What's the harm in driving SUVs? International Energy Agency points out an environmental one

This is the conclusion of the International Energy Agency report, which believes that SUVs are the first type of vehicle to be phased out if we are to save energy.

SUVs now make up half of the vehicles sold, and the only reason we buy them is fashion. There is no justification for owning an SUV if it is not a proper off-road vehicle. Even off-road vehicles rarely leave paved roads, so SUV drivers are even less likely to do so.

All the benefits of SUVs are purely subjective and hard to defend. Better sense of security, a higher driving position, and the ability to drive over kerbs are the arguments in favour of them. However, there is a strong argument against them: energy consumption. It doesn't matter if we are talking about fossil fuels or electricity. Any SUV offering the same features as a smaller saloon is more fuel-consuming (or electricity-consuming).

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) report, an average SUV consumes about 20% more fuel. Such vehicles are heavier, contributing to road damage and, more significantly, affecting the space they occupy. According to the IEA, oil consumption in the past two years has increased by 25% solely due to the popularity of SUVs. CO2 emissions have also increased by 100 million tonnes.

Interestingly, according to the Agency's calculations, SUVs worldwide emit more CO2 than any European country. For example, if all SUVs stopped driving, emissions would decrease more than if the entire country of Germany stopped emitting.

Therefore, SUVs consume energy (in any form) that could have been used for other vehicles, serving more cars, covering longer distances, or lasting longer. Objectively speaking, SUVs harm everyone because they do not bring any benefits but consume fuel and electricity.

Meanwhile, EU regulations, which aim to save us from carbon dioxide emissions, directly promote SUVs as a more environmentally friendly means of transport. These are vehicles where the CO2 emission limits are raised compared to smaller cars due to their mass. This, among other reasons, has led many brands, and soon practically all, to cease production of small, fuel-efficient A-segment cars. Meanwhile, Europe has almost no brand without at least one SUV in its lineup.