Are SUVs Getting Too SOFT? Was Ford, Nissan And Land Rover Onto Something YEARS Ago?

In recent years we've seen -- what I'd like to call -- a paradigm shift in the automotive industry, specifically when it comes to sport-utility vehicles. Years ago, SUVs were utilitarian, badass vehicles that weren't filled with luxurious appointments or fancy interiors.

They featured differentials, could go offroading and could be washed out with a hose.

While you can find several on the market that stick to that philosophical path, the overwhelming majority of SUVs have lost touch of that utilitarian vibe. Even the vehicles that started it all have succumbed to this shift.

Take, for example, the all-new Ford Explorer or Nissan Pathfinder.

Gone are the standard transmissions and diffs.

That said, we want to know:

Are SUVs getting too SOFT? Were manufacturers getting the equation out YEARS ago?

Discuss...

Read Article

focal - 11/9/2012 10:55:03 AM

+1 Boost

for most, it's a people mover minivan + station wagon. both are a death image when it comes to marketing for most US customers.

vdiv - 11/9/2012 11:18:03 AM

+1 Boost

People are just not using these vehicles off-road, they are used in the urban asphalt jungle only. So fine, having large crossover-based vehicles with independent, limited articulation suspension, lower ground clearance, and slush box differentials is good for such use, but why decapitate capable offroad models like this instead of introducing new urban jungle-specific models?

The previous gen. Pathfinder was a great macho-looking and capable off-roader, sure a bit fuel-thirsty, the new one makes me puke.

To give Toyota some credit (gasp!) they kept their off-road capable 4runner/GX, and Land Cruiser while introducing the soccer mom compliant Highlander/RX and Sequoia

thetruth01 - 11/9/2012 12:26:28 PM

+2 Boost

what the hell?

jeffgall - 11/9/2012 2:45:44 PM

+2 Boost

For the masses, these are fine. That is why manufactures are building them. It is what the market demands. For those looking to do true off roaming or towing, choices are dwindling.

t_bone - 11/9/2012 10:52:31 PM

0 Boost

The most offroad I've ever seen from a SUV is a bad parallel parking job with a curb.

Hung out a little bit hiking near the Rubicon. It was all Jeeps and stripped out pickups. Not one SUV.

delan - 11/11/2012 7:08:01 PM

0 Boost

At first I could justify having a SUV because of the snowy conditions in the north. But I remember vividly looking out the window during a bad snow storm in the Bronx. There was a Murano, an X5, and a 4runner sliding down the hill like Nancy Karrigan on ice. While a little old lady in a geo metro gently navigated her way down the street, passing these losers.

dodgedart - 11/12/2012 9:06:16 PM

+1 Boost

Detroit's Marketing Genius proved the market demands Soft Utility Vehicles before the market knew it. Give it pickup trucks with soft squish, loaded with consumer electronics and puffy soft furniture. The greatest part of the "sporty" illusion was adding stability control to keep these overweight high-center beasts from rolling over for drivers who didn't understand the physics of light trucks and solid axle goodness. Gotta give some credit to Jeep-it never pretended the Compass was "Trail Rated"

dodgedart - 11/12/2012 9:32:59 PM

+1 Boost

I have memories of driving a Subaru with four bald tires up into the sierras just before they started enforcing snow chains for the storm. At first I knew I was not really making such a safe choice with those bald tires and such. I was young, bored, and my Subaru had a Ricer Wing on the Trunk, so I went for it. After 30 minutes I lost track of how many Jeeps, SUV's and such I passed on uphill roads, slipping and pitching, downhill kissing snow banks and gently hitting other stuck SUV's, getting stuck on 2-3 inches of snow. SUV's are good for hitting stuff and entertaining the captive occupants with HD suround goodness.