Should you sell your Toyota Kluger and buy a Hyundai Sonata? Why an SUV might not be the best family car | Opinion

This might not be how you thought this article would begin, but I love SUVs – the higher driving height and ground clearance means I don’t groan every time I get in or out of one … unless its too high and then I’m cursing my 168cm (5ft6) height.

They have their advantages, especially for families like mine who live in regional areas, but they also have some drawbacks.

There are multiple SUV categories – light (think Suzuki Jimny), small (Kia Seltos), medium (Nissan X-Trail), large (Ford Everest) and extra-large (Toyota LandCruiser). I would wager that if you’re looking at anything under medium, you’re not too concerned with space and more about the visibility/driving height.

Medium SUVs and their smaller cousins are easy enough to get around in and park but anything larger tends to ‘fill’ a car space in a way that makes you remind your youngest to not swing open their door too widely.

These types of SUVs can be bulky to manoeuvre in a tight space or car park, where you have to do a few extra turns of the steering wheel to get it to where it needs to go.

They do have their place on the road and owners love them for varying reasons. Country folk have an odd love affair with their big SUVs, like my dad, who loves his Toyota Prado because he doesn’t have to be precious about it and it has space. Our big German Shepherd, Sam, and Border Collie, Goliath, can jump into the back and be comfortable. He can do all of his country ramblings and pottering around his property with his tools without a worry.

However, I would venture that most city folk don’t utilise their big beasts for much outside of braving a Westfield carpark (a generalisation, of course) and that’s where the humble station wagon or sedan can be a great alternative. And often, a better choice for budget- and fuel-conscious families.

Even a hatchback would suffice for smaller families – I’m a family of three and if I lived in the city, it would be a category I would 100 per cent consider.

My favourite type of family movers are not SUVs but station wagons. Yes, they have lower profile heights and that can elicit a few unladylike grunts but they tend to hug the road in cornering and can feel quite zippy in city traffic. Aerodynamically, there’s less drag on their surfaces (generally) which often means better fuel consumptions. This obviously varies depending on what’s under the bonnet because you can get high-performance wagons but fuel economy is a big plus.

The raised roof at the rear increases their boot capacity from their sedan siblings too and that means an easier time of fitting in bulkier items, like luggage or prams, plus I love that they often have a level load space. The back seats are sometimes a little squishy, especially if you’re a family of basketballers, but otherwise a well-specified model will make each occupant feel looked after.

Now sedans – there is a reason that some manufacturers, like Mercedes-Benz, call their sedans ‘saloons’. It’s the British term for a sedan but it does evoke the sense of space that occupants often enjoy. Usually, you get loads of legroom in the back seat and a feeling of limo-like comfort because the seats are not set like the stadium setting that you often see in an SUV. So, you’re sitting in, rather than on top of, the seats.

The boots tend to have a higher lip and a narrower aperture but are usually deep enough to accommodate your family’s gear. If you want larger apertures, fastbacks are a good alternative.

If the wagon or sedan have enough grunt, both tend to be great open-roaders that offer true driver and occupant comfort on longer road trips. You’ll be able to fit your gear and do your family’s annual road trip. Hurrah!

In a market dominated by SUVs, people often forget just how practical these types of vehicles are for families. Especially families who don’t need the towing or seven-seat capacity of a large SUV. And let’s be honest, some larger SUV owners have never, nor intend to, ever leave the paved stuff. So why not look at something that still has the space, but is easier to fit in a tight carpark and can often be more affordable to run with fuel costs?

The shift in focus on greener alternatives means that there are also multiple engines to choose from now – pure electric, hybrids, plug-in hybrid etc. So, you have a good shot of getting something that’s really going to suit your needs.