Rise of the SUV – Britain’s growing car segment

Kwik Fit | Thursday 18th June 2015 3:00pm

Is bigger really better? If car sales in the UK over the past few years are anything to go by then the answer is a resounding yes. More and more Brits are opting for SUVs (or sports utility vehicles to give them their full name) over more traditional super minis and mid-size vehicles. Models such as the Nissan Qashqai and Volkswagen Tiguan have seen a surge in popularity over recent years. In 1999 SUVs (also known as crossovers, dual purpose vehicles, multi-purpose vehicles etc. the list goes on) made up just a fraction of new car sales in the UK. But fast forward to 2014 and almost 20% of all new car sales come from the SUV segment and this figure is expected to continue to grow further this year.

This month BMW reported quarterly earnings that were ahead of forecast and the German manufacturer has cited strong demand for its luxury SUVs like the BMW X5 as the main reason. But in a landscape where people are becoming more conscious of the environment and the money in their pocket, why is the market for larger vehicles like SUVs booming?

SUVs have come a long way in the past ten years. Whereas once they were considered uncomfortable, uneconomical and firmly within the realm of those wanting to go ‘off-road’, modern SUVs are packed full of features such as in car entertainment and climate control to make the ride more comfortable. What’s more, SUVs have become much more economical to run with many of the latest compact SUVs able to achieve over 50 miles per gallon[NG1] . Add in lower fuel costs in the UK over the past 12 months and you can start to see why many UK drivers might consider an SUV as a serious contender to replace their old hatchback. Compact SUVs are also incredibly affordable these days and you can pick up a brand new SUV such as the Dacia Duster for under £10k.

The desire for greater winter mobility and an increase in domestic holidays (see our article: the rise of the staycation) are also valid reasons as to why SUVs are getting the thumbs up from drivers in the UK.

Do SUVs require specialist tyres?

Needless to say, the popularity of SUVs in the UK has not gone unnoticed by tyre manufactures. Michelin has been investing a great deal of time and research into developing tyres that give the best results for SUV drivers and the French manufacturer has been selected as Original equipment for several SUV models including the Nissan Juke and the new Audi Q5. The Michelin Primacy 3 tyre is available in numerous sizes including extra load models suitable for SUVs and boasts one of the best EU tyre label ratings in these sizes with an A in wet grip, B in fuel efficiency and a ‘low’ rating for noise.