The Destructive Rise of the Sport Utility Vehicle

It seems like everyone wants to drive an SUV these days, and while there are a few legitimate reasons why, their widespread popularity has come at the expense of pedestrian safety, the environment, and other road users. In this video I explain how SUVs and other "light trucks" became so popular (mostly in America but also globally), why auto manufacturers want you to buy them, and the consequences for everyone else.
Thanks for watching!
Note: My microphone is still pretty terrible, so excuse the poor audio quality. Additionally, I do basically use "SUV" and "Crossover" interchangeably in the last part of the video, though I do explain what the differences are.
Music Used (From YT audio library)
Apocalypse - SYBS
Body of Water - Tracktribe
Cafe Regrette - Asher Fulero
Familiar Things - The Whole Other
Outside the Universe - Joel Cummings
Sewer - Ramzoid
The Loner - DJ Williams
Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky
Wish You'd Never Left - Tracktribe
Sources: (Pastebin marked them as offensive for some reason, so I'm dumping them here)
pastes.io/qzsm...
Explosion in thumbnail: fire clipart PNG Designed By Kwmdatsa from (a href="pngtree.com" Pngtree.com/a)

[@rafahrynkiewicz8274]

I miss the day when you could walk into the dealership and you saw: - a mid-size saloon - an estate based on that saloon - maybe an executive, more upmarket, large saloon - a city hatchback with maybe a saloon/estate version and possibly a hot variant - a minuscule city runaround - a minivan for your family man - a frightening sports coupe with maybe a cabriolet based on it, designed to take your breath (and wallet) away - an `economy` coupe based on the hatchback platform - a dedicated van with 43 different variants available to suit your business needs - a true 4x4 off-roader with mechanical diffs, on a ladder frame perfect for foresters and farmers And all that with a plethora of engines: I4/I5, V6s, maybe V8s, turbo or N/A and lively colours, not the usual lease-friendly black/white/cement grey. Though colours are making a comeback somewhat. Now it's: - last dying hatchback on the back of the lot - crossover - small crossover - SUV - huge tank-sized SUV - an advert for the upcoming EV battlecruiser size and weight SUV - van on a platform shared by fourteen other brands I miss the CHOICE and variety. Now it's all the same.

[@rolandverde8771]

Belize here. You walk in and theres 4 midsize pickups and 2 crossovers 😂 all diesel

[@aidanpysher2764]

My hatred of crossovers is bottomless. You're speaking my language. What Toyota did to the Crown is absolute heresy. The Toyota Clown is a more suitable name.

[@Jag-leaper]

The very first cars....were crossovers.....look it up a model T is a high riding car because it was practical....

[@aidanpysher2764]

@Jag-leaper that's apples and oranges, though. The car market and history were nowhere near where we are now.

[@Jag-leaper]

@@aidanpysher2764 yes it is and yes we have ...open your eyes and perspective we have come full circle...even tried the electric car thing 100+ Years ago...didn't work then....and looks like from all the automakers switching back to ICE it doesent work now...history never repeats...but it ALWAYS rhymes

[@saggioperduto_7566]

High because Road where the Roads of firs 1900's. Yes somethimes higher Is slighlty comfy , in fact MINIVANS exist for a reason! :)

[@paulsolin-ql5il]

I've always driven sedans, and every year, it gets more and more depressing.

[@rahtsnake144]

i already was vaguely aware of how lite-trucks evade emissions restrictions, and i have a deep hatred for the SUV pandemic, but i learned SO much more about it from this video. very well researched. i think it's a very important topic and more people need to be aware of how they're being manipulated by lobbyists/car manufacturers. thanks for making this. subbed and shared!

[@francosamericanmusings1560]

I HATE crossovers and SUVs. HATE them. Most people driving it cannot drive worth a damn

[@jadenippersiel912]

I’ve done more off-roading in my 04 matrix hatchback than most have in their Crossovers or SUVs

[@CyniqueLynx]

great video hope your channel continues to grow and you can continue to enjoy doing things like this or otherwise!

[@Dark_Flame_Master]

Bruh I really dislike SUV cars. Out of all the people who buy them, very few of them actually need an SUV. The other ones are usually random suburban parents bringing their kids to school, driving to work and wanting to have a money flex and "look at my giant car"-flex car. It’s just really unnecessary and the governments don‘t do anything about this stuff polluting the environment and making cars more dangerous. Why can’t we just go back to cars that try to be affordable, low on gas and nice and small like the VW Lupo? The Lupo is not my fav car and I‘m not a VW fan, but I would definitely choose a Lupo over an SUV. I really like the idea of the Lupo and it looks cute. On top of that, I HATE SUV designs. I don‘t like it when a car looks giant and intimidating. If I would buy a family car it would be a station wagon like the Opel Astra. I overall like this car line. We have an Astra G and it’s perfect. Yes it’s old, but it’s affordable, low on gas, beautiful, a great family car, and everything fits in there, especially if you fold down the rear seat. A bicycle? Fits in there. Gardening equipment? Fits in there. Christmas tree? Fits in there. Lawnmower? Fits in there. The extra large meadow mower? Fits in there. On top of that the engine sounds very satisfying to me. There will always be people who still want a normal car like a sedan, station wagon, small car, coupe etc. And with all these brands stopping to manufacture them, a huge gap is growing in the market. Some good manufacturer will hopefully see this. And I really hope cars like the VW Golf+Polo and Opel Corsa+Astra won’t become SUVs too. They’re so popular, I really can’t imagine that… That would make me really mad because those cars are some of the few modern cars that I like.

[@MR_stone69]

And don't forget there's nothing you can do about it 😂

[@Joetime90]

I'll be honest, I love minivans. They're just easier and more fun to drive. Do I need to haul a family? I can do it. Do I need to haul some drywall? I can do that too.

[@rahtsnake144]

​@@Joetime90I'm a single, childfree person and I love my minivan! they just look so cool, and sliding doors are the BEST.

[@blown70charger99]

I own an SUV because I go on lots of trips with my friends, range days, airsoft, and I live in Maine where the winters necessitate 4 wheel drive. I have plenty of space in my 05 Explorer for all my guns and gear, or any kind of small lumber I haul, and it gets me where I need to go

[@EthanHyland]

@@blown70charger99 My family has a 1996 Ford Explorer and a 2018 Ford Explorer. We are a five-person family, so we needed a vehicle that would be able to fit us. We got the '96 Explorer from an amigo who used it as a work truck, and we got it for $200. We were gonna pay more, but he said not to worry about it. We got the 2018 Explorer because the '96 Explorer broke down in our "driveway," and it was just before Christmas. Dad and Mom needed to go to work, so Dad decided to get a used SUV to fit us all. We got it for an amazing deal on the Explorer, and we were all pretty happy because we got a vehicle with working A/C. In my senior year of high school, this past school year, I was able to use the '96 Explorer to get the school and back. I enjoy both vehicles, the 2018 for comfort and the '96 for just being fun to drive.

[@F3udF1st]

Love these modern chronicles type of videos! BTW you can still tow a camper with a regular car.

[@J09-555]

You can also do a lot of off-roading with a 2011 Honda fit, don't question why I know that.

[@xv4689]

enjoyed this! and your altima video was hilarious, hope you keep up with the high effort + relatable car videos obv it’s not as bad as the emissions but I feel like the SUV craze has just made cars so boring. there are a couple visually interesting SUVs but overall it’s like almost every car is an identical boring blob. like I get that most people just see their car as an appliance but still, I’m surprised there is so little interest/money in cars that stand out these days

[@astron4606]

I'm keeping my classic sedan, I despise SUVS and crossovers

[@johnjbulls54]

very good! keep up the good work!!

[@HMKfilms360]

Personally I like small crossover cars like the Toyota Raize (Middle East Version) because of the more comfortable seating position over sedans. Suv's are roomy but minivans are king when it comes to comfort.

[@primacasaimoveis2738]

Great Video, In the start you made the SUVs look like a horror movie! Hope you get more subscribers.

[@gentlegiant3683]

Your KZbin channel has wonderful relatable content.Keep up the good work.I just subscribed to your channel.I look forward to celebrating 100k subscriber base with you very soon.Welldone!

[@Omeggaomelet]

I only just got my license that allows me to drive alone in Australia. All I needed to do was drive 120 hours with my mum or with a qualified instructor for even less. I could have done all this quickly and easily during COVID but I drove so little because we had a Kia Sorrento. Something that isn’t even considered a large SUV by American standards. When I finally got my P’s I was afraid to drive alone. However, my parents had bought an old Kia Cerato hatchback and I instantly fell in love with it, I wouldn’t say I actively enjoy driving, but it’s a damn sight better in the hatchback then in a damn SUV.

[@alg003]

90% of SUVs are neither sporty, or actually utilitarian. If you sporty, get a sports car. If you want utilitarian, get a van.

[@DudetaketheBus]

I watched this, and only a month ago, I bought a Jeep. I agree with everything you’re saying.

[@sometf2player752]

18:05 I find it funny how you show a nuclear power plant dispite the fact that they don’t cause emissions

[@michaelcliffe562]

SUVs suck! Europe is full of the damn things too, but european infrastructure isn't able to handle it. Try finding a parking space in a multi story parking garage in any city in Germany with a compact car or a station wagon- you can't because all the Stupid Useless Vehicles end up leaving only half parking spaces everywhere because the infrastructure dates back to the 60s when a large european family sedan was the size of a new VW Golf. Miserable trend!

[@randomtimes4100]

If cars were really for the people they’d be compact and agile like a Mazda 2 while using 90s tech with no extras in between. Instead our cars are designed for the investors of big auto made to milk every ounce of cash from the consumer without giving you extra in return.

[@alexbenjaminlubbers]

My opinion. Automakers should pivot away from new SUVs and focus on maintaining the cars already on the road. As a 90s kid, I grew up in old, lifted trucks. I prefer old iron. Maintaining an older car is much more affordable than buying new every 10 years. Programs like Cash4Clunkers didn't help anything, besides making money for manufacturers, while simultaneously destroying perfectly good old cars. Old cars are safe. I don't think my 2010 Mercury Grand Marquis would end a cyclist, unlike a new Nissan Rogue. Old cars have more character to them as well. Yes, older cars are less efficient, but can be improved with new technology to lessen their pollution.

[@gimbrol]

i just found your channel from the trabant video and i was wondering if you could do something about the morris minor or similar? I seen them everywhere and occasionally still do also, i understand the pain with suv's

[@Carbonate67]

Thanks for the idea! I can't promise anything but I'll definitely think about the Minor

[@Bmontepeque11]

Capitalism must fall. Not completely, but this obsession over more profits is literally killing the world. I am on the camp that SUVs have their place, BUT THEY SHOULD NEVER BE THE STANDARD. Efficiency, lightness and smallnesa are where it's at 🥰 I'll f*cking die on this hill, you'll never see me owning an SUV.

[@CGJ7755]

Suvs/crossovers are fucking generic and boring, and are so commonplace, and the only thing more shitty about them is that everyone that has one thinks theyre special.

[@blown70charger99]

I think they obviously have a place, I own one because I need its capabilities, but I do understand that a lot of people who drive them don’t ever utilize them.

[@sheldonlamey7010]

I don't like Jazz.....but I really like it in the background of your videos....maybe I like Jazz.....I don't know.

[@jevmat5263]

While watching this vid and drinking coffee i noticed that the coffee cup mentions a giveaway lottery type of thing for an SUV (Tim Hortons fans rise up 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦

[@jadenippersiel912]

Was expecting this video to have way more views based on the quality of it.

[@HaiderAli-qd8pw]

I don't care , the roads are shit that an AWD SUV is literally a must have

[@braxaculee]

I’m so sick of only seeing SUVs on the road.

[@javajav3004]

These videos are so good!

[@michaelqu]

TBH, I found most sedans and small hatchbacks too low to the ground, making visibility difficult and getting in and out uncomfortable. Although I do agree the hatred towards large SUVs, me included, my preferred size of vehicles would be the Mini Countryman, Mercedes GLA, Nissan Kicks, or Fiat 500X.

[@HUMMERH3X]

But i still like them

[@gjorgistojanovski4589]

zastava please

[@carypyke935]

Good video , Sir

[@hashimshaz2075]

You Also Forgot To Mention The Fact That In Developing Countries Traditional Vehicle Styles Are Not Popular.

[@baronvonjo1929]

I feel like if we actually had a conversation about SUVs becoming to big, too resource intense, too dangerous, and argue for restrictions it would inevitably move to restrictions of things like performance cars, luxury cars, sedans, minivans etc. The conclusion would be we only have kei car to choose from nothing else. Sedans no matter how you feel about them are a very inefficient layout and are as large or larger than many SUVs. Thats why areas with space premiums use hatchback styles. The kei car formula is the absolute most efficient small car formula. If you really want to stop SUV because of things like the environment then you should push for kei cars. Making sure that that and only that is the option. I like SUVs. They have got a bit out of hand in some regards. I have yet to find as useful a body style. Anything other car you can say I dont think I would really couldn't agree. Been in tons of different cars. Sedans, hatchbacks, and coupes are so inefficiently thought out typically. So are many, if not most SUVs to be fair. Im all ears for something actually practical thats not a SUV. I dont care much for handling or performance. Im stuck in traffic at the speed limit like everyone else. Handling means notbing to me or most buyers because we cant and never will use it. We are all stuck in traffic together.

[@bracedgod4505]

Modern SUVs are peak hoboglomo