We have more pages for our SUV Buyer’s Guide this year and that’s despite production slowdowns, superconducting chip material shortages, Covid and shipping issues, which proves conclusively that a: we still have our love affair with the SUV and b: the auto manufacturers know it.
We should probably not be concerned from an ecological standpoint, despite the Green Brigade insisting that even with multi-people carrying ability, anything with four wheels is making polar bears homeless.
The fact is that we are seeing more and greater advances in efficient vehicles than ever before.
Yes, the pure electric SUV is still a very small percentage of the market overall, but when hybrid SUVs can return fuel figures lower than six litres per 100km out of petrol engines, well, credit where it is due, people.
I can remember when anything under 10 litres per was considered efficient and while preparing this publication, I was seeing figures down in the low 4 and high 3 litres per 100km figure thanks to the marvels of electrics and hybridisation.
Of course, we do have our pure electrics in SUVs, and they are becoming more numerous and more affordable – probably more so than any other vehicle type has done to date.
Yes, this has come about largely through China and Chinese manufacturers, but it is a global consideration with demand stretching around the world.
Locally, the SUV market as it was in August, saw 5948 SUVs registered. Of these, 2340 were Small, 2554 were Medium and 1054 were Large.
In year-to-date, the figure was 47,718 SUVs made up of 18,581 Small, 20,132 Medium and 9005 Large.
This is a slight drop off in what we saw in 2021 – about 3820 units difference – a mere blip in the grand scheme of things.
And so, what can we expect to see in the immediate short term?
Our predictions are that first, the SUV uptake will come back up to 2021 levels, possibly by as soon as the end of the year as we are hearing from many manufacturers that the vehicle shortages seen this year are beginning to taper off, with some exceptions.
We will see more pure electrics arriving, but more hybrids selling and the great equaliser, the further development of hydrogen – first in heavy commercials, then likely into the larger SUVs.
As to the ‘juiced’ SUVs, full electrics will probably continue in medium SUVs while the hybrids will be the domain of the smaller vehicles.
All this until we come up with the working equivalent of Pixie Dust.
Meanwhile, our travel restrictions are off, vehicle availability is back onstream for the most part so here you go – the most comprehensive listing – that we’re aware of – of SUVs in print for your buying consideration.
