Don’t doubt it! SUVs are still in hot demand. In Australia alone, SUVs make up 43% of all new cars sold in 2018. This compares with just 34% passenger vehicles and a paltry 23% commercial vehicles. What this means is that SUVs hold 42.2% market share of all new cars sold in Australia compared to the passenger vehicles which hold 33.8%. If you have bought one recently and are wondering how you will keep the car properly fuelled and maintained, you need GOFAR. This technology will help the driver save up to 30% on fuel costs as well as help you connect with parts suppliers and mechanics in your area. It makes SUVs more affordable despite having a high market price. What Does SUV Stand For? The term SUV was first used to describe a light track that was normally used for family travel. SUV stands for Sports Utility Vehicle. The car is referred to as a sports vehicle because it is designed for off road travel. It is referred to as utility vehicle because it is designed to carry heavier cargo than sedans / saloons or station wagons. Obviously, most SUV drivers rarely go off road and only carry enough passengers and the usual stuff. SUV’s no longer need to feature the sporty look because the word “Sport” may mean common sportswear or leisure. Sales and market share in 2018 In quarter 1 of 2018, sales of SUVs have climbed exponentially. All the categories of the SUVs including small, medium, and large have all sold more than they did in the same quarter in 2017. The market of the medium SUVs is the highest at 18.1% of the total market share of SUVs at 42.2%. It is important to note that the Australian brand – Utes- was not far behind. The 4wd Utes was the second-highest new car sale in 2018 quarter one after medium SUVs. Sales data as compiled by the FCAI: Segment2018 Q1 SalesPercentage Change over 2017Market share in 2018 Small SUV such as Mitsubishi ASX33,6120.26911.50% Medium SUV such as Mazda CX52,8860.15118.10% Large SUV such as Toyota Prado32,614-6.60%11.20% Upper large SUV such as Toyota LandCruiser4,1020.0921.40% Van such as Toyota Hiace5,289-5.60%1.80% 4×2 Ute such as Toyota Hilux9,5890.0143.30% 4×4 Ute such as Ford Ranger41,6280.1414.30% What are the advantages of buying SUVs? Photo courtesy of Flickr Images by William Warby Offers high sitting position and good periphery view Spacious with a lot of headroom for tall passengers The large space allows you to move things in and out of the car easily It is easy to get in and out of the SUVs Since it is a big car, it feels safe It is a four wheel drive car It has a sporty appearance and design The car is built to drive anywhere even when its owner doesn’t drive off road What are the Disadvantages of Buying SUVS? Most of the cars that claim the SUV tag are just raised compact cars The vans are more practical but without the fashionable appeal The car’s size to practicality ratio is not good because a van or our gone with the same size is cheaper Just like all other vehicles, safety is not 100% guaranteed since its front wheels may lock hop in the car tips over and vision can be impaired. There are many ordinary cars with four wheel drive without the high price tag on SUVs SUVs way three times and have a high centre of gravity hands making them less sporty Roadster or a coupe looks as cool as the SUV and it is sportier What is the Greenslips Rating for SUVs The green slips for SUVs classify them as light goods vehicle or a motor car. This may not be obvious if you do not check the registration notice. If you are looking for an SUV, you will find different models under light goods vehicle or motor car. Click here to learn how to increase your gas mileage and save up to 30%* on fuel costs each year.