Average U.S. retail gasoline prices crossed $3 a gallon for the first time since November on Monday as the conflict in the Middle East worsened, setting up a key test of public approval of President Donald Trump’s decision to attack Iran, analysts said.
Tehran’s retaliation in response to U.S. and Israeli strikes has disrupted global oil supply, as it hit production facilities in neighboring countries and ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a key global trade route. Oil prices have surged, with Brent crude rising more than 5% to nearly $77 per barrel, and fuel prices moving up in tandem with the feedstock costs.
Well, I disagree with your argument about SUV classification so we will agree to disagree here.
I think my issue is that SUV efficiency is a range just like sedans are a range, trucks, vans, compacts, etc. So at what point is it really fuck this type of car versus fuck vehicles that have this specific fuel efficiency.
My entire point was the person I replied to said fuck SUVs and AI. Hey, I get it but SUVs aren’t the problem, vehicle efficiency is and many classes cross over into that “fuck this” point. That’s really the crux of my first reply here was that it was a broad stroke and if you’re going to say fuck something because of its contribution then maybe don’t be so broad and targeted?
That is certainly your prerogative; many people have chosen to group them together. But it does mean that the “sedan vs SUV” MPG comparison is obfuscated by a faulty premise.
I’m curious though, what in your mind makes a Forester an SUV rather than a wagon? Disregard any external labels that others have applied. How you would classify the vehicle.
Great question. I’ve never really thought about that, but I’d probably say size and design (boxy-ish looks). Beyond that, categorization by the companies making and rating them is what I go by.
What faulty premise? Do mid size and large sedans have fuel efficiency and vehicle length that cross into the small and mid size SUV range? I compared them because the original comment was essentially “I hope the high gas really fucks SUVs”. Why SUVs specifically? Which SUVs? No mention of large sedans, trucks, vans, etc.
My comparison was to point out that a singular broad criticism was sort of a weird idea when there are so many other factors.
If you start adding a bunch of caveats it diminishes the fun of saying it.
“fuck everyone driving a giant ass gas vehicle to the point where the avg SUV driver is crying about it.” Just isn’t as fun to read or write. SUVs are generally smaller than trucks so trucks are implicit.
I think if people took “SUV” in this context to mean “traditional SUV” (i.e. to exclude crossovers) it would avoid a lot of the confusion.
So styling and marketing?
Fwiw, the Sonata is actually longer and wider than the Forester, though the Forester is taller due to the wagon bodystyle and a higher suspension/larger tires: carsized.com is an interesting site
Yeah. The Sonata is a fairly big for a mid-size sedan.
I guess when I say size it’s a combo of length and width but also height. Ground clearance is a big one.
So putting a lift kit on the Sonata would make it an SUV? Actually…Subaru did just that very thing! The Crosstrek is an Impreza (hatchback body) with a lift kit.
No, lifting an original vehicle type doesn’t change its type unless we collectively decide as a society or industry that it does. Your point is true for first generation Foresters. It’s not for today’s, though, which mine is as a 2025.
I’m not sure what you’re trying to argue or trying to get me to change my mind about it, but a crossover is literally an SUV by today’s standards. Definitions change and there are a multitude of articles that discuss this.
“…over time, crossover came to refer predominantly to unibody-based SUVs. The term SUV is often used as an umbrella term for both crossovers and traditional SUVs due to the similarities between them.”
Like I said, if you want to disagree then fine. I’m not changing my stance because there are plenty of articles from the industry that support my point about crossovers being an SUV.
I do appreciate you having me think more about this though! It’s an interesting discussion.
So what terminology would you recommend that people use when discussing non-crossover SUVs and crossovers to distinguish them from each other in contexts where the differences are important?
I suppose people could say “non-crossover SUV” but it is a bit verbose, particularly when writing it out and using it for something that would otherwise be denoted by 3 letters.