Australia’s great SUV deception

Australia’s love affair with SUVs has hit a reality check.  

New research reveals that our army of supposedly adventure-ready vehicles spend most of their time doing decidedly un-adventurous things, like school pickups and supermarket runs. 

And only four per cent of SUV owners take them off-road. 

In 2024 more around 700,000 SUVs were purchased by Aussie motorists and 2025 could exceed that figure, as Australia’s streets are increasingly dominated by vehicles built for adventures that rarely happen. 

But hey, at least they look ready for action while sitting in traffic. 

A recent national survey by Continental Tyres involving just over 1000 Aussie motorists has exposed the naked truth behind Australia’s SUV obsession: while nearly a quarter of us associate these hulking machines with outdoor adventure, a paltry 4% actually take them off-road.  

Meanwhile, almost half (46%) use their high-riding wagons for the thrilling daily commute. 

The findings paint a picture of automotive aspiration versus reality.  

“Australians aren’t just buying SUVs – they’re buying into a lifestyle,” admits Mitchell Golledge from Continental Tyres, diplomatically avoiding mention that this lifestyle apparently involves a lot more supermarket visits than wilderness expeditions. 

The survey found that 67% of owners love their SUV’s passenger and luggage space – perfect for hauling everything from sports gear to bulk toilet paper purchases. Nearly two-thirds (62%) also appreciate the improved vision of a high-riding wagon with jacked-up suspension. 

But there’s a catch: 25% admit their adventure-mobile is a nightmare to park, while 17% find it uncomfortably large on regular roads. Nothing says ‘rugged outdoorsman’ quite like doing a seven-point turn to squeeze into a suburban parking spot. 

In a triumph of optimism over physics, more than half of Australians (55%) believe their towering SUVs pose no greater threat to other road users than regular cars.  

Apparently, the laws of mass and momentum don't apply when you’re sitting high above the traffic in your urban assault vehicle. 

The survey also revealed some delightfully mixed opinions about SUV drivers themselves.  

While 36% diplomatically described them as “similar to other motorists” and 26% praised them as “confident and in control”, others were less charitable. A vocal minority branded SUV pilots as “rude and impatient” (11%) or downright “aggressive” (10%).  

Meanwhile, 3% found them “overly cautious” – presumably those are the ones taking five minutes to reverse park their behemoth at the local café. 

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