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Sport Utility Vehicles have, in the last 5-10 years, quickly grown to be a dominant force in the auto market. Where they were once a rare luxury, now you can’t leave your house without being boxed in by one! In fact, SUVs, crossovers, and 4x4s now make up 25% of new car sales.
There are a few reasons beind this explosive SUV growth: style, comfort, growing affordability, and – crucially – a perception of increased safety. The Range Rover as a family car developed partly for the sake of street prestige, partly because the spaciousness makes them comfortable and versatile to be in, and partly because of a perception that driving such a large vehicle kept the occupants safe.
But how valid is this last perception? We can agree that Range Rovers are high value vehicles, that they’re large, that the plush heated leather seats are comfortable, but are they actually safer to be in?
Let’s find out.
What exactly is an SUV?
Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) are a comparatively recent addition to the car market. The term has become a vague one used more for marketing larger, sometimes-4x4 vehicles. The main defining characteristics are that they’re taller, bulkier, and larger than saloons and hatchbacks.
They were born out of a desire for the security and comfort of a large off-road vehicle but primarily for use within towns and cities.
They’re sometimes four-wheel-drive, but are more commonly two-wheel-drive these days
Apparently, yes, they’re safer – sometimes
Because the driver and passenger seats in an SUV sit much higher than an average car, the occupants are much less likely to be physically impacted in the event of a collision. Research quoted by Michelin supports the theory that they’re safer, with drivers and passengers in an SUV being 50% more likely to survive a car crash without suffering serious injuries compared to those in a Saloon.
Without access to the primary data, we can’t tell a reason for this, but there are two clear possibilities for this outcome.
1.) SUVs aren’t the only vehicles on the road
While SUVs have become a large segment of the market, they’re not the only vehicles on the road. So, statistically, the collision data collected would have been heavily weighted by collisions between SUVs and non-SUVs. Which means that the impacts would primarily be felt by the lower vehicle.
So, you could comfortably say that SUVs are safer than saloons in collisions with saloons. But this doesn’t necessarily mean that SUVs are always safer vehicles – collisions aren’t always between two vehicles.
Their size, for example, may make impacts more likely as they’re less able to squeeze through spaces and, to counter the research quoted by Michelin, The Guardian claimed that a person in an SUV is 11% more likely to die in a car crash and twice as likely to roll – due to the higher centre of gravity.
This, however, is quoting New York Times reporting from 2004, so the actual design and safety of SUVs is likely to have come a long way since their millennial infancy – not to mention that this is only dealing with US data. Which leads us to the second main point for them potentially being safer.
2.) SUVs are reinforced
The second suggested possibility from the finding is that SUVs are safer because of the way they’re constructed. This is harder to pinpoint without much clear data, but the perception is that SUVs being heavier and larger means they’re denser and therefore reinforced for crashes.
In some cases, this is correct. Construction and military-style SUVs, also more popular over the pond than here, are reinforced to an extent because they need to cope with varying, extreme conditions. But most SUV drivers don’t need to handle warzone conditions, so the vast majority of SUVs on the road aren’t actually as reinforced as they seem because there’s always a balance between ruggedness, fuel economy, and resource allocation.
Not all SUVs are built equally – or for the same reasons
Ultimately, if you’re considering buying an SUV for the sake of safety and not for other reasons like reliability, comfort, manoeuvrability, or interior space, then you should consider the SUV model itself, collision histories of it, and – crucially – where you’ll be driving it.
It may feel safer, for example, to drive a tank, but driving a tank in Kensington or York’s Shambles may not be the most appropriate vehicle choice for the area. Conversely, driving a Ford KA in the countryside may not be an appropriate vehicle choice given road conditions.
Driving in heavy rain can be tricky and bring extra risks. Check out our guide for top tips to stay safe and avoid breakdowns if travelling in wet conditions.
Is the UK on the verge of ‘the coldest winter for 50 years?’ Even if El Niño doesn't hit the UK this winter, reduce the risk of a winter breakdown by making sure your car battery is winter-ready.
Your tyre size can be found on the sidewall of your current tyre and is a sequence of numbers and letters. The most common tyre size in the UK is 205/55R16 but there are many variations so it’s important to check your existing tyre first before searching for tyres.
Tip: Take a photo of your existing tyre sidewall to make it easier to identify your tyre size using the guide below.
The first three digits. This displays the width of the tyre in millimetres. A tyre marked 225 will measure 225mm across the tread from sidewall to sidewall.
Aspect Ratio
The fourth and fifth digits of the tyre code that immediately follow the tyre width. The aspect ratio or profile height of the tyre sidewall is expressed as a percentage of the tyre width. So an aspect ratio of 55 for example means that the profile height of the tyre is 55% of its width.
Rim Diameter
The next two digits represent the size of the wheel rim that the tyre can be fitted to. It is also the diameter of the tyre from bead to bead. So a tyre marked 16 will fit on a 16-inch wheel rim.
Speed Rating
The speed rating of a tyre is represented by a letter of the alphabet at the end of the tyre size code and indicates the maximum speed capability of the tyre. Tyres receive a speed rating based on a series of tests which measure the tyres capability to handle a set speed for a prolonged period of time.
Select your tyre speed rating to find out the maximum speed your tyres can maintain.
If you are unsure what speed rating you need, be sure to check your vehicle handbook. Choosing a lower speed rating than that recommended by your vehicle manufacturer could potentially invalidate your insurance.
Load Rating
The load index provides information on the maximum weight capability for the tyre. The load index is a numerical code that can be located just after the tyre size marking and before the speed rating.
Select your load index to find out the maximum load capability for your tyres.
Although not illegal, it is not advisable to have tyres with a lower speed rating or load index than the manufacturer recommended tyre specification for your vehicle, or to have a combination of different tyre construction types. Consult your vehicle handbook to confirm your vehicle’s tyre speed rating and load index as well as any additional requirements.
0800 75 76 77 You can reach our customer care team 6 days a week from 9:00am to 6:00pm on Monday and Thursday, 8:30am to 6:00pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm Saturday, and 10:00am to 4:00pm on Bank Holidays.
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We endeavour to ensure we are displaying the correct tyres for your vehicle. However, we recommend all customers check the tyre size printed on the side wall of their tyres before proceeding with a tyre purchase as occasionally discrepancies do occur. By selecting the tyre sizes above and clicking 'Continue', you are indicating that you have checked your tyre sizes.
Please select your front and rear tyre size before clicking 'Continue'.
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Please note: There is a slope that the vehicle must be driven up to reach the vehicle ramp at this centre. This may prevent us from being able to work on some high-performance vehicles, Tesla vehicles or vehicles that have been lowered. If your vehicle has low ground clearance, please contact the centre team on 01342 314 111 before booking.
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