Large cars such as SUVs were originally designed for bumpy off-road adventures. Now they’re often seen in UK towns and cities taking people to school or work or driving to the shops. A recent study showed that cars have grown, on average, 1.2 centimetres longer, 0.5 centimetres wider and 0.5 centimetres taller each year since 2000. Today, more than half of new cars (52%) are wider than most parking spaces on city streets. However, bigger cars can be useful for families and those with pets. There is evidence that SUVs are safer for drivers but they can be more dangerous for pedestrians. Some people say we should stop making bigger vehicles, while others think if people want them, then companies should make them. What do you think? Are cars too big?
Yes – they don’t need to be so big
Bigger cars might protect the people inside them but they can be dangerous for other road users, especially cyclists and people on foot. A study in 2025 found that high car bonnets make it harder for drivers to see young children in front of them. A study shows that if cars keep growing at the same rate, 400 more people could die every year in road accidents by 2040. Bigger cars use more fuel, which releases more harmful fumes and larger electric vehicles need bigger batteries. Research shows Europe may need an extra 1,500 wind turbines by 2040 to recharge them all. There are no UK rules to stop cars growing until they reach 2.55 metres wide (the width of a double-decker bus). How much bigger do cars need to be?
No – they can be safer to drive
The shape and size of cars has always changed. A hundred years ago they were squarer and boxy. Today, they’ve evolved into sleeker, smoother and bigger designs; and they’ve grown for a reason. Bigger bonnets and wider doors make space for safety features like crumple zones, which absorb impacts in a crash, and air bags that protect people from hitting hard surfaces. They’re safer to drive in other ways too. According to the RAC, there are more than one million potholes on UK roads and larger cars can handle bumps better. Many families need bigger cars for towing caravans or for carrying wheelchairs or buggies. If larger cars help people with these, why shouldn’t people be allowed to drive them?
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