High-riding and safe

An experienced and successful motor industry executive once told me he couldn’t understand the market fixation with high-riding SUVs.

He made the comment three or four years ago as the rush towards the higher-riding models started to gain momentum.

Now all mainstream and premium brands offer not just one SUV model in their lineup but entire ranges, from small crossovers to large seven-seat, three-row models that accommodate the entire family.

To be fair, the industry now offers these models because that is where the worldwide market for new vehicles has taken us.

The industry has also responded to the traditionalists who, until a few years ago, clung on to the concept of a lower-slung sedan or station wagon in the face of the market stampede towards SUVs.

Current SUVs no longer wallow,

swoop and dive like their many of their early predecessor models which tended to lurch around corners rather than sitting smooth and flat.

They now offer a satisfying driving experience. Some even drive like a sporty sedan.

And driver assist and safety technology have helped manufacturers deliver a satisfying experience behind the wheel.

The all-round visibility from behind the steering wheel, the higher driving position, and the expanse of practical and usable carrying capacity, provide plenty of incentive to opt for an SUV.

There’s a lot more about SUVs on Driven.co.nz, including Sam Wallace’s video on the stunning Lamborghini Urus.