Are Big Cars Hard to Drive? Here are Some Truths.
Are big cars hard to drive? Well, the truth is anything but objective.
A microcar, sedan, CUV (crossover utility vehicle), SUV (sports utility vehicle), hatchback, roadster, pickup truck, van, coupe, supercar, hypercar, campervan, mini truck, cabriolet, minivan, a truck…
Each of those cars has its pros and cons when it comes to the driving experience. It’s just a matter of your needs and wants. The road situation can affect that, too.
However, if you’re gunning for big cars like an SUV, a pickup, campervan, crossover or a mini truck, you should consider a few things before you seal the deal.
People who love driving in sedans or smaller will appreciate these things.
So, are big cars hard to drive? Yes, they can be. Here are the reasons why.
The Disadvantages of Driving Big Cars
The most popular question for first-time buyers is “are big cars hard to drive?”
What you should know is that with how technology is these days, the things that make driving big cars hard can be subjective. Here are some disadvantages to driving big cars.
It’s hard to drive big cars because of their size.
If you have narrow and smaller roads, buying a bigger car will not work for you. Big cars will demand space and places with tight spaces will be a challenge.
Although big cars are built tough, it won’t look pretty once it incurs to all the dents and damages over time if you drive around narrow streets or tight areas. Sadly, you can’t avoid this. You can make a vehicle wider, not narrower.
It can be challenging because of the higher ground clearance.
The higher ground clearance doesn’t always mean that visibility is great. It might even be the culprit behind many roadkills in the area. Anything that has a size smaller or a height lower than your truck would be a challenge to see unless you see it beforehand.
So, although the higher ground clearance is good for various terrains, you have more blind spots to worry about, including the lower part of your car.
Don’t even get me started on how hard it is to clean the entire vehicle. Although, you can get around that issue by getting the OKLEAD Portable tire step to help you reach the roof with ease.
They’re harder to drive in traffic.
Bigger cars are harder to drive in congested traffic. That is because you can’t easily maneuver from one lane to the other because of the bigger size. Therefore, most likely, you will be one of those drivers that will be stuck in traffic.
Although better ride comfort and various car quirks will make the trip more bearable, you are still going to be stuck in traffic.
They’re harder to drive for smaller individuals.
Are big cars hard to drive? Well, definitely yes… If you’re a person not blessed with the gift of the height of 5 to 5’5, getting in and out of the big car can be a challenge for you. Nothing like an extra stairs accessory won’t be able to handle, but having one can be a bit embarrassing sometimes.
Sure, everyone wants a good big car like the Ford F-150 or the Tesla Cybertruck and many more. You should know that these vehicles aren’t that height friendly to smaller people.
You could get the Powerbuilt Folding Heavy Duty Tire Steps for your truck if you want to make your ingress easier.
Here’s a more discreet one: The Bully AS Universal Truck Polished Aluminum Side Step Set.
Here’s another one but you don’t have to install this. All you need is to insert this into the door latch when you need it and stow it away when you don’t need it. This is the Able Life Auto Cane. Small. Discreet. Very useful.
Big cars consume more fuel.
Bigger cars will need bigger engines and heavier parts. This is a good thing because you can haul more people, but it’s also a downside since it will cost you more money on gas.
Although people will disagree sometimes, especially ones that have manual transmissions with diesel fuel, you can’t deny that consumption will still be costly compared with smaller vehicles.
Big cars have a diesel engine (a dying breed).
Trucks will most likely have a diesel option and that can be a double-edged sword. It can be a good thing because it’s cheaper. However, the maintenance cost for a diesel car is costly, especially bigger cars like trucks. The parts can be costly, which is why buyers need to consider it.
Aside from that, diesel cars are mostly not used in some countries. As a result, this has been paving the way to electric cars since diesel is an unfiltered fuel (less clean) and that can be bad for the environment.
Can you overlook those flaws?
Here’s the good news. You can overlook most of the imperfections we mentioned, except for the size of the car and the size of the driver and passenger. That’s because you can just improve those downsides using the technology we have today.
The following features will make owning a truck an even better experience. But you should know that not all big cars are doused with these features. Some have a few like the very cheap variant, while others have all of it like its top of the line variant.
Technology features ideal for big cars
Now, you know the answers to the question “are big cars hard to drive?”. If you’re still worried, you can address those flaws we listed using the forms of technology below.
Electronic Steering
Electronic steering allows the steering experience to be easier. It makes the control of the car more responsive and smooth, especially on cliche corners.
You can also use a Steering Wheel Knob to help you steer with or without electronic steering.
Bigger cars these days also have that which makes cars feel like you’re driving a much smaller car when in fact you’re actually driving a bigger one.
Take the Mitsubishi expander for example. It is a seven-seater vehicle but the driving experience feels like you’re just driving a sedan as stated by many people.
and while we’re delving into steering comfort, why not install some Valleycomfy steering wheel covers to make your cabin look more elegant?
Ride comfort
Bigger cars have better ride comfort and the reason is mostly common sense. Ideally, big cars are made to haul heavier loads, more people and be driven for long distances.
With that said, to make the road more bearable, ride comfort has been amped to make sure that the driver will be focused on the road and not his/her back all the time.
Now, seats are plusher. They have better ergonomics, lumbar support, heaters, and armrest.
Want to improve your seating comfort even further? Check out this Cool Gel Memory Foam Seat Cushion!
On top of those, cars have air conditioning and good sound systems to seal the deal.
The cameras
Having rear cameras and front cameras is the standard for most vehicles these days. In trucks, this especially makes the riding experience even better. Why?
Cameras offer more visibility on things that drivers have a hard time seeing. This is especially true in bigger cars where the front and rear visibility is necessary for safety reasons.
With both or either cameras present, it’s now possible to park in tighter spots.
The front camera
The front cam is usually lowered. It will make the things that you can’t see before visible like the lower portion that is covered by the hood.
You can also see and record your trip using a dashcam from AZDOME.
The rear camera
The front cam is for both parking and for providing a better visibility of the people and vehicles that will pass by. This will give the drivers more time to respond. Rear cameras will serve big car drivers well in this manner.
Check out the eRapta ERT01 Rear View Reversing Camera to make backing out of your garage or any other tight spot easier.
The sensors
Sensors help make sure that there are no collisions that will happen. There are many types of sensors and all though that is the case, the aim of it all is safety.
No matter what type or advanced the sensor is, the main point of it is that it exists in order for you to avoid a collision or hitting someone.
Any car will always have a blind spot especially bigger cars and that can be supplemented by sensors. Automatic stop, blind spot sensors, parking sensors, collision warnings, you name it.
Use CarBest’s Radar Based Blind Spot Sensor System to help you “see” better.
You can also get a GPS system from CARRVAS to add more functionality on your dash!
Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS)
Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) is a feature that people can live without and doesn’t really use for the most part, except for beginners.
However, it can’t be denied that it’s a good safety feature as well. That is because it helps people to always drive straight, especially the newer drivers that can’t seem to find their center.
This is usually paired by a sensor that will let you know that you’re out of your lane already. Use the Davitu system to help you stay in your lane.
Table setup not completed.Cruise control
Cruise control is a semi-autonomous feature that enables drivers to maintain a certain speed without pressing the accelerator often to maintain speed. This is perfect for wider roads, open roads and long drives.
It also makes people work less to attain the ideal speed and will help you prevent committing over speeding or hogging offenses. It will make your vehicle in constant speed without much work.
Launch control
Launch control is exclusive to automatic transmissions, which it’s a good feature to have. Although you don’t necessarily need it, you will be happy that it’s there because it helps you launch faster making your car become preppy from the start.
Undeniably, it’s a good drag race option, for bigger cars, it is most helpful when you’re starting to drive it vertically. It gives your car more kick to climb even the steepest roads.
Install a Launch Control System with the B & M Launch Control System.
Anti-collision or Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
ABS is a feature that people don’t appreciate daily. That’s too sad because it does help prevent accidents.
For example, there will be instances where people have to step on the brakes really hard to avoid a collision. However, “the skid” happens and a collision happens with another car or worse with someone.
ABS prevents that by applying additional braking power and grip, making the emergency braking faster and more responsive.
Hill assist
If you hate driving on steep roads, you’re not alone. Most drivers hate it.
With hill assist, climbing to that place and other steep roads will be a breeze. For manual vehicles, they hate climbing hills even in bigger cars because it requires much work.
The steeper the climb is, the harder it is to drive and the more work it will require. A hill assist will make it that easier by making the car automatically set-up to drive up a hill.
With hill assist, you can drive with fewer problems, better grip, better forward movement, and lesser effort.
Why should you get big cars?
Let’s say you’re relieved that you know the answer to the query, “Are big cars hard to drive?”. You weren’t discouraged. You still want a big car. Should you go for it?
Here are the advantages of a big car.
Higher wheelbase
Bigger cars have a higher wheelbase except for wagons and All-Purpose Vehicles (APVs). The higher wheelbase is a good thing because even if there are floods, you won’t worry that your car will get flooded and you can still make your vehicle run from point A to point B.
It’s a great advantage you should consider since it does have some cons as well. It depends really on your needs because if you have flashfloods all year round, this is a feature that you need to consider.
The size
The size mentioned above can be a downside especially in tight spaces and in traffic, but if you think about it, it’s security.
Giving more space for the height and the width will help with the impact in case of any untoward incident. Thicker doors mean more sound deadening and sealing capabilities that most trucks have.
Having a bigger car doesn’t just give you that sense of being protected because you really are. The safest vehicles around are the bigger ones.
Reliable in most weather conditions
One of the main reasons why many people are opting for bigger cars is because it’s reliable in most weather and seasonal conditions.
Whether it’s snow, rain, extreme heat, floods, sand, rocky terrain, muddy terrain, steep roads, higher hills to climb and ride down… bigger cars are built for those kinds of conditions. They don’t really compromise performance, comfort, and styling.
That’s why many people buy a truck as a daily workhorse because it’s that reliable.
Ride comfort
The ride comfort isn’t compromised on bigger cars; in fact, it has one of the most comfortable seats there is. Most manufacturers understand that most people that buy bigger cars are because of long drives, thus they made the comfort level extra special.
Sports cars don’t have that comfort. Sedan chairs will only feel comfortable initially; but over time, you will feel that sore on your lower back and numbing on your buttocks.
With bigger cars, that will happen eventually; but it will take some time before you will feel that effect.
Tech features are ideal for bigger cars
All tech features, for the most part, are doused in bigger cars and that’s perfectly understandable because of its size, the power, the performance capabilities that it will require. And you will notice that too, from the sensors to the cameras, everything seems like a perfect fit to bigger cars.
It’s also a perfect daily driver
Bigger cars, despite their size, are actually a perfect daily driver, not just for plumbers, carpenters, mechanics, and the likes. It’s definitely for anyone.
If you don’t like the wagons and the Multi-Purpose Vehicles (MPVs) as a family hauler and you want something that’s more robust an SUV will fit the bill nicely. Cars like the Isuzu MU-X, Mitsubishi Montero Sport, and Subaru Forester just to even say a few.
If you don’t like the size. but you want the ride comfort and the higher wheelbase the crossover got you covered. You can check out the Toyota Rav 4, Subaru XV, Mazda CX-3, Suzuki Vitara, Nissan Juke and many more.
Powerful engines
Big cars have powerful engines. Although that will equate to bigger gas consumptions, you should know that newer trucks actually have smaller engines.
Now, you will see some big cars that have a 2.0 engine. Even though that’s not V6 category and sometimes no turbo for base models, it doesn’t really matter that much since it still runs well and has better fuel consumption. Most base variants are like this.
However, before you opt for one, be sure to give it a test drive.
They are simply badass.
Bigger cars don’t look cool for the most part. They’re badasses.
The sizes and looks are pretty overwhelming and intimidating to cars that are smaller. The looks alone will tell you that it means business and reliable while looking like a badass.
Can you imagine buying just a tissue paper with your Ford F150 or your Ford raptor? When they see you in that car, even people with a sports car will look at your ride in awe.
Most big cars will serve you for the long haul.
Most people are actually buying trucks on any brand, especially companies. Since it’s the perfect all-around vehicle for work and fun.
Since it’s a popular choice, there are more places that you can go to maintain and get it repaired, not to mention the parts are easily available whether it’s stock parts, used parts or aftermarket parts.
Therefore, if you want a car for the long haul, buy the bigger ones especially trucks. Even if you go to remote places, you will always find a place to get your truck repaired.
Bigger space
The best thing about big cars is space. You won’t really know when you will need a big space; but when you do, you would wish that you got a bigger car instead. If you want to move to another place and you also have a few things with you, a truck will suffice.
Need even more space? Get the MAXXHAUL Steel Roof Rack.
Meanwhile, if you have a bigger family and SUV, a wagon or a van will fit you nicely. If you’re single or married without a kid or with one kid and are not prepared yet to drive bigger cars, but want a higher wheelbase and a comfortable seating position a crossover will be your salvation.
Therefore, it’s safe to say that whatever your preference and needs are, you can find a bigger car that is perfect for that.
Used cars vs. new cars
The first thing that most people think about when buying a bigger car is whether they should buy it used or new.
If you don’t know anything about cars, it’s highly advised that you buy brand new ones. If you’re on a budget but you don’t know anything about cars, make sure to bring someone that knows how to assess used cars.
The usual things that you need to check aside from the price of a used car are:
- The looks
- The smell
- The mileage
- The wheel alignment
- Service and repair history
- Police reports
- Roadworthiness
- Clean papers
- Good deals
Is the price reasonable?
Most people that are buying bigger cars have a budget, sometimes it’s a cheaper budget and sometimes it’s bigger. However, you should take note to stick to your budget and make sure that the price is reasonable.
- Research about the market price of your target vehicle, including its trims and its competitors.
- Have a budget range and not just a fixed budget. Through this, you can be flexible with regard to the cost, but still stick to your range no matter what.
Bottom line
To answer the question, “are big cars hard to drive?”, we believe that it all boils down to your preferences.
Bigger cars aren’t ideal in smaller spaces and traffic, and not to mention their higher wheelbase adds more blindspot. However, those flaws don’t erase the fact that bigger cars are beyond cool.
They look great, they’re reliable, they’re comfortable, and you won’t have problems as far as space is concerned. A big car is comfortable not just for the driver but also for the passenger.
Unlike other vehicles, a big car is housed with a ton of features, like more aircon vents, monitors for the rear passengers, more charging sockets, bigger wheels, better suspensions, and a ton of safety features.
Therefore, if you’re still in doubt or still having thoughts, get a test drive. Experience the things mentioned above and see if you really should have one.
Oh and before we forget, SUVs are very pet-friendly. The only issue is how to help them get into the vehicle with ease. That’s where the Heeyoo Car Dog Steps. Now you can go on any trip without leaving any family member behind.
Related questions:
Should I buy a car with a manual or an automatic transmission?
The truth is, there is no right answer to that because both can be good. You just need to be crystal clear with preferences and go from there. Through this, when you go to the dealer or a sales agent, they can easily help you decide on what would be the best big car for you.
Is the resale value of a big car good?
When you think about buying a bigger car, you also have to think about the resale value. Although you won’t be able to predict the market after 3 to 5 years, you can initially assess it now, especially if you plan to buy from a well-known brand in your country.
Check on the resale value and go from there. You will never know if you really want to keep your big car long term or not. However, at least you can know that if you do want to sell it in the future, it can still be sold at a good price versus the other vehicles that are currently being sold today.
Are the parts and service always available for big cars?
It’s easy to be swayed by an affordable price, tech features, promises and recommendation, but you also have to consider the long term use.
Bigger cars are cheap versus buying regular sedans. They also have higher maintenance and repair costs as well, not to mention the parts. But as long as you can find well-established service centers who can supply parts in less than a month, then that is a good thing.