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Comment by Dumblydorr | Hacker News Reader

People simply prefer the SUVs. They ride higher, people like that elevated feeling. They also give the added space, which is a selling point. They are undeniably trendy, and gas is super cheap, 2.20 per gallon here, so not high at all historically.

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A proper diesel estate car like an MB E220d has a more usable cargo area than the typical SUV, rides comfortably and efficiently on the highway consuming less than 5 liters per 100 kilometers (fuel tank range is over 1200 kilometers), and has state-of-the-art safety technologies. In comparison, a SUV just gives you that extra confidence that no matter the weather conditions, you'll make it to your end destination because of the increased ride height, bigger tyres and 4WD systems. For most people that may be 2 or 3 days during the year, and the rest of the time they are paying dearly for this inefficiency.

A sedan definitely does not have more cargo space than an SUV.

I was talking about the E-Class estate, called the "T-Modell" in Germany:

https://imgur.com/f1yksSW

Ah true, but as someone that might buy a (used) car in the next few years: trendiness & freshness do play into this as estate cars do lose points in my book for their "old-school" look as it was the type of car people had when I was a kid (and I am nearly 40).

So that together with the higher ride height, which makes getting kids in and out easier and almost no extra cost makes the SUV more likely to win than a similarly specced estate.

(and please keep in mind a "SUV" in Europe is not really the same as "SUV" in the states).

You'd be surprised. Most SUVs are really poorly designed and while they look big on the outside and maybe even have a large theoretical cabin capacity they are terrible at carrying cargo. I have witnessed someone fail to get an office chair into their Mercedes SUV that fit into a hatchback car. In addition, the loading height is higher, which makes them less practical.

SUVs generally have tall cabins, but lack in horizontal boot space and depth. The floor plan of the car matters a lot. The main selling point of big estate cars (Volvo V90, E-Class T-Modell, Skoda Superb) is the rectangular shape of the boot, coupled with a flat floor with the seats down. The metal loading lip is also at the level of the floor, making access easy. Some also have additional storage compartments under the boot floor, and even specially designed extra-size fuel tanks.

Here in Europe SUVs are especially in and around cities where you will never go offroad with that car.

USD? Compare that to 1.40 € per liter, that's about 6.20 USD/gallon. A regular price in EU.

This is the most reasonable argument, totally agree. People always talk about terrain, "oh you don't need it".

SUVs are a comfortable ride. You see everything, you sit comfortable, they feel spacious (not always are...), it's the design between normal cars and pickup trucks or vans.

It’s 1.22 € per liter (taxes like always included) here currently in Germany which is $6.60 per gallon. Prices will rise next year because of an added CO2 tax.

Still people buy more and more SUVs

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