The costly car choice we need to rethink

Petrol costs have surged in the past few years, hitting the hip pockets of families cruising around in the booming cohort of sport utility vehicles. But there’s no hitting the brakes when it comes to their uptake. Once the hallmark of soccer mums carting kids around to weekend games, more than 55 per cent of new cars sales in the past year were SUVs. Up from roughly a quarter in 2018, the proportion has steadily climbed every year according to data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries. Australia’s 10 top-selling cars in 2023 were utes and SUVs. Credit: Joe Armao Unshackled from the constraints of supply chain issues,…