Should I buy a small SUV or a hatchback?

Written by 
Bill Tsouvalas
Bill Tsouvalas is the managing director and a key company spokesperson at Savvy. As a personal finance expert, he often shares his insights on a range of topics, being featured on leading news outlets including News Corp publications such as the Daily Telegraph and Herald Sun, Fairfax Media publications such as the Australian Financial Review, the Seven Network and more. Bill has over 15 years of experience working in the finance industry and founded Savvy in 2010 with a vision to provide affordable and accessible finance options to all Australians. He has built Savvy from a small asset finance brokerage into a financial comparison website which now attracts close to 2 million Aussies per year and was included in the BRW’s Fast 100 in 2015 as one of the fastest-growing companies in the country. He’s passionate about helping Australians make financially savvy decisions and reviews content across the brand to ensure its accuracy. You can follow Bill on LinkedIn.
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, updated on June 9th, 2023       

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Having a hard time deciding whether you should buy a smaller SUV or just go for a hatchback? It is a bit difficult to decide what car to get when you are looking for something to suit your entire family. There are a wide range of aspects to be taken into consideration, but luckily for you, we managed to make up a list of pro and cons for each category. It includes all essential features and other significant aspects you need to look out for.

So, here is a quick breakdown for a SUV and a hatchback:

Size

If the space is the main concern for you, then you should know that most SUVs and hatchbacks are quite similar in this area. Nonetheless, each model is different, thus a thorough research in the field is more than mandatory for a change.

A 2015 Honda CR-V Breakdown offers 35.2 cubic feet of space, while the Hyundai Accent will provide its owners with a 21.2 cubic feet space. This provides you the comfort you may be in search for, doesn’t it?

Safety

This is one of the main concerns when buying a car. It has to be safe. Thus, you ought to make sure that in case of an unfortunate accident, your family will be safe.

Even though most people believe that SUVs are the safest cars out there, considering their dimensions, the actual studies have revealed that hatchbacks are actually the most reliable cars. Volvo V40 is the best example to illustrate this concept.

As for the SUVs, it seems like the safest vehicle is 2015 Kia Sorrento, followed by Range Rover.

The running costs

Hatchbacks are much cheaper when it comes to price range. Nonetheless, there are a wide range of SUVs and crossovers that can achieve 40MPG plus, bringing the running costs to a minimum on. However, an SUV will get you a higher road tax and a higher insurance as compared to a hatchback.

The level of practicality

If you live in a big, crowded city where you constantly have to squeeze into tight parking spaces, an SUV is definitely not the best option for you. Go for a hatchback instead, which will make it equally easier and safer for you to find a parking space!

However, for long journeys, an SUV is a much more suitable alternative than a hatchback. You never know what roads you might end up driving on, thus if you like to get out of town and travel a lot, go for a SUV instead.

The looks

Over the past years, the SUVs have become more stylish and fashionable and they pretty much lost that grungy looks they once had. However, they have lost some of their capabilities on the road too.

Hatchbacks, on the other hand, offer a great look all the time. They can also be custom made by various manufacturers. So, after all, this decision is based upon your own taste and personality.

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