Older Kiwis & Small SUVs

Small SUVs have steadily become one of the most popular types of vehicles in New Zealand. The small SUV market has seen thousands of older kiwis driving longer and maintaining their independence. 

So what is an SUV? SUV stands for ‘Sport Utility Vehicle’. Traditionally, they were the largest passenger vehicles on the market, 4-wheel drive, with gas guzzling petrol engines or agricultural diesel engines. However, with our changing lifestyles, smaller, higher power, yet more fuel efficient engines, the small SUV is now almost 15% of the total new vehicle market, and that’s rising. 

They build small SUVs on a smaller car chassis, but they are taller and roomier inside. Most of them are Front wheel drive and have petrol engines. They don’t share the large sizes of most SUVs, which makes them great in urban areas. It also makes them easier to drive, to park and give you greater visibility as your driving position is higher. They have generous boot space; increased front and rear visibility and most are equipped with features such as park sensors, cameras and economy modes. Although they’re built upon small chassis, they have widened wheel track, which gives them excellent grip and control in the wet. The increased height of the cabin is beneficial because of the ease of getting into and out of the car. Making it a perfect car for the elderly or mobility impaired. Not only is the boot large, but it has a flat lip so you need not lift as high to place things inside. 

They build small SUVs to be easy to ‘step in’ and ‘step out’ of. No more stooping down as you would to sit in a regular hatch or sedan. Also, there is no climbing up as you would do in a full size SUV. This makes them perfect if you have back, hip or knee issues, or if you’re regularly driving with someone who does. Their size and height allows you to more comfortably get into the car without putting too much strain on the body. Smaller vehicles sit you lower and therefore you’re acting against gravity to get in and out of the seats. Because these cars are on a smaller chassis, they don’t weigh as much. This, alongside innovation in economical engineering, means fewer emissions and great fuel economy. 

Investing in a small SUV for your next car can make life much easier. Cutting down on emissions and injury from strain getting in and out of another type of car. The small SUV is the perfect solution for our aging population.

Call MotorBrokers on 0800 350 900 to see how much we will save you on a small SUV.