SUVs are more popular than ever, but do drivers need all that extra space?
CBC
While sport-utility vehicles surge in popularity, a new survey sheds light on how often SUV owners actually use all that extra cargo space and towing capacity.
SUVs, typically larger and heavier than standard cars, are popular for their rugged, go-anywhere, do-anything capacity. That means they also produce more emissions on average.
The approximately 330 million SUVs worldwide produce nearly 1 billion tonnes in carbon dioxide emissions, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). For comparison, Canada's total carbon dioxide equivalent emissions in 2020 were 672 million tonnes.
"We want to make people think about their needs when it comes to their vehicle choices," said Andréanne Brazeau, climate policy analyst at Quebec-based environmental group Équiterre.
That was the thinking behind a recent analysis on the habits of drivers in Quebec, carried out by Montreal-based interuniversity research centre CIRANO on behalf of Équiterre and with the support of federal funding.
The survey polled a representative sample of 1,020 Quebec vehicle owners online from June to July 2022 using Leger Opinion.
Among those surveyed, SUVs were the most popular vehicle, with 47 per cent of respondents saying they owned one as their main car.
Of those surveyed:
The survey also asked people what factors were most likely to influence their next car purchase. It found price and safety were top of mind, while ecological footprint was the second least influential factor.
Charles Royce, a marketing lecturer at McGill University's School of Continuing Studies, said even if someone isn't likely to make daily use of the extra space and capacity, the SUV is an appealing vehicle.
Why? He said it may come down to the fact that marketing works.
"We live in what I call a what-if society," Royce said.
"What happens if we have kids … What happens if we buy a computer desk at Ikea for our son and we need to carry it home? What happens if we want to go camping some time?"
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