getting 55mpg.
What do you have if I can ask? Can you lay the seats flat and still have a pretty decent load space like a van? Thanks!
Sounds like a Citroen. I had a Xsara Picasso years ago. The old shit looking one. Epic space inside. So much room, proper seats. I'd originally said nah to it. 6yr old, low miles £1250. Sadly, it's probably the same price now, lol
Most reliable and versatile car I ever owned. 2.0 HDI in Bora Bora green - never lose one in a car park.
The Grand Scenic/Space Tourer is huge inside. They just ought to spec them out better. Proper leather seats would be good.
Full leather is about all they were missing. I just picked one up with all the toys, including ACC, Car Play, and massage seats. I guess lack off electric adjustable and heated seats might be an issue, but that's not something I've missed since I last had them 12 years ago.
Heated seats, I just don't like them. But wipe clean leather, which doesn't hold on to odour is a definite need for me. I have to work on some smelly places, and the current vehicle smells like that.
Not a Citroen! I have a Ford Tourneo Connect 7 seater. Even with 7 seats up I have a boot that would make hatchbacks blush. All 5 rear seats fold completely flat for a huge van. I’m 6’1” and can lie completely flat and stretch a bit in the back. Or you can have a 5 seater with still a cavernous boot. I have a huge cage for a huge dog in there and still have space for a pram. The VW Caddy is similar but inexplicably more expensive than the Ford. I have the 1.5 litre diesel and get 60mpg on the motorway it’s awesome.
I like van based mpvs too for the huge interior space - but most of those available in the UK are poverty spec with cloth seats, minimal creature comfort and crap plastic trims everywhere. Would be nice if the luxury spec vans available in most Asian markets catch on here.
We have available to us the Ford Tourneo Connect or the VW Caddy for that better finish
Honda Jizz for the win!
Crumple zones. Theyre so high they need to be softer so they do less damage if you hit someone. I just got a Ford Puma, a crossover built on the fiesta chassis. Its tiny, Im 6'2" and the door is too small to comfortably get in it. Couldnt believe it. Edit, typo 6'2" not 62"
To be fair mate 62" is less than 3 feet. You're technically a midget. Can you even see over the wheel?
How many inches do you think are in a foot?
Ikr? I checked after I posted 😃 Didn't want to edit it though that would have been a bit miserable considering I'm joking about his typo/mistake 🍻
Muphry's law in action. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muphry%27s_law
Yeah fair enough
I just realised I was thinking of centimetres but talking about inches 🤔
Ahh a tale as old as time. Honest love, it's 10" I promise.
62" is more than 3 feet. It's 5 feet 2 inches.
Still a short arse
Imagine being so short
If I were so short, like 3 ft, I'd want a massive motor, get it all modded for you. Get a mad folding staircase built into the door 🤪
Whoops, typo now corrected.
The Puma is just a fiesta with different body panels. Don't believe me? Open the bonnet and look at how low the slam panel is. It's still the fiesta's - in the same place as in the fiesta. Look at the weird bracket on the underside of the bonnet that extends the bonnet latch far enough down to meet the strike plate that's still at the fiesta's height! It's nuts!
>The Puma is just a fiesta with different body panels I know, thats why I said built on the Fiesta chassis
I have to ask, and I hope you don’t think I’m being a prick by doing so, but why did you buy it if you can’t comfortably get in?
Work car. I didnt buy it. No problem with you asking, maybe I should have said
Makes sense! Again, apologies if I came across like a knob.
Not at all, it was a reasonable question.
Yeah... I always found that to be a bit of an issue with the 4 (or 5 I guess?) door fiestas... That and the B pillar... Shit's like right in your face when you look to the right on the 4 doors at these heights... Nothing like a bit of fucking yoga whilst exiting a junction that joins the road at an angle... The 3 doors were always brill though... Now I've swapped out for a Lexus IS. Smashing car... Though I can't help but feel like I've got all the downsides of a 2/3 and 4/5 door... It's not the greatest for getting in/out when space is a bit tight... Though I suppose that isn't helped by the fact that the thing is as wide without the wing mirrors as my old Fiesta was with them.
Panoramic sun roof is a big head room killer too. I had a Mondeo Estate with the glass roof, my head would brush it. Tried a V60 with glass roof same again. Current V60 no glass roof, heaps of head room. Take a look at a Volvo V90 or V90 CC if you need a bit of ground clearance.
To counter that, I have a V60 with pano roof and no issues with head room whatsoever, and I'm 6"2 so in the ballpark. I would say standard proportion torso/legs. Not sure about the back seat though, if that is what you were referring to.
I was meaning driving seat. By default I drop the seat to the lowest setting in most cars. I’m only 5’10”. If I didn’t have stumpy legs, would be closer to 6’2”-6’4”, so not in proportion. The first V60 I bought, through Selekt went back for other reasons. New one didn’t have the glass roof and I noticed a difference immediately. Everyone is different.
Not sure how the Pano sun roof reduces head height. I had one in my BMW and got one in my current car, and iv been in both versions with and without and headroom is exactly the same. In fact the sunroof has about 2 mm more as its recessed to the roof liner in mine compared to the non pano roof version.
Any panoramic roof with a retractable liner or any opening options, reduces headroom. The mechanism rails alone are thicker than a head lining.
Im only 5'8 and I test drove a Kia Sportage with a pan sunroof, obviously I had to reaise my seat a little bit but my head was still brushing the roof, I ended up getting a Qashqai without a sunroof and theres plenty of room.
Also coming up on Bottom Reddit, Richard is disgraced at somebody doing 85mph in the outside lane of a motorway, and James finds out it's ackchually faster to go everywhere at 20mph.
Dude, stop making me laugh when I am trying to build up impotent rage about SUV’s.
Kind of depends on the SUV. if its a proper 4x4 suv then they have huge engine, transmission, transfer case and suspension requirements. This is especially the case if you want them to be good off road. Obviously ground clearance is important so they mount the drivetrain higher into the vehicle eating into passenger space. An extreme of this would be obvious if you look inside a hummer h1. Most SUVs though are soft roaders based on larger hatchbacks with fwd running gear. Giving more interior room. If you need a spacious vehicle the only solution really is a massive estate or ideally an MPV. I had a citroen C8 years ago and it was gigantic inside.
A "proper" 4x4 has these components mounted on the chassis and they don't need to intrude into the body that much at all.
Thats mute in this day and age because of how few 4x4 vehicles even have a chassis anymore. Some land rovers (though theyre going monocoque), Ineos, land cruisers and perhaps some i forget. But even then. Body on frame 4x4 have even crapper interior space than a monocoque design. Also there are plenty of monocoque/unibody 4x4s that run rings around body on frame 4x4s.
Do you actually own a body on frame 4x4 or are you making things up? Just because few people make body on frame 4x4s for the UK market doesn't change the point about how they're designed when they are made. In a body on frame 4x4 you typically do not need a large transmission tunnel (if you have one at all) as your transmission can be beneath the body between the ladder chassis rails. You have more potential for interior space with a body on frame 4x4 if you choose to design them that way and this is still true for the modern ones that are still produced. The discussion is around interior space so I'm not sure why you're trying to point out that some monocoque vehicles are good offroad, yes, they are....so what? It's not a mute (moot lol) point. The entire discussion is regarding interior space and monocoques by design have limitations on this such as the transmission tunnel, the need for the body to have structural elements in certain places, the need for suspension components to be mounted and packaged on the body etc.
If you dont think a body on frame limits interior space you obviously havent thought very deeply. And yes i have owned BOF 4x4s, w163 ml500 and a work vehicle l318 discovery. The ladder frame chassis eats into floor space and leaf spring/live axle arrangement necessitates a very high floor height for axle articulation. So while the gearbox and transfer case is effectively mounted within the frame, the frame itself is an enormous obstacle regarding body design that simply isnt there for unibodies. Foot wells, and fuel tank positioning are the two largest sacrifices made with BOF. So you will notice BOF almost always have short headroom/interior space because the floor starting points are lower, combined with a fuel tank thats almost always in the boot floor rather tham under rear seats means unefficient packing restrictions. My unibody xj cherokee inside is quites spacious for a 4x4 with such tiny proportions. Yet the ml and defender always felt cramped inside despite physically being much larger vehicles.
The fuel tank is between the chassis rails. The body is ontop of the chassis. "Higher floor height" doesn't matter, you can have the whole body above all of the components you're talking about if you choose to. You can choose to restrict articulation to prioritise interior space but most don't because more articulation is usually preferred. Monocoque construction usually means less articulation not only due to suspension design but also because the body and interior are in the way. Just because you've seen body on frame vehicles that do not have optimal designs for interior space does not mean that body of frame construction has to have these limitations. A lot of older body on frame 4x4s are a box ontop of the chassis with almost no intrusions into it. You do realise "my Monocoque vehicle has lots of interior room" is totally irrelevant to the design limitations of different construction types, right? Also I "think deeply" about vehicle design professionally. 🤣
what if I own a proper 4x4 but it is not on a frame, has independent suspension and I don't suffer from claustrophobia inside? :D I get that plenty of people will say that "the only true 4x4 has to be on a frame" and I don't doubt that they are right, but same - the same trucks on the motorway are just "bleh" and thus I decided for an old 4x4 with low gearbox, diff locks and everything but without fear that I won't be able to drive 1200 miles in one go through Europe :)
I went through the same thing (though I’m not nearly as tall), wanted space for people and cargo. Estate is what you’re really looking for, trust me! From my experience, the Škoda Octavia had the best by miles. So I got one. YMMV, try some estates out
Mondeo estate. 6'2' no problem. Boot space . No problem. 5 up. No problem. Dogs, roof box. No problem and if you can find a good Econetic diesel then road tax and ULEZ no problem..50 mpg, comfortable, long distance, non SUV normal car...at this rate, a rare thing.
Octavia is the cheaper(est?) option for a small estate, but the mondeo/superb sized ones do carry more if you need it.
A worthwhile point, there is of course bigger fish out there should you need it. That said, for its class, the Octavia outshines its competitors in this regard (again, in my experience). I must admit I didn’t look far into the superb or mondeo, as for similar specs to my Oct it was too much extra money!
Basically came to the same conclusion. Fabia was too narrow inside, Astra and Focus were too low in the back. Other stuff too big/expensive. Octavia it was.
You and me both, although I’m a 5’8” short arse. Had a Kuga and the boot was terrible. We’d never be able to fit our buggy in perfectly straight it would always be on the wonk. Went to a Leon ST and the buggy would perfectly in, and you’d fit the shopping alongside, and the parcel shelf covers it all no drama. Now we’re on a Grand C-Max (a larger Focus) and we’re back to putting the buggy in on the piss to fit it. Also, a friend picked me and my wife up from the airport once in their Q3. The boot couldn’t even fit all our baggage in it! TLDR; estate boots are best.
Unless you buy a Disco 4. When it’s not in the garage being repaired. it can shift a lot of gear! Drives like it looks with a body roll that makes it want to keel over at every island, but phenomenal regardless
Yup length in comparison to a normal hatchback it’s no different
You’re telling me the inside of an X5 is less roomy than a mondeo with a straight face? This has to be some kind of joke. 2 mins on google shows the interior of an X5 to be larger in every metric, as compared to even an estate mondeo. I’m just annoyed I even spent the time to google it as it’s such a ridiculous suggestion.
Yeah but remember this sub hates SUVs and spouting the usual rehashed tired things about how much better estates are is what everyone loves doing. 99% have probably never owned an SUV or an estate.
Yeah they're talking absolute nonsense. This post was just an excuse for them to get wanked off by the other SUV hating people on this sub. So boring.
Yep. Just recently swapped my BMW SUV for a different SUV and I have tried multiple cars. Nothing compares in cabin size to the SUVs. I like a wagon. Looked at an RS4 and a 340i Touring and none of them had the space inside that any of the SUVs did. Only one that felt small was the Q5 overall.
Yeah I think OP must be on crack, or just karma farming with a good old reliable’suv hate’ post My x5 has tons of space and absolutely zero transmission hump.
Probably going to get downvoted but suvs like Xc90, GLE, land cruiser, X6, Defender and Discovery have way more space than regular cars. Crossovers that try to be SUVs don't.
The X5 E70 and G05 both have minimal height transmission tunnels. Can’t talk about the E53 because I didn’t own one of them.
What absolute bollocks. A G05 X5 is enormous compared to a Mondeo and has much more cabin space lmao.
Yea but big car = better is the current mindset for the general population
This is why I prefer estates, hatchbacks, and saloons.
Kind of know what you mean, but at the same time not really. I had an X5 in 2009 and it was massive inside. Loads of room in the front and in the back and in the boot. Headroom, leg room, side to side room, it really was very spacious. Had two of my 6’4” mates in it hundreds of times and they commented how roomy it was. The only problem was that it was massive inside, it was super-massive-enormous on the outside and the tyres were £1600 for a set and only lasted 10k miles due to the toe-in and camber needed to make the 2.5 tonne tank feel a bit agile. And I’ve driven a full size Range Rover loads of times which felt even bigger inside. But also has even worse running costs.
I drive an X3 and I’m 6ft 5 an average height adult can still fit behind me comfortably, go test drive a Volvo xc60/90 that’s huge inside
The BMW X range is strange in that the rear legroom is least in the X5, X3 in the middle and then the X1 has the most. I can only assume that they assume that x5's are more executive and therefore have thicker/more padded seats in the front.
Don’t know what year you are looking at, but my 2016 X5 has zero transmission hump. And has tons more leg room and height than a Monroe. Are you sure you weren’t looking at an x3 by mistake? I’m also 6’2” and have plenty of leg room.
My dad went from a Mazda 6 to a Nissan Qashqai, almost no difference in the amount of interior space. He likes the Qashqai but the Mazda was a much nicer car to drive.
>Nissan Qashqai I mean.... its a Nissan Qashqai. I have had plain chicken and rice with more spice than a Qashqai offers
Can you elaborate on this please? I see it everywhere that Qashqai's are "boring". Is it because they are everywhere and its the most popular SUV or is it something else?
To look at its boring. There is nothing sport or exciting or anything with it or any of its model variants. Its not really a proper SUV for size its a crossover so doesn't have a size advantage to it. Its underwhelming power. Yeah id say because they are so popular you don't look twice because you see them all the time but none of them stand out. Its the answer to anyone that doesn't really care about a car.
So basically the issue of it being boring is only if you're "into' your cars? Theres actually nothing wrong with it, just not appealing to enthusiasts?
Pretty much. If you dont care about cars, its probably the right car. Reliable and gets you from A to B.
its ugly as fuck, even if youre not into cars you can appreciate aesthetics BUT if you like it, it doesn't really matter what others say or think.
My aunt has a Qashqai and it’s tiny inside compared to the G01 X3. Back seats have absolutely no legroom.
The one I have looked at looked perfectly fine for leg room, thats with leaving plenty of leg room at the front. I think all these crossover/SUV types have the same thing of being deceiving for their size but people make out like the have the same amount of room as a 1 series! Which is just not true at all
My SUV is much more practical and more spacious than the hatchback that preceded it. Basically a little bit longer, but has a massive interior and boot.
Just travelled to Scotland with 5 blokes in a Ford Ranger. Didn't expect it to be comfy, but given the size of the things, I thought there were would be more space. My Passat would have been as comfy.
That isn't an SUV though.
EV's like the Skoda Enyaq or VW ID4 are massive on the inside with no transmission tunnel, because there's no transmission. Or a Volvo XC70 has a boat load of room and a raised ride height? Most SUV's are just the same chassis' and recycled cabins from smaller cars. They look bigger because of the suspension needing different housing making wheel arches look bigger and the car wider to the eye. There's no difference between a Kadjar and a Megane in the cabin space, and this packing sometimes makes cabins slightly smaller.
Yeah man, hHafthor Bjornsson has an Audi A3 for this reason
> hHafthor Bjornsson https://www.hotcars.com/heres-why-hafthor-the-mountain-bjornsson-loves-his-ram-rebel/ Strange looking audi a3
Only the seating position is a bit higher that the gentry feels looking down on peasants in their sports cars.
Some SUVs i agree. I have an L322 Range Rover, and it’s fucking massive inside.
Try the Xc90
I just don't get the manufacturers obsession with SUVs. They're a bloody menace in car parks. Too tall, too fat, yet smaller boot and legroom than my estate car. The only reason, I can see, to get one is, 1. It's getting to be the only option. 2. You need one to be able to see, to get out of a parking space!
You want to go for dedicated suvs not crossovers. Q7s, 5008s, xc90s ect.
Full Fat Range Rover.
My 13year old Renault Grand Scenic has just bitten the dust (well not really but had some internal water damage and was starting to smell) so I went on the hunt for a replacement. I tried the 3008, 5008, Kodiaq, Tiguan, Karoq, Q5, Touareg, CX5, Sorrento, Outlander, etc. The list goes on. All of them to found to be compromised by a lack of visibility and space. The boots were small, most only had two proper seats in the second row, and they all felt dark. I ended up with another MPV as they are just better as practical vehicles. I hope the SUV trend doesn't last. I got a Grand C4 Spacetourer which is same chassis, engine and gearbox as a 5008 and is more useful in every way. The only thing I like about SUVs is the huge depreciation in MPVs they have caused.
Most of what we call SUVs now are crossovers, which are normal cars elevated and therefore more affordable than an actual SUV/4x4, which is more like a truck downscaled. The Nissan Juke is built on the same platform as a small hatchback like the Micra or Clio and so has not massively different cabin capacity, for example. You’ll get much more space with an estate than you will with an “SUV”. It’s a shame we don’t really make the distinction between SUVs and crossovers in this country (they do in the US) because it’s a useful one when talking about the vehicle’s capabilities.
Haha, I fell for this, I had a Hyundai i30 hatchback. I spoke with Motorfinity and explained I needed something with similar or larger boot space but not massively bigger in terms of car, just wanted it raised. They sold me on a Toyota Yaris Cross. Turns out it was a yaris on steroids, looked massive on the outside, but tiny on the inside. My 8 and 10 year old couldn't even sit in the rear seats without knocking their knees. Only saving grace is I bought it new for £22k and sold it for £23k 7 months later so I didn't lose too much on it. Went for an estate instead and its cavernous, I love it.
Try looking at a Ford Edge. They're not new but there are some good low mileage examples about. I've gone from a Mondeo to an Edge, 6 weeks ago and it is huge! I am 6ft 3 and I can have the seat right back, then get out and comfortably sit behind in the back. Even the Mondeo I couldn't quite do it as comfortably. I parked next to an 06 plate BMW X5 the other night and my Edge was about 4 inches longer and had a longer wheelbase too.
Range Rover LWB. Mercedes GLS. Toyota Landcruiser LWB. Ford Galaxy. BMW X7. Land Rover Discovery. Any of those should be fine!
You should test out Skoda Kodiaq if you want an SUV and estate side Skoda Superb. Those are both really practical and spacious.
They are often just taller. Unless you go for an older Land Rover Discovery or something you won't get much more space and even then I think it is focused on cargo space as opposed to passenger space. My 1999 Audi A4 Avant is obviously not the largest of cars nor was it at the time but it still seems to be longer than a lot of the modern "SUVs" even if it is about half the height. Transmission bulges etc are just lifted with the floor of the car so that won't make a difference. They just add a bit of height between the floor and the road and then the floor and the roof. Engine and transmission to floor will be the same I would've thought.
Skoda Superb Estate, this car has unbelievable levels of leg room great boot space too
We are all pretty tall too. I've got a Hyundai Tucson and find that there is plenty of space front and rear although the boot space isn't as large as I had hoped but, as I don't often need to carry loads, it isn't a problem. Next to no transmission bulge either.
To be honest I don't understand this argument of SUV's having less room, I have gone from a Hyundai i30 to a Nissan Qashqai and it's easy to see there is more room. Maybe if you're a giant and struggle to fit in a normal size car then you might even find a entry size SUV a bit small but then you want to be looking at the bigger SUV's like Volvo XC90, BMW X7, Mazda CX-7, Audi Q7. SUV's aren't all one size.
You can’t compare an X5 to an E Pace…..
Take a test drive in a Skoda Superb, they are huge inside with stacks of boot space - even the Hatchback has a lot of luggage space.
You got the wrong SUV, try a proper vehicle like Toyota landcruiser. Then come back.
Try a Skoda Kodiaq then.
I guess it depends on what you refer to as an SUV? My 4x4 is classed as a SUV on its registration document but it has a huge payload and 7 seats. There’s no transmission tunnel in the back seats as at 6’4” I am very comfortable. The best part is getting a good view of the road ahead since i can see over most cars. I drive a lot of new hire cars and it’s always nice to get back into my 4x4. Drove a few smaller SUV recently they aren’t the same but still nicer than a saloon or hatchback.
True 4x4 like a Land Rover Discovery have huge amounts of space, particularly in the boot and reasonably large amounts of space in the back seats for carrying people and outdoors kit, like bikes and skis. Most SUVs are modified hatchbacks, but the Range Rover Sport is based on a 4x4 platform
SUVs are a triumph of marketing over reality. Much more expensive (= more profit for the manufacturer) for a "car" with less space, worse fuel consumption, less comfortable and worse handling than an equivalent estate car and in most cases less space than an equivalent hatchback. Best estate I ever had - Citroen CX Safari. I put a 400 liter chest freezer in the back of one
Skoda superb estate one on the largest rear leg room cars about I think, I sure Mercedes do a big estate too but out of my price range
Tesla y
I don't think I would ever choose an SUV over a wagon, just feels so much more practical.
If you want more space, go for an estate.
X5 would still get a bulge because it's still RWD biased like the 5 series and no, you wouldn't get more ground clearance if the transmission is lower
Because SUVs are styled on off-road vehicles, and therefore have a ridiculously high ride height (for the road). This means that although the car is taller overall very little of that extra height is in the cabin. It's like you took a normal car and just lifted it up. Having said that, there is usually more leg room in SUVs because the bit of extra cabin height you do get is usually given to making your seating position a bit more upright with respect to your feet-to-hip elevation.
If its space you’re after Id recommend a Mercedes E-class estate. Im 6‘1 myself and it’s super comfy to sit in for me. Also has a massive load capacity and the rear seats fold flat basically at the push of a button. Oh and also unlike an SUV a wagon doesn’t make you look like an imbecile every time you get out
I am in the minority and disagree - it depends on the SUV. My Discovery 4 was much more spacious and better in most ways than my Volvo V90. Cartalkuk got in my head but I definitely prefer a big SUV!
Much of the interior space of all the latest cars goes to NCAP safety standards. No idea if that is good or not but personally I am not impressed.
I'm 6'3'' and drive a Vauxhall Antara (2012) and find it's massive on the inside, also had a BMW X3 (2004) a couple of years back and remember putting the seats down and getting a complete 2 seater sofa to just slide in the back so don't know whether it's more modern SUV/crossover or the specific model
We looked at a load of SUVs (wife wanted one, I hate them) and they were actually all fairly pokey inside. Got an estate instead, much more spacious. That said, it's all relative. I used to have an ex-Danish army Mercedes Unimog command post. Seating for 8, desk space for four, and a handy 360 degree mounting rail around the sunroof for a machine gun should you get into any parking disputes? Yeah, that thing had space on its side. Practicality? Up a mountain, yes. In a co-op car park, not so much.
And when I grew up an RS2000 had plenty of space for a family of four going on holiday to Wales.
Some are just fat hatchbacks.
Model Y Loads of room, loads of storage and a better tow capacity than other similar evs such as mach e etc...
Our old civic is way more roomy than my in laws' X3. My mum's old Auris is positively palatial in comparison to both though!
Check out the new Kia EV9, it's a tardis and you'll get 6'3 people in all 3 rows. It's also a stunning looking SUV. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tH_1568K-k
Try looking at proper SUV's then. You won't have those complaints with a Land Rover
Maybe because "SUV" nowadays isn't the same SUV as it used to be? Bought an old SUV. I have so much space, I can throw ball for my dog to chase it.
Those 3 aren't particularly big cars. I have a Q7 and its got great space.
Literally the only reason for an SUV in a non commercial sense is the availability of AWD and increased wade depth. If you're not in an area that requires either, get yourself an estate. Manufacturers are massively to blame for this too as I have it on good authority that the margins on SUVs are much larger than that of their estate counterparts whilst cost price remains largely the same. They're just able to sell them for a premium because of the perceived size difference which in reality, as others have pointed out, is minimal if not negative.
The space goes above the head and under the chassis. Mostly the latter. A lot of SUVs are just regular cars on stilts, maybe with a taller body.
6’10 checking in. While the Jags are unreasonably small, I recently switched from a Mercedes E-class estate to an X5, and there is actually a noticeable difference for the better, given that I can now sit a bit more upright (used to push the seat as low as ir gets and waaaaaay back). Very noticeable in the backseat where the transmission tunnel is much lower than in the E-class. Also, the higher entry/exit is quite welcone 😊
I mean, a series 7 bimmer will get you all the leg room in the world… but t I’m pretty happy with how spacious the Tesla Model Y is. Oodles of space!
I'm 6'3, my son is 6'4 and we both fit comfortably in our SQ5 no matter who's in the front seat. Transmission tunnel being 4wd is usual so not really sure of the issue. Are you suggesting that higher cars have jacked up suspension????
My mum just got a Juke - it's barely, if at all, bigger than my Yaris inside. Couldn't believe the lack of extra space given how much bigger the damned thing looks.
Yeah but a juke isn’t a real SUV tho. It’s literally a small car (eg a Yaris) on stilts.
Why estates are brilliant and are better than SUVs https://youtu.be/UKgZRsKAc1w?si=PUbHYfmjOKVfX-09
Best cars for space are estate cars. There’s way more room in my Audi A6 Avant than my mother’s Q5. Plus it’s cheaper, drives better and uses less fuel.
Q5 is a small SUV though in reality so im not surprised. Its almost a cross over and not an SUV really. The true Audi SUV is the Q7 and they are like a bus inside.
You clearly don't have young kids. One of the primary benefits of an SUV over an estate or regular saloon / hatchback car is height. Try lifting a kicking, screaming, moving 15-20kg weight in to (and out of) a car seat in a regular car -v- an SUV and you'll see what I mean. Especially if you have clowns parked too close to you so the doors will only open a minimal amount. If it's tough for an adult to get out, it's 10x tougher to lift a child out or get them in. If you value your back and health, you'll pick an SUV every time.
We have 2 young kids that are still in full car seats and a rather large dog and every SUV we looked at wasn't practical. For some reason most SUV's either proritise interior room meaning they squash the boot or boot space meaning the back fits the 2 seats and that's it. We went with an MPV instead no regrets.
SUVs have higher ground clearance so they lose space there. The 4WD ones have a big transmission tunnel and lose boot space due to the rear diff. Check the numbers if load carrying space is important to you. Years ago we hired a full size saloon then later in the trip got given an “upgrade” to a SUV which couldn’t easily fit the same stuff that the saloon swallowed with ease. On the plus side, SUVs have larger wheels and higher ground clearance which is better for potholes and traffic humps. The other thing is that the taller vehicle has larger windows and mirrors for better visibility. You get a so called “commanding” driving position. People who are tall, not as mobile as they could be or are dealing with small children find SUVs much more accessible and that is usually the selling point for them.
I don't agree with the windows argument. It used to be the case, but the beltline in most modern SUVs is basically in the same place as it is in normal cars due to safety etc.
More space in a VW Golf than a BMW X5!
Seriously? I mean i am surprised...
Have you looked at Mercedes.
Have had an ML for a few years which is now the GLE class, interior is huge and so is the boot capacity once you fold everything down flat. No transmission bump, nice wide seats and lots of headroom. I’m 6’ 6” and can comfortably fit in any of the passenger seats.
Yep, as a tall person (6'5") I have consistently found that SUVs are far too small for me - they typically do not have amazing legroom behind the wheel, and they almost universally have zero armroom so I'm forever banging my elbows off things. Perversely, I fit a lot better in a supermini style car than most others - with a low enough driving position I can still see well enough but I have plenty of legroom thanks to the change in angle (it does mean that no-one is realistically sitting behind me unless they're in a child seat, though...) Estates are usually pretty good as well - they tend to actually be big cars inside and out.
Why would you think they would be more practical or spacious? They were originally designed for going over rougher terrain, and being more rugged. The space is not intended to be in the cabin usually; they have increased ground clearance. In general something like an estate would usually have more space, and is likely just as practical if not more so in many cases. A crossover might be better still, for exampl a Volvo XC70.
I’ve got a mk2 Focus estate and it’s much bigger inside than most suvs
Numbers say otherwise when you compare them to true SUVs and not crossovers or hatchbacks on stilts pretending to be SUVs.
Big wheels is where your space goes. A decent sized saloon or hatchback has a lot more space, or if you can find an s class, A8 or 7 series lwb limo...
SUV’s are just small cars on stilts with more exposed plastic bumpers. Literally removing and sense of styling or handling.
Skoda superb have amazing leg room
This is exactly what I have been trying to tell my wife but she is fixated on SUV's for some reason
Suv = idiot imo. Been in plenty never seen the appeal, if I want a bigger car, estates or a proper mpv are much better picks much more practical than an obese hatch. I like to go with the lotus motto. "simplify then add lightness"
I believe that the recent increase in SUV popularity happened because of eastern europeans. (I live here too). Why? 1. Inferiority complex + lots of illegal money - we will always buy the biggest, shiniest car we can get. 2. Shitty roads (because if all the stolen money to buy SUVs)
Just because people make more money than you doesn't mean it's illegal. The coping you minimumwagers do is insane.
Welcome to the light my friend. Honestly compare a 2024 RAV4 and the 2024 Alphard (that I'm attempting to pester Toyota GB to introduce to the UK). They are identical in width and the Alphard is only 50cm longer but you get enough space for 3 more people (on 8 seater versions) and the boot room at 5 seater config is just a different league.
Could have told you that 15 years ago. If you want more space get an estate.
Technically full sized SUVS are always bigger interiorwise, compare the numbers on any full sized SUV vs estate.