Why Boxy Cars and SUVs Are Having a Moment Again (2024)

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Why Boxy Cars and SUVs Are Having a Moment Again? ›

From Snyder's perspective, the market for boxy cars is about two things: safety and luxury. "A boxy vehicle is a package that gives people a sense of security at the same time as it offers them this living room-on-wheels sensibility, where they can enjoy all their luxury amenities," he says.

The resurgence of box-shaped vehicles in the automotive industry is not just a nod to aesthetic preferences but a conscious design choice that emphasizes practicality and functionality.

Car shapes and sizes have steadily ballooned since the late 1970s. The reasons for this increase are various and complex. The addition of safety features like lateral and frontal airbags and "crumple zones" required more space, while consumers began to seek out luxury, exotic and import vehicles.

Drivers are attracted by the high riding position, the feeling of safety and being above the fray afforded by a large, solid car. Their ubiquity has encouraged a sort of arms race: they make smaller cars feel less safe. Space and comfort are also part of the appeal, particularly at the more expensive end of the market.

The boxy, angular vehicles that once ruled the roads in the 1970s and 1980s are back in style, and leading the charge into this new yet nostalgic world is the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe.

Researchers point to models like the Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Lexus LS, Subaru Forester, Subaru Outback, Tesla Model X and Toyota Camry as vehicles with great resale value, reflecting strong demand on the used car market. For iSeeCars complete SUV Resale Value Rankings click here. Photo Credit: Subaru.

"A boxy vehicle is a package that gives people a sense of security at the same time as it offers them this living room-on-wheels sensibility, where they can enjoy all their luxury amenities," he says.

This underappreciated transformation is probably the most distinct design change to come to cars over the past half-century, and for most US cars, it happened within just a few years, starting in 1986.

Because making light trucks held to lower environmental standards was more profitable than building small clean cars, automakers marketed big models, including SUVs, enthusiastically. They portrayed them as quintessentially American, embodying freedom, strength and adventurousness.

The SUV loophole has allowed manufacturers to continue building large vehicles with low gas mileage without getting into trouble with the EPA. Ending it has long been a goal of some environmental groups.

Why have SUVs gotten bigger? ›

What lies behind this shift? Some Americans prefer bigger cars, especially when gas prices are low, for their ample storage space, ability to see over other vehicles on the road, and perceived safety benefits (more on that later).

This has led many automakers to focus on developing hybrid and electric cars, which offer improved fuel economy and lower emissions compared to traditional gasoline-powered vehicles. As a result, many consumers are turning away from muscle cars in favor of these more eco-friendly options.

SUVs typically have a larger cargo area with trunk access through a flip-up rear hatch door, which may make them a convenient option for families or new parents wondering where they'll fit all that baby gear. Under the hood, you'll typically find SUVs to have more powerful engines to accommodate their size and weight.

The Popularity Of SUVs Is Deep-rooted And Dates Back Over 50 Years. Americans love SUVs for a plethora of reasons. First, the monstrous vehicles are large and offer mega horsepower in order to lug around the hefty cars. Second, a higher sitting position offers increased visibility.

Why smaller SUVs instead of small cars? Many drivers attach great importance to a high seating position. This facilitates a good overview and thus also increases driving safety. Getting in and out of SUVs is also easier, which is particularly appreciated by older people.

They weren't cute in the way this modern crop of vehicles are, and responding to consumer demand, manufacturers gravitated to a more curvy, organic, low-profile look.

Square cars are still around today, with the angular shape being a standard fixture on SUVs, crossovers, pickups, and even muscle cars. Over in Japan, the boxy look remains a hallmark of its Kei class of vehicles, although curved and raked glass panels have long replaced upright windshields.

"They gave automakers the means to produce those very soft curves." Manufacturing technologies also made it easier and cheaper to produce curved shapes in aluminum than before. As a result, since that initial shift in the 1990s, exteriors have only become curvier.

Pedestrian safety: compromised in an SUV world

Many SUVs have high hoods that can throw a pedestrian forward in a collision, causing severe injury or death. To adapt to new regulations and to reduce safety risks, some manufacturers have changed their designs to make their SUVs safer for pedestrians and small cars.