Medium SUVs are quickly becoming one of the most popular car types in Australia. This might be mostly because they can suit an exceptionally wide range of needs, performing well both on and off paved roads, with many models offering up to seven seats, a lot of storage space, good towing capacity, exceptional safety characteristics and a wide range of options.
They tend to carry higher price tags than smaller passenger cars, but it's clear that a lot of buyers are finding the extra cost to be well worth it.
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What sets medium SUVs apart from passenger cars?
Compared to regular sedans and smaller passenger cars, SUVs:
But:
In Australia, a passenger SUV is defined as a passenger vehicle that's available with 4WD or AWD models, with a clearance over 200mm and suspension clearance of 175mm.
"Medium" specifically refers to ones that have a 4 or 6 cylinder engine, typically with an engine capacity of 3000cc and above, and are neither the biggest nor the smallest SUVs around.
Large and small SUVs are differentiated by their more and less powerful engines, and larger and smaller sizes, respectively.
Buying an SUV is much like buying any other car, but if you're trying to decide between different medium SUV models in particular you might want to ask yourself these questions:
You'll generally find 5 and 7 seat options. If you know you want a 7 seater you can instantly narrow down the options.
If you have something specific in mind, like a caravan or a loaded plant trailer, look for something with the power to suit.
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Read more…Off-road performance can vary widely. Ask yourself whether you'll ever drive on sand or dirt, in snowy conditions or in more rugged conditions. You can probably rule out all 2WD versions if you plan on taking it off paved roads, and will want to take a very close look at the features and options if you plan on doing serious off-roading in a medium SUV.
There are enough options that you probably don't have to drive away in something you don't like the look of.
Look for the ones to match your needs and wants. For example, if you have small children then you might specifically look for a version that offers surrounding sensors or cameras to "look around" the car for things you might not be able to see while backing out of your driveway.
Or if you're just really not a fan of blind spots you might go out of your way to look for a model that offers blind spot detection systems.
The physically large size of SUVs means those blind spot sensors and cameras can make a significant difference to the driving experience and safety of others, while the premium-end price tag means there's usually no shortage of features available.
The following table shows the typical petrol prices and servicing expenses for some of Australia's most popular medium SUVs and medium-sized sedans, so you can get a sense of how it varies between equivalent models and different ones.
Some of the takeaways of note are:
| Medium SUVS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| The car | Mazda CX-5 MAXX (AWD) 2.5L petrol automatic | Hyundai Tucson Elite R-Series (AWD) 2L diesel automatic | Nissan X-Trail TS (2WD) 1.6L diesel turbo CVT |
| List price (incl. options) | $32,890 | $40,990 | $35,380 |
| Fuel (cents/km) | 9.28 | 8.44 | 6.58 |
| Tyres (cents/km) | 1.02 | 2.18 | 0.82 |
| Servicing (cents/km) | 6.58 | 7.13 | 6.83 |
| Average cost per year | $2,532.00 | $2,662.50 | $2,134.00 |
on OnlineAuto.com.au's website
SUVs are objectively extremely popular in Australia. They broadly account for about a third of Australia's total new vehicle market, including passenger cars, commercial vehicle, trucks and everything else. This is a huge amount and it shows no signs of slowing.
Small and medium SUVs in particular are proving to be popular. This is probably mostly because they're exceptionally versatile and able to attract all kinds of buyers. Some of the main buyers include:
Essentially, a lot of people just think they're really good cars. This naturally makes them popular.
This has been further driven by a range of market factors in recent years.
More options: A larger SUV market on the whole means there's more room for different brands, makes and models of SUV to compete, which means more options for buyers. Having a healthy range of options makes SUVs even more popular, which feeds back into the manufacturer interest in Australia, and the cycle continues.
Want to learn more about new car financing options? Check out our guide to car loans to ensure you pick the best solution for your situation.
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