dejongj said:
But the footprint is no larger than lets say a Merc S-class, or a Ford Transit, etc....
Don't remember the Merc S Class coming in an estate
And also don't remember mentioning it in my shortlist.
Thinking is all you do indeed, as you obviously have not been in a modern SUV....
Errr.....drove a Range Rover V8 while in Dubai, also had a Land Cruiser Prado for a while too (doubt that is available here). Driven a Mitsubishi Shogun, BMW X3 and X5, previous gen Merc M Class and even had a ride in a new Lexus RX400h (man that thing is eerily quiet when the electric motor is on).
We hired a BMW X5 on one trip out to dubai, it couldn't hold our luggage while driving between cities, so we had 'downgrade' to an Audi A6 saloon which swallowed everything easily.....and this was the saloon!!
I've also had a Saab 93 Sport Wagon quite recently, and a Vauxhall Signum in my posession a couple of years ago, and both those cars were a) more fun to drive than any of the big 4x4's (although that BMW X3 was very impressive for an SUV, handled pretty well) and b) could hold much more gear to lug around than any of the SUV's I've mentioned above when carrying people as well.
You may get more loadspace in an SUV if you lower the seats when compared to some estate cars, but then you'd have to leave the baby seats at home.....kinda defeats the object doesn't it?
But, each to their own I guess, if it is just an image thing, I can understand, that is a far more plausible reason to own an SUV over an estate. But when people go waving the whole practicality thing, it's almost like they are trying to justify their purchase. One shouldn't need to.
Anyway, this isn;t directed at all SUV's, as I know some luxury cars DO have a larger footprint, but that Q7 (and the new Merc G-Class mentioned earlier) are taking things to a whole new level, and really don't suit the type of roads we have in the UK.
All just my opinion of course. And it's ok to admit to buying an SUV purely for image......or perhaps a balance of image and practicality, but to base the purchase on practicality alone is a bit.....how shall I say........wrong?