Three quarters of all SUVs sold in the UK are registered to people living in towns and cities See the BBC News item. More Posted: 210407 One in three new private cars bought in some urban areas is a large SUV The size of what have become the fashionable "must have" vehicle for many urban drivers has become a strange development when getting into parking spaces intended for much smaller cars and even passing other vehicles in narrow roads is quite clearly a frequent difficulty. But amongst a segment of the car ownership market it has become a serious "must have"! In an online BBC News report the RAC Foundation says their research shows "that large SUVs - often known as Chelsea tractors - are indeed most prevalent in places such as Chelsea. They face complaints from other road users - especially during the school run. One in three new private cars bought in these areas is a large SUV. These boroughs also top the league for popularity of most polluting cars by UK sales volume, all of which are SUVs." Relative size and visibility is a concern for classic car drivers The relative size of modern cars, even popular hatchback like a VW Golf, has grown considerably since the early/mid 1970s - typically 18% wider and higher. The relative size of 4x4s and large SUVs is far greater. Our earlier news item in March 2020 showed it was often 41% higher and 46% wider. But the relative size of some large 4x4s and SUVs has continued to grow with a Mercedes GLS 2020 now 47% higher than an MGBGTV8! IN many cases the frontal area, or visual impact of the frontal area of a large vehicle compared with an MGBGTV8, is usually over 100% greater. Certainly driving an MGBGTV8 or similar classic car with headlights on in daytime conditions is now essential to try and improve relative visibility when the line of sight for a 4x4 or large SUV driver can often be half a metre (20 inches) above the roof line of a classic car!