Opinions on the "small SUV" type cars?

StevieP · 3 Nov 2019 at 13:40

My wife is looking at getting a new car to replace her Renault Kadjar and quite likes the look of the Renault Captur.

I've been doing some reading and in the similar bracket of small SUV's there is the Seat Arona, Mazda CX-3 and Skoda Karoq - has anyone got any experience of any vehicles in this class and can recommend anything?

Nasher · 3 Nov 2019 at 14:25

Jacked up hackbacks, with less room than a normal hatchback

They are fashion items. Not functional.

encephalopathy · 3 Nov 2019 at 14:51

arona is smaller than the karoq - i think the equivalent is the skoda kamiq. we are replacing our tiguan soon and the karoq/ateca/new tiguan/q3 are on the list to try

paradigm · 3 Nov 2019 at 16:23

Nasher said:
Jacked up hackbacks, with less room than a normal hatchback

They are fashion items. Not functional.

As usual, you are wrong.

Our Yeti has more boot space than the comparable hatch, more versatile seating arrangements, and seemingly more space IN the cabin.

Dis86 · 3 Nov 2019 at 16:35

paradigm said:
As usual, you are wrong.

Our Yeti has more boot space than the comparable hatch, more versatile seating arrangements, and seemingly more space IN the cabin.

You've got a single example. Look at the juke as another and compare that to a standard hatch with the same external dimensions.

Journey · 3 Nov 2019 at 17:40

StevieP said:
My wife is looking at getting a new car to replace her Renault Kadjar and quite likes the look of the Renault Captur.

I'd get her an appointment at Specsavers first

In all seriousness though you buying outright to keep for a long time?

Nasher · 3 Nov 2019 at 17:42

Dis86 said:
You've got a single example. Look at the juke as another and compare that to a standard hatch with the same external dimensions.

The C-HR as well, which looks big but is quite small inside.

andicole0 · 3 Nov 2019 at 18:01

Nasher said:
Jacked up hackbacks, with less room than a normal hatchback

They are fashion items. Not functional.

Audi Q3 hase 80l more than the A3.
Fasion items? but a lot of people feel safer and hence more confident in an SUV.
Plus it all depends where you are driving, living with todays local roads is heaven in an SUV.
Audi Q2 or VW T-Roc would be worth a look depending on budget.
Also the new Subaru XV looks good.
Andi.

ultralaser · 3 Nov 2019 at 18:21

Having been looking at these for a while (I've got a thread hanging around on premium small SUVs) I have to say if you can stomach the extra cost look at a cateory higher. The CX-3 for example, when you look at the figures it just makes more sense to go and get a CX-5.

None of the smaller SUVs appealed felt worth the premium on a regular hatch if I'm totally honest.

Dis86 · 3 Nov 2019 at 18:24

andicole0 said:
Audi Q3 hase 80l more than the A3.
Fasion items? but a lot of people feel safer and hence more confident in an SUV.
Plus it all depends where you are driving, living with todays local roads is heaven in an SUV.
Audi Q2 or VW T-Roc would be worth a look depending on budget.
Also the new Subaru XV looks good.
Andi.

It's also nearly a foot longer and 4 inches wider...

The A3 also has more space in the front for the driver and passenger than the Q3.

StevieP · 3 Nov 2019 at 18:34

Journey said:
I'd get her an appointment at Specsavers first

In all seriousness though you buying outright to keep for a long time?

She likes what she likes - each to their own!

She usually keeps her cars for 2-3 years rather than running them into the ground!

Jonnycoupe · 3 Nov 2019 at 19:02

Dis86 said:
You've got a single example. Look at the juke as another and compare that to a standard hatch with the same external dimensions.

The Clio? I would think the higher posture makes the cabin far roomier feeling with better knee room?

Nasher · 3 Nov 2019 at 19:03

andicole0 said:
Audi Q3 hase 80l more than the A3.
Fasion items? but a lot of people feel safer and hence more confident in an SUV.
Plus it all depends where you are driving, living with todays local roads is heaven in an SUV.
Audi Q2 or VW T-Roc would be worth a look depending on budget.
Also the new Subaru XV looks good.
Andi.

Feel safer, but not actually safer.

Lustral · 3 Nov 2019 at 19:04

Have the Karoq SEL DSG as the family hack ... does what it says on the tin. Pokey enough from the 1.5 Engine ... massive boot as well. Bags of practicality for the price.

Jonnycoupe · 3 Nov 2019 at 19:05

Nasher said:
Feel safer, but not actually safer.

side impact they are as the sill does more work, front offset crash the wheel is lower compared to body so you get less footwell intrusion.

next

Nasher · 3 Nov 2019 at 19:06

Jonnycoupe said:
side impact they are as the sill does more work, front offset crash the wheel is lower compared to body so you get less footwell intrusion.

next

Side impact they are much more likely to roll. If you hit a lower car (or barrier) at angle they will also roll...

Quite a few of the really bad accidents on motorways are SUVs which have gone over at high speed.

Jonnycoupe · 3 Nov 2019 at 19:09

Roll is not a bad way to spend energy if you have curtain airbags anyway. One the backup structure locks out as energy absorption has completed the alternative is a massive peak g load where internal injuries happen or you allow continue energy absorption by letting the sill and door bend more! No thanks.

Nasher · 3 Nov 2019 at 19:12

A roll is the worst type of crash to have. Unless you have a helmet and harness. At high speed you're pretty much ******.

Problem is SUVs are tall so most impact energy is going to lift the car rather than push it.

Jonnycoupe · 3 Nov 2019 at 19:13

Exit thread ><

Dis86 · 3 Nov 2019 at 19:14

Jonnycoupe said:
side impact they are as the sill does more work, front offset crash the wheel is lower compared to body so you get less footwell intrusion.

next

I'm sure when I last looked at the stats that they're safer in a two vehicle collision vs smaller cars but more dangerous in single vehicle collisions from the increased chance of roll.
This is borne out by the ncap test scores where I think only 2/10 of the safest cars are suvs. The top 3 are hatches from memory.