In Europe, SUV now stands for: Shrinking Utility Vehicle.
An array of ever-smaller sport utility vehicles and SUV car-like crossovers is going on display this week at the Geneva International Motor Show.
Automakers are piling into the segment as one of the best hopes for growth in a still-weak European market.
Photo: Bloomberg
Consumers like the higher seating, easier entry and perceived greater freight-carrying capacity.
Automakers like the fact that they can build an SUV body on the same mechanical platforms and modules they use for compact cars, saving money on development costs.
The key in Europe has turned out to be putting the vehicles on platforms originally built for compact or small mid-sized cars. They are generally less than 4.5m long, or smaller than a Honda Civic, which measures 4.54m.
Compact SUVs have gained in popularity globally, but they are really getting attention now in Europe.
At the Geneva show, among the top new contenders is the Renault Kadjar, which blends the more rugged SUV style with cues from cars and station wagons, such as a lower roofline and comfortable interior, in a small, 4.45m package. The Kadjar is headed for the European market this summer and China after that, with Renault saying it is too early for price information.
Hyundai’s redesigned Tucson has grown slightly, but is only a fraction longer at 4.47m.
In the higher-priced realm, Infiniti is showing off its QX30 concept vehicle, which keeps the higher stance of an SUV and uses carbon fiber cladding and large 21-inch wheels with milled aluminum spokes. Infiniti says the design is intended to make occupants feel safe and protected; it has a pronounced front bumper and a large skid plate to protect the rear.
In the smaller, compact category, Honda is offering its new H-RV, which goes on sale in Europe this summer.
It blends a basic hatchback configuration with SUV styling such as cladding and bold creases in the body metal; the company says it has added acoustic insulation to the wheel arches and floor to make riding in it less noisy.
Chinese newcomer Qoros Auto Ltd (觀致汽車) is unveiling its 3 City SUV, a crossover that for now is headed for China only.
Analyst Tim Urquhart at IHS Automotive said these new models are further evidence that European car buyers are shifting away from classic sedans and hatchbacks in favor of SUV body styles.
“It’s signaling a bit of a sea change which has been happening in the European market for the better part of a decade now, a gradual shift from passenger car-style body types — your conventional sedans and hatchbacks — and more toward these SUV and crossover sort of vehicles,” Urquhart said.
The market for the smaller versions “continues to have huge growth potential” even as more and more carmakers pile into it, as they did with big SUVs years ago. The field is already getting crowded with vehicles such as Nissan’s Qashqai and Juke, and Opel’s Mokka.
Small SUV sales in Europe are expected to triple from 1.1 million to 3.2 million annually over the next decade, IHS Automotive predicts. That is even as small and midsize car sales show only stable sales, rising from 4.7 million units to 5.3 million.
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