What is the point of them?

Thanks for all your replies. It seems that the majority consider the main advantage is being higher off the road making entry / exit from the vehicle easier. What I can't understand is where the phrase 'Sports Utility Vehicle' has come from. Utility, yes I can get that but why 'Sports'? There are vary few that could be described as being 'sporty' and I don't think many could perform off-road at all. Perhaps I'm wrong in trying to compare them with the vehicles that I have had in the past, an Isuzu Trooper, two L.R. Discoveries and a Nissan X-Trail all of which could not only handle off-road conditions pretty effortlessly but also had the weight and towbar loading capacities for the biggest of caravans.

Some years ago I went on a L.R. off road course where we had the opportunity to drive Range Rovers, Discoveries and Freelanders. It was interesting that we were told we mustn't take the Freelander on the part of the course that the other two vehicles could go, it would get stuck.  I guess this might have been the start of a trend towards vehicles that were not much more than 'Chelsea Tractors', never to see a spot of mud. As Corners has said, SUV is perhaps a more appealing name than 'Car' but what does it actually mean?

I think the sports bit refers to the fact that as they can have all their seat folded 'flat' and most (?) have roof bars you can carry sports equipment? So a few surf boards or bikes on the roof and a load of footballs in the boot, or climbing equipment? and then the 4x4 part to get you to the beach or mountain? Utility as is more useful than an ordinary car?

I think this is (down by the beach with a surf board) is more a dream or marketing idea than reality? 

As for names...what about the Ford Ecosport? Is it Economic or Sporty, both or neither....

We like our Kuga for the ease of access and the raised viewpoint as well as its towing abilities. Our van is stored on a farm and many was the time when I had to have the farmer put the van back on site with either his Range Rover or tractor due to mud/very wet grass. Never had to ask since the arrival of the Kuga (with its ordinary road going tyres)  and it's has been a real relief knowing I would be ok.

SUVs make a civilised van, better for shifting bikes, camping clobber, dogs and sports gear in general, without the downsides of being a soundbox and the oppressive closed in environment of a true van.

A more utilitarian vehicle without being unsuitable for domestic use.

I often refer to our Disco4 as the "truck", despite these also being the vehicle of choice for transporting many official VIPs.

Looking around SUVs seem to attract a lot of takers, not least with us caravaners.

hope no one was waiting for these SUVs from their dealer?

we were told we mustn't take the Freelander on the part of the course that the other two vehicles could go, it would get stuck.

At a proper off-road event deep in a Scottish forest my girlfriend of the time took her Freelander (on "road" tyres) on to one of the Red Runs.  Except she went up when it was classed Red for downhill!  She got stuck.

The problem then was how to recover it, as the Defenders on hand had great difficulty getting to the ditch where she had put it.

Ooo...... a damn good winch and a snatch recovery! I can feel the mud larks twitching now! 

An alternative view?

Two of the three SUVs we have sat in (CR-V and older Santa Fe) are taller to get into but the seat height above the floor is too low for us.

MPV  has the advantages of higher driving position than normal car, step IN rather than down or up, middle seat in the second row is usually a FULL size one, loads of boot room, with 7 seats if you need them. They also usually don't have a transmission hump in the second row,

You can get some with 4 wheel drive if this is a must.

Only the Volvo XC 90 we looked at overcame some of those disadvantages but at a monstrous price and other cost differences.

Obviously, SUV, if you want one, you want it otherwise, you don't.

Will soon be parting with our BMW X5 which is 15 years old and a brilliant car. Easy to get in and out of, was an excellent tow car when we had the caravan, a great workhouse for moving the kids stuff around and supremely comfortable on long journeys. It will be a sad day to part with it but have ordered an i3 as the size is more suitable. As they say, the future’s electric!

It seems that the majority consider the main advantage is being higher off the road making entry / exit from the vehicle easier

Many dsiabled drivers and passengers would disagree with that statement. I have always thought SUVs to be over engineered and oversized for everyday use. Why not have a large estate car for load carrying capacity? Myself, I prefer a small nippy car, preferrably an automatic, much easier to use as an everyday run around.

peedee