SUVs are everywhere. You see one at every turn and there’s always someone trying to parallel park a huge SUV into a tight space in the middle of a busy street. Their popularity skyrocketed over the last few years, largely thanks to the sheer practicality of these vehicles. Manufacturers realized that the SUV body type was perfect for people who want safe cars with great driving features that are easy to get around in.
It’s partly why most saloon or wagon drivers now drive SUVs; they offer all the practical elements of these cars but in a better package. It makes you wonder, has the SUV domination also led to a decline in small car popularity? For years, small cars ruled the roost. Everyone wanted one because they were affordable, cheap to run, and perfect for getting around town.
In the dawn of the SUV takeover, are smaller cars slowly becoming defunct and less sought-after?
Spoiler alert: they’re not – and we’ll explain why!
Small Cars Are Still Perfect For Learners & New Drivers
People learning to drive will always choose to do so in a small car. They’re easier to maneuver and less intimidating. That’s why most people buy a small car as their first vehicle – it’s the perfect ride when you’re easing into the world of driving.
No matter how popular SUVs get, this will always be the case. Driving instructors are highly unlikely to teach people in SUVs, so small cars will continue to serve a big purpose.
Small Cars Remain Extremely Affordable
Compare the average cost of an SUV to a small car. It’s always going to be more expensive to buy an SUV, let alone run one. Smaller cars are cheaper for you to purchase, carry cheaper car insurance, and are more affordable to maintain.
In many ways, this is why they continue to be popular. If you want the most affordable car that doesn’t cost a fortune to insure or look after, you’re always better off choosing a small one.
Small Cars Offer The Most Fun
Sure, SUVs have developed into crossovers with loads of fun driving features. Many sportscar manufacturers – like Porsche or Lamborghini – have created sporty SUVs. Nevertheless, the majority of sports cars and fast cars will be small ones.
As such, the smaller cars will always offer the most fun. What would you rather do, get behind the wheel of a Jaguar small car and race around with the top down or hop into a bulky Range Rover? By all means, the SUV will be more practical – especially for families – but you can’t get the same thrills as a small car.
The reality is this: small cars aren’t losing popularity because of the SUV domination. What’s happening is that SUVs are gaining popularity, but it’s from car owners who used to buy saloons or station wagons. The number of small cars on the roads seems less because there are more SUVs out and about. This is reflected in car manufacturers building more SUV-type models – but they still retain a fleet of small cars too. So, if you love driving smaller vehicles, then you’ve nothing to worry about; they’ll be around for a very long time yet.
