{"id":17816,"date":"2022-01-11T12:16:50","date_gmt":"2022-01-11T11:16:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/observatoirecetelem.com\/?page_id=17816"},"modified":"2025-11-27T18:43:34","modified_gmt":"2025-11-27T17:43:34","slug":"owning-one-makes-all-the-difference","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/observatoirecetelem.com\/en\/lobservatoire-cetelem-de-lautomobile\/the-bold-trajectory-of-the-suv\/owning-one-makes-all-the-difference","title":{"rendered":"Owning one makes all the difference"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A negative impact in the eyes of non-owners<\/b><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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While geography evidently plays a part in shaping the image and uses associated with SUVs, the very fact of owning one is also a dividing force.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Since their inception, but especially since their dazzling rise shook up the automotive industry, SUVs have been the subject of much criticism, a topic we shall return to later. Whether it be their environmental impact, the danger they pose to pedestrians or their sheer bulk and the space they take up on streets, it is easy to find fault in these vehicles.<\/span>
<\/span> In this respect, the difference between owners and non-owners of SUVs is particularly stark. Around 2 in 3 non-owners believe this criticism is justified. This opinion is particularly prevalent in the UK and Germany (84% and 80%) while Mexicans and Spaniards who do not drive SUVs display greater tolerance (51% and 55%) <\/span>(Fig 5)<\/strong>. Just 1 in 2 owners of SUVs consider the criticism to be justified, with the Americans, French and Spanish being the least likely to hold this view (41%, 42% and 43%).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\n Fig 5 – Perceived justification of criticisms directed at SUVs\n <\/p>\n \n \n Download this infographic for your presentations\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n

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\n \"Percentage\n \n The infographic shows the share of respondents who believe that criticisms directed at SUVs\u2014regarding environmental impact, size, and pedestrian safety\u2014are \u201crather justified\u201d or \u201ccompletely justified.\u201d\n\nTwo groups are compared:\n– SUV owners (dark teal bars)\n– Non-SUV owners (light teal bars)\n\nThe 17-country average shows:\n– 50% of SUV owners think the criticisms are justified\n– 66% of non-owners think they are justified\n\nCountry details (owners \/ non-SUV owners):\nSouth Africa: 45% \/ 64%\nGermany: 55% \/ 80%\nBelgium: 45% \/ 70%\nBrazil: 50% \/ 61%\nChina: 60% \/ 69%\nSpain: 43% \/ 55%\nUSA: 41% \/ 69%\nFrance: 42% \/ 70%\nItaly: 61% \/ 71%\nJapan: 50% \/ 65%\nMexico: 46% \/ 51%\nNorway: 50% \/ 64%\nNetherlands: 54% \/ 74%\nPoland: 55% \/ 58%\nPortugal: 48% \/ 60%\nUK: 47% \/ 84%\nTurkey: 48% \/ 60%\n\nOverall pattern:\nNon-SUV owners consistently show a stronger belief that SUV criticisms are justified, with particularly large gaps in Germany and the United Kingdom.\n\nSource : L’Observatoire Cetelem de l’Automobile 2022\n <\/span>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Just a passing fad<\/b><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Non-SUV owners are also critical when it comes to the reasons why people buy them. Their main criticisms revolve around the idea that this is a somewhat frivolous and narcissistic choice. In their opinion, the main reason why people buy SUVs is to follow a trend <\/span>(Fig 6)<\/strong>. 43% of those who do not own an SUV are of this belief and the proportion is even higher among those aged over 55 (52%). This is a factor cited by at least half of respondents in Portugal, France and Germany. In contrast, only a quarter of Americans agree with this point. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\n Fig 6 – Reasons attributed to SUV purchases\n <\/p>\n \n \n Download this infographic for your presentations\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n

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\n \"Shows\n \n The infographic shows responses from drivers who did not buy an SUV, answering the question: \u201cFor what reasons do some people buy SUVs?\u201d. Up to three answers were allowed. Percentages represent the average across 17 countries.\n\nReasons and corresponding values:\n \u2022 They follow a trend: 43%\n \u2022 Another vehicle did not meet their practical or family needs: 37%\n \u2022 They want to stand out: 34%\n \u2022 They believe SUV advantages compensate for environmental impact: 29%\n \u2022 They focused on accessibility (children, elderly, reduced mobility): 25%\n \u2022 They do not pay attention to environmental impact: 17%\n \u2022 They had limited choice among other body types: 9%\n \u2022 Other reason: 9%\n\nSource: L\u2019Observatoire Cetelem de l\u2019Automobile 2022.\n <\/span>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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As well as believing that those who own an SUV are simply following a trend, non-owners also suspect that they want to stand out from the crowd, a view held by more than half of the Poles and Turks surveyed, compared with 1 in 5 respondents from Japan and Norway. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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However, sitting between these two criticisms is the idea that SUV owners appreciate the practicality of this type of car and that it meets the needs of families (37%). <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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The fourth reason for buying an SUV in the eyes of those who do not own one? The advantages these vehicles provide, which counterbalance their environmental impact. 34% cite this criterion, including 1 in 2 South Africans.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A negative impact in the eyes of non-owners While geography evidently plays a part in shaping the image and uses associated with SUVs, the very fact of owning one is also a dividing force. Since their inception, but especially since their dazzling rise shook up the automotive industry, SUVs have been the subject of much […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1908,"featured_media":20056,"parent":17790,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"t-etude-chapitre.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17816","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/observatoirecetelem.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17816","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/observatoirecetelem.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/observatoirecetelem.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/observatoirecetelem.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1908"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/observatoirecetelem.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17816"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/observatoirecetelem.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17816\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33502,"href":"https:\/\/observatoirecetelem.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17816\/revisions\/33502"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/observatoirecetelem.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17790"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/observatoirecetelem.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20056"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/observatoirecetelem.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17816"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/observatoirecetelem.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17816"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}