S/O SUVs are a bad environmental choice, plus they are more dangerous. Don't buy SUVs.

[Anonymous]

Spin off from the thread about the mom who doesn't want to be friends with other moms who drive SUVs. That thread got bogged down in other things, but so many of the responses on that thread were about justifying driving an SUV that I think it merits it's own thread.

An SUV is the least environmentally friendly choice you can make. Yes, even a hybrid SUV. If you can afford a hybrid SUV, you could also afford a hybrid sedan or station wagon. You should look critically at the size, weight, and fuel efficiency of every car you buy (if you must buy a car). SUVs are worse on all fronts. Don't buy SUVs.

SUVs are also significantly more dangerous to the general public than smaller vehicles. SUVs are more likely to kill pedestrians and cyclists because they suck the person under the vehicle and crush them.

People will argue that they buy an SUV because it's safer for them to drive in. And on it's surface, this seems reasonable. In a collision, being in the heavier, larger vehicle is always safer. But ask yourself where that ends. If you buy a Rav 4 so that you are safer in a collision with a Camry, then what do you do when everyone has Ran 4s? Buy a Tahoe? Where does this end? Does buying an SUV really keep you safer, or does it just up the ante for what safety in a vehicle looks like, forcing everyone to buy larger and larger vehicles for "safety"?

Alternatively, if you have to buy a car (and really ask if you have to, maybe you don't need a car, or maybe you don't need two cars for your family, maybe there are ways to get away with less of these), buy the smallest safe car you can reasonable fit your family in. Then try to dive it as little as possible.

Ok, you can all yell at me and tell me how much you love your SUVs now.

[Anonymous]

Are you the troll OP from the other thread? Just wondering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you the troll OP from the other thread? Just wondering.

I am not a troll and I am not the OP of the other thread. I feel passionate about this subject.

[Anonymous]

I have a small EV SUV. I went for an SUV so I’d have better visibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Spin off from the thread about the mom who doesn't want to be friends with other moms who drive SUVs. That thread got bogged down in other things, but so many of the responses on that thread were about justifying driving an SUV that I think it merits it's own thread.

An SUV is the least environmentally friendly choice you can make. Yes, even a hybrid SUV. If you can afford a hybrid SUV, you could also afford a hybrid sedan or station wagon. You should look critically at the size, weight, and fuel efficiency of every car you buy (if you must buy a car). SUVs are worse on all fronts. Don't buy SUVs.

SUVs are also significantly more dangerous to the general public than smaller vehicles. SUVs are more likely to kill pedestrians and cyclists because they suck the person under the vehicle and crush them.

People will argue that they buy an SUV because it's safer for them to drive in. And on it's surface, this seems reasonable. In a collision, being in the heavier, larger vehicle is always safer. But ask yourself where that ends. If you buy a Rav 4 so that you are safer in a collision with a Camry, then what do you do when everyone has Ran 4s? Buy a Tahoe? Where does this end? Does buying an SUV really keep you safer, or does it just up the ante for what safety in a vehicle looks like, forcing everyone to buy larger and larger vehicles for "safety"?

Alternatively, if you have to buy a car (and really ask if you have to, maybe you don't need a car, or maybe you don't need two cars for your family, maybe there are ways to get away with less of these), buy the smallest safe car you can reasonable fit your family in. Then try to dive it as little as possible.

Ok, you can all yell at me and tell me how much you love your SUVs now.

Dumb duplicate thread - it's all being discussed over there.

[Anonymous]

You know that a Camry and RAV4 weigh the same, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You know that a Camry and RAV4 weigh the same, right?

The Rav4 sits up higher and is thus more dangerous to pedestrians. Also, to the PP who said she bought an SUV for visibility -- thing about what you are trying to make visible. SUV's make it easier to see over things, but they REDUCE visibility around your vehicle. Even with back up cameras, sitting up higher in your vehicle means that you are less able to see small objects (and small people) close to your vehicle.

It feels good to be able to see farther, but what is the actual benefit of that? Wouldn't you rather be able to better see a bike, a child, a dog, a ball rolling into the street, from a safety perspective? You are buying an SUV so you can see over things, but what about the stuff your SUV keeps you from seeing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You know that a Camry and RAV4 weigh the same, right?

The Rav4 sits up higher and is thus more dangerous to pedestrians. Also, to the PP who said she bought an SUV for visibility -- thing about what you are trying to make visible. SUV's make it easier to see over things, but they REDUCE visibility around your vehicle. Even with back up cameras, sitting up higher in your vehicle means that you are less able to see small objects (and small people) close to your vehicle.

It feels good to be able to see farther, but what is the actual benefit of that? Wouldn't you rather be able to better see a bike, a child, a dog, a ball rolling into the street, from a safety perspective? You are buying an SUV so you can see over things, but what about the stuff your SUV keeps you from seeing?

I have a 360 camera and crazy sensitive sensors. I’m LESS likely to hit something than my old sedan with poor visibility and no cameras/sensors.

[Anonymous]

Go test drive a small suv with great sensors and cameras. You’ll be impressed with how much better the visibility is. You can see everything all around you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You know that a Camry and RAV4 weigh the same, right?

The Rav4 sits up higher and is thus more dangerous to pedestrians. Also, to the PP who said she bought an SUV for visibility -- thing about what you are trying to make visible. SUV's make it easier to see over things, but they REDUCE visibility around your vehicle. Even with back up cameras, sitting up higher in your vehicle means that you are less able to see small objects (and small people) close to your vehicle.

It feels good to be able to see farther, but what is the actual benefit of that? Wouldn't you rather be able to better see a bike, a child, a dog, a ball rolling into the street, from a safety perspective? You are buying an SUV so you can see over things, but what about the stuff your SUV keeps you from seeing?

I have a 360 camera and crazy sensitive sensors. I’m LESS likely to hit something than my old sedan with poor visibility and no cameras/sensors.

But if you had a sedan with cameras and sensors...

[Anonymous]

Yes, I know, but clearly in the USA, most people don't, OP. They "need" their large cars to carpool, and transport their kids' sports equipment and all their other stuff. It's all part of the outsize Americans lifestyle, where you accumulate so much stuff you can't drive a normal-size car!

[Anonymous]

Especially white ones - amiright?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You know that a Camry and RAV4 weigh the same, right?

The Rav4 sits up higher and is thus more dangerous to pedestrians. Also, to the PP who said she bought an SUV for visibility -- thing about what you are trying to make visible. SUV's make it easier to see over things, but they REDUCE visibility around your vehicle. Even with back up cameras, sitting up higher in your vehicle means that you are less able to see small objects (and small people) close to your vehicle.

It feels good to be able to see farther, but what is the actual benefit of that? Wouldn't you rather be able to better see a bike, a child, a dog, a ball rolling into the street, from a safety perspective? You are buying an SUV so you can see over things, but what about the stuff your SUV keeps you from seeing?

You specifically referenced weight in your OP. Also, what are some of these acceptable station wagons you mention? I suspect that they are actually the same size as small crossover SUVs.

I think your argument would be better if you distinguished between a crossover built on car chassis like the RAV4 that is basically a car and An SUV built on a truck chassis like a suburban. You’re calling them both SUVs like they are interchangeable in safety profile, but they are very different.

[Anonymous]

I love this thread. SUV-shaming is overdue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You know that a Camry and RAV4 weigh the same, right?

The Rav4 sits up higher and is thus more dangerous to pedestrians. Also, to the PP who said she bought an SUV for visibility -- thing about what you are trying to make visible. SUV's make it easier to see over things, but they REDUCE visibility around your vehicle. Even with back up cameras, sitting up higher in your vehicle means that you are less able to see small objects (and small people) close to your vehicle.

It feels good to be able to see farther, but what is the actual benefit of that? Wouldn't you rather be able to better see a bike, a child, a dog, a ball rolling into the street, from a safety perspective? You are buying an SUV so you can see over things, but what about the stuff your SUV keeps you from seeing?

I have a 360 camera and crazy sensitive sensors. I’m LESS likely to hit something than my old sedan with poor visibility and no cameras/sensors.

But if you had a sedan with cameras and sensors...

You still sit much lower in a sedan. Go test drive one and stop spouting off your ignorance.