In a first floor cafe last week, I looked out and found that almost every other vehicle within eyeshot was an SUV. Just a coincidence, I'm sure, but that didn't stop me from playing SUV-spotter over the next few days. Results? OK, maybe not every other car, but the tall hatchbacks are very popular with Klang Valley families, to say the least.
And why not? The SUV offers a raised driving position that's a plus point in the urban context - being able to see further ahead is always good. And while they've evolved from the 4X4s of old, crossovers of today still "feel" more robust than the average saloon, with higher ground clearance and thicker tyres to take on the minefield that is our urban jungle.
Honda's CR-V has long been the segment flag bearer, although the recent emergence of the Mazda CX-5 would have given them some sleepless nights, more then when flashy Koreans Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage came to town.
Toyota and Nissan aren't in the game, surprisingly. The latter's X-Trail used to be a contender, but the second-gen box never caught on here. Today's fringe players include the left field Ford Kuga and too small Peugeot 3008. The Mitsubishi ASX used to be under the radar too, but this year's local assembly and attractive new pricing has led us to relook its case.
Read more of this post
No comments:
Post a Comment