The SUV currently sits atop the UK’s automotive popularity charts, according to remarketing specialists Aston Barclay’s latest car index. As per the June report, 14 of the top 25 cars on its most recent used car rankings are SUVs, with the rise of the sports utility format in the last few years seemingly unwavering as the auto market looks to return to normality.
The index’s findings will be unlikely to come as a surprise to most in the industry, who’ve been well aware of the SUV’s market dominance for some time. Indeed, with the SUV concept taking on many shapes and sizes and transcending multiple key markets, the industry expects won’t be expecting a change in the rankings anytime soon.
A grasp on the premium market
The wider SUV sector’s venture into premium markets has been a rampant success, with high-end SUVs now seen as a viable and more practical alternative to the luxury saloon and coupe equivalents. This can be seen in Aston Barclay’s top 25 list, with options like the Jaguar F-Pace, BMW X5, and Mercedes GLC, and GLE all among the 14 SUV names in the table.
Topping the overall used car charts is the exceptional Volvo XC40 – an SUV option that successfully straddles the premium and family markets and embodies the versatility of modern SUVs. Martin Potter, Aston Barclay’s managing director, said: “Our latest index shows that the SUV remains as the most in-demand used car type in the current market.”
All-singing affordability
Perhaps one of the reasons the SUV has rocketed to the top of the popularity rankings in recent years is the widespread manufacturer uptake of the concept and the availability of SUVs at virtually every level of the market. Because of the wide variance and quantity of options currently in the market, SUVs have found success not only in the used sector but also among a variety of other buying formats, including new upfront purchase, credit agreements, and as leasing options that appeal to those who wish for more flexibility when purchasing.
With popular SUV options in the new car market sitting at around £23,000-£28,000, they offer an attractive direct price comparison to the new medium car market, whose bracket sits at a much broader £22,000-£36,000. Translating this into other buying areas of the automotive sector, and it’d appear SUVs have the upper hand pricewise on mid-sized alternatives, as well as offering a host of other versatile benefits.
The perks behind the popularity
The origins of “sports utility” lie in practicality and space, with original models typically offering 4WD and plenty of space. Today, manufacturers have built on this theme to produce a number of desirable benefits to SUV ownership:
- Practicality: the obvious standout quality against a traditional mid-size vehicle, SUVs typically offer a mid to large size frame that affords users expansive interior and boot space for both passengers and luggage. The increased height of SUV builds also offers passengers increased comfort. Even at the smaller, “crossover” level of the market, SUVs far outshine hatchback options in space terms.
- Safety: SUVs carry the substance behind their style, with robust builds a common theme in a vehicle format that initially had some all-terrain intentions. This not only makes them more than safe enough for family use, but also sturdy enough to take on longer journeys, family holidays (including towing), and even the odd off-road venture.
- Fuel efficiency: with the SUV market booming, manufacturers looked to install every efficiency into the sports utility frame, and as such SUVs, particularly and the incredibly popular crossover level, offer extremely competitive mileage numbers. That makes them suitable for all sorts of needs and requirements, including those who are concerned with sustainability and others who just need a reliable vehicle for the school and work run.
- Choice: thanks to the ever-growing interest in the SUV market, manufacturers have expanded the SUV offering into every corner of the SUV market, meaning there is likely a leading option available to you regardless of your budget.
Today’s SUVs are as tech-savvy, efficient, and stylish as their competitors while boasting significant upgrades in functionality. It’s no doubt because of this that the SUV currently reigns supreme across the automotive world, and likely will do for some time to come.