In years gone by, the focus on everything from our wheels to our tech seemed to be about going smaller all the time. Remember how wild we all went for the discretion offered by the flip phone? Let us not forget the release of Smart cars, the size of which had us all going crazy. The smaller something was, the better a status symbol it was. After all, the smallest tech obviously meant you could afford the best bits.
Of course, that’s not the way size is treated in most other aspects of our lives. In the majority of cases, bigger is always better. You know what we’re talking about, lads. Unsurprisingly, then, recent years have seen tech going over to the large side.
Every iPhone gets bigger, and our cars are doing the same thing. And, guess what? We’re lapping up the changes. Next time you head out, take note of the vehicles on the road. There’s a pretty decent chance you’ll spot a Land Rover, Lincoln Navigator, or some equally beasty vehicle. And, there’s no denying that the things look impressive.
The fact is, though, that big cars are big commitments. At this stage, you may be wondering whether an investment like this is a good idea for you. They may look impressive, but you can’t help but wonder how practical vehicles like these are.
Sadly, we can’t answer that. A car, like a haircut, is a personal choice. Only you know what’ll suit you. But, not all hope is lost. What we can do is discuss the pros and cons of life on the large side. With a bit of luck, that’ll be enough to make your mind up either way. So, buckle in and prepare for a bumpy ride.
THE BENEFITS
It’s always best to hear the good stuff first, isn’t it? Hence why we’re going to kick things off by considering the main reasons you might want to take your travels larger.
- The practical side of space
Let’s be frank; the practicality of large cars is clear for all to see. That Smart car was never going to be fit for a family, was it? Consider that the Range Rover Discovery has a whopping 82.7 cubic feet of cargo space. That’s compared to the 260-litre boot on a Smart. Not bad for a small car, but it’s hardly going to fit luggage for a family, is it? Consider, too, that options such as the Range Rover have three rows of seating. That’s fit for transporting a small army. Or, your large family. You’ll never need to worry about squeezing the car seat in, or leaving someone cramped in an insufficient middle seat. With near enough any large car on the market, you can bet space is a pressing design priority. In fact, every release seems to focus more on substantial leg room and weighty boot capacity. You can bet a car like this would never let you down, then. With the capability to collapse at least one row of seats in most large vehicles, you could even move house with one of these. It’s hard to argue with benefits like those.
- A car everyone can see
As a non-large car driver right now, you may find the showy aspect of large car ownership a little cringy. Do these drivers have no modesty? They may as well flap their private parts for all to see, right? In truth, there are benefits to the increased visibility of vehicles like these. Once you get behind the wheel and look down on the rest of the road, you’ll feel like the king of the four wheels. Before long, you would forget all about your scorn for other large car drivers. And, we could all do with a boost like that from time to time, couldn’t we? Joking aside, though, driving a large vehicle also has safety benefits. You can bet, for instance, that other drivers will be able to see you long before they plough into the side of you. Equally, truck drivers will have clear visibility of you where they wouldn’t be able to see a small car. The only way you would be involved in a truck crash with a car like this is if the driver was tired, drunk, or otherwise unable to judge distances. And, in that case, you would be well within your rights to contact a truck accident lawyer and bring a case against them. Anyone who sees the beast you were driving will have no choice but to shift the blame. It’s also worth noting the benefit of the elevated driving experience in vehicles like these. Aside from feeling good, driving up high ensures you gain full visibility both in front of you and to your sides.
- A size for every terrain
Last on the benefits list is the fact that large vehicles are ideal for near enough every terrain. Hence why land rovers are so badass at offroading. The grip on tires in cars like these is capable of near enough anything. The traction control systems on large vehicles are also fantastic for terrain troubles. Snow, rain, or dirt trails. You name it; your large car has you covered. Those living in remote or snowy areas, then, may want to consider this plus point seriously. Tests on the Range Rover Sports SUV showed that it went from 0-100km/h in 11.3 seconds, despite snowy conditions. That’s what we call a case in point. Even when tested on mud, the car’s 4X4 technology ensured it took a mere 6.5 seconds to reach 100m/h. While we don’t all have a need for driving off-road, that’s a benefit worth considering in the final fight if ever we heard one.
THE DOWNSIDES
Sadly, everything has its downsides. If you’ve been swept away by the above benefits, don’t make a decision just yet. This fight is only halfway through, and it’s time for the downsides of size to have their say.
- Small car syndrome
Okay, so you know as a small car driver that big cars are bad news. What you might not realize is that small car drivers cause issues for big vehicles too. The fact is that small cars often take offence to larger vehicles for no real reason. It’s the same reason small guys may overcompensate with violence. Call it a defense mechanism if you will. Either way, you may find that you’re more often on the wrong end of road rage when you’re driving a large car. Given that we’ve all heard about cases of road rage gone wrong, that’s not a good thing at all. If a small car does end up crashing while trying to intimidate you, you can also bet you’ll get the blame. Who’s going to blame the chihuahua when there’s a rottweiler involved? Of course, if you’re a calm and collected driver, this shouldn’t be too much of a problem for you. But, if you’re liable to a little road rage yourself, your big car could land you in big trouble.
- The price you pay for size
It doesn’t take a genius to work out that big cars cost more. While there are some small cars out there which would rival the cost of a plane, you’ll generally pay more for a large vehicle. There’s more materials during production for vehicles like these, after all. There are reasonable choices on the market, but they’re nothing compared to what you’d pay for smaller options. As if upfront cost isn’t bad enough, you also need to consider the amount you would fork out on gas for a beast like this. Small vehicles have the benefit of small engines. Thus, it costs little to fill the tank each time. Try filling up a big car engine, and see how far your salary takes you.
- A rather large parking problem
We’ve saved the most obvious until last. But, you wouldn’t be alone in marvelling at how large vehicles manage to fit into small spaces. Let us be honest; traditional parking spaces weren’t made with many SUVs in mind. And, we can’t sugarcoat this issue, either. There’s a reason why large cars are always the ones left circling the car park. The simple fact is that you won’t be able to fit into tiny spaces anymore. That tight squeeze will become an impossibility, and you can bet on-street parking will soon become a thing of your past. Even if you did manage to find a spot large enough, the sheer size of your vehicle would make it a hazard. Not to mention the risk of other cars crashing into your corners. You could add the price of repairs onto the extortionate amounts you’d already be paying.
So, those are the sides. We’re sure you’ll agree it’s a pretty even fight. Hence why the decision comes down to you. As with any major life choice, the right decision here is about compromise and practicality. And, of course, asking yourself whether size really does matter.
