‘Carspreading’ Trends Surge, Sparking Controversy

Paris, a city celebrated for its iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe, is also infamous for its horrendous traffic congestion. Over the last two decades, city officials have been implementing strategies to alleviate vehicular chaos, including the establishment of low-traffic and low-emission zones, encouraging public transport usage, and more recently, imposing restrictions on larger vehicles.

In a decisive move in October 2024, a public referendum led to a steep increase in parking fees for ‘heavy’ vehicles. Charges jumped from €6 (£5.20) to €18 (£15.70) for one hour of parking in central Paris, while the cost for a six-hour stay soared from €75 (£65) to €225 (£196).

“The larger it is, the more it pollutes,” stated Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo prior to the vote, asserting that these new measures would hasten the city’s environmental transition and combat air pollution.

In the months following the new regulations, local authorities reported a dramatic reduction of two-thirds in the number of oversized vehicles occupying city streets.

Other Cities Taking Note

This trend is not isolated to Paris. In the UK, Cardiff City Council has begun to raise the costs associated with parking permits for vehicles exceeding 2,400kg (5,290lb), equivalent to about two Ford Fiestas. Officials from the Labour-controlled council noted that these larger vehicles contribute significantly to emissions, increase road wear, and present heightened risks during accidents.

Initially, the elevated fees will target a limited range of vehicle models, but Cardiff plans to gradually lower the weight threshold. Other municipalities are considering similar initiatives.

However, many vehicle owners argue that they depend on larger cars for practical reasons. Matt Mansell, a Guildford resident and father of three, operates both a technology firm and a property development company, asserting that his Land Rover Defender 110 is essential for transporting clients and his children.

“I need to have enough space to put children in, with all of their kit – also, you can fit a door or a three-metre length of pipe in it,” he explained. “It’s very much a utility vehicle, but it’s presentable.”

Increasing Vehicle Dimensions

There is little doubt that vehicles in both the UK and Europe have been growing in size over recent years. Since 2018, the average width of new cars has expanded from 182cm (5.97ft) to 187.5cm (6.15ft), according to data from Thatcham Research. Concurrently, the average weight has risen from 1,365kg (3,000lb) to 1,592kg (3,500lb).

This trend has been ongoing. Research conducted by the International Council for Clean Transportation reveals that from 2001 to 2020, the average width of cars in European markets increased by nearly 10cm (3.9in), while their length grew by over 19cm (7.4in).

Critics express concern over this shift, noting that the UK’s roads are often congested and narrow, which poses challenges for accommodating larger vehicles. Many regions have a standard minimum width of 1.8m (5.9ft) for on-street parking spaces, yet reports from the green transport advocacy group T&E indicate that as of mid-2023, over half of the UK’s top 100 best-selling cars exceeded this measurement.

The SUV Phenomenon

The surge in popularity of Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) is particularly noteworthy. While these vehicles are often associated with off-road capabilities, many are purely cosmetic and lack genuine off-road features.

Despite this, the majority of SUVs remain on paved roads, leading to their derisive label: Chelsea tractors. The market offers a variety of SUV designs, from genuine utility vehicles to luxurious status symbols and practical family transports.

Regardless of design, all SUVs share a common characteristic: size. Even the smaller ‘crossover’ models, which are more akin to traditional cars, tend to be taller and wider compared to standard sedans, hatchbacks, or estates.

In 2011, SUVs comprised only 13.2% of the market across 27 European nations, according to automotive research firm Dataforce GmbH. By 2025, this figure is projected to soar to 59%.

Rachel Burgess, editor of Autocar magazine, attributes their appeal to their dimensions. “Everyone I’ve spoken to over the years who has bought an SUV says they like being higher up, they like better visibility, and they feel safer on motorways and bigger roads,” she noted.

Market Dynamics and Safety Concerns

Lucia Barbato, a resident of West Sussex, relies on her used Lexus RX450 hybrid SUV to transport her large family in a region with limited public transit options. As she manages a home-based marketing agency, she drives her three sons to their bus stop for school each day.

“On a Monday morning with three boys, three school bags, three sports kits, and a trumpet thrown in the boot there isn’t even room in the car for the dog!” she remarked.

The SUV boom extends beyond mainstream manufacturers. Porsche, known for its sleek sports cars, finds its Cayenne SUV and Macan crossover to be its top-selling models. Similarly, Bentley’s Bentayga SUV represented 44% of its sales last year, while Lamborghini increasingly depends on its four-wheel-drive Urus.

Clearly, consumer demand for SUVs is robust, and manufacturers are eager to fulfill this appetite, as David Leggett, editor of an industry intelligence site, explains. “Profit margins are generally much higher on larger cars with higher price points. This is largely due to the laws of economics in manufacturing,” he stated.

Growing Concerns and Potential Solutions

Leggett notes that the fundamental costs of manufacturing any vehicle—such as factory operations, design, and component pricing—are consistent. However, for smaller cars, these expenses constitute a larger portion of the retail price.

Many SUVs share their basic structure with smaller vehicles, resulting in minimal differences apart from body style, suspension, and seating position, allowing manufacturers to charge a premium without significantly increasing costs.

Even conventional vehicles have been growing in size. For instance, the current VW Golf hatchback is 18cm (7in) wider and 26cm (10.2in) longer than the original model released in the 1970s, and is considerably heavier.

As Alex Thompson, principal safety engineer at Thatcham Research, observes, improvements in safety protocols necessitate additional weight to enhance crash protection. As safety features have advanced, vehicles have become larger to accommodate these enhancements.

Despite the increased safety for occupants, critics argue that larger vehicles pose greater risks to other road users. Tim Dexter, vehicles policy manager at T&E, underscores that collisions with oversized vehicles can lead to serious injuries for pedestrians and cyclists.

Environmental Implications

Research from Belgium’s Vias Institute indicates that a 10cm (3.9in) increase in car height can raise the risk of fatal collisions for vulnerable road users by 27%. Additionally, T&E points out that elevated bonnets contribute to blind spots that can endanger cyclists.

While some manufacturers have taken steps to enhance pedestrian safety by incorporating external airbags, the environmental impact remains a pressing concern. The International Energy Agency has reported that heavier vehicles, particularly SUVs, emit approximately 20% more pollutants compared to an average mid-sized car, counteracting the benefits of improvements in energy efficiency.

Although the transition to electric vehicles is expected to reduce emissions over time, the reliance on fossil fuels for electricity generation could mean that larger cars continue to produce more pollution compared to smaller models.

Furthermore, since electric vehicles tend to be heavier than their petrol or diesel counterparts, the challenges associated with size and weight may be exacerbated.

Taxation and Future Trends

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders reports that 40% of SUVs currently on the market are zero-emission. According to its CEO, Mike Hawes, the carbon dioxide emissions of new SUVs have halved since 2000, contributing to the decarbonization of UK road transport.

However, if stricter regulations are implemented, the UK could adopt measures similar to those already in place in France, where additional registration taxes are levied on vehicles exceeding 1,600kg (3,527lb). This system incurs a €10 (£8.70) charge for every kilogram over this limit, escalating to €30 (£26.20) per kilogram for vehicles above 2,100kg (4,629lb).

While this tax affects a limited number of current models, it complements significant emissions penalties that can raise the cost of purchasing a new vehicle by up to €70,000 (£61,160).

T&E advocates for the introduction of similar taxes in the UK. Tim Dexter argues, “At the moment the UK is a tax haven for these large vehicles… We know the impact they are having on the road, on communities, potentially on individuals. It’s only fair they should be paying a bit more.”

Leggett believes that adjusting tax structures could encourage consumers to opt for smaller cars, especially in urban settings. However, ensuring an adequate supply of compact vehicles may prove challenging.

Despite the obstacles, several affordable small EV options have recently entered the market, including models from BYD, Leapmotor, Hyundai, and Renault, with more on the way from Kia and VW.

For the time being, SUVs remain dominant in the automotive landscape. Rachel Burgess reflects, “Clearly, people want SUVs, and I’m not sure what the answer to that is. But small cars are coming back, as the industry has understood how to make money from small cars in an electric world… I do believe everything is cyclical and trends come and go in every part of life, including cars. SUVs won’t be around forever.”