The end of the SUV era: goodbye to rounded design, hello to the boxy look?
SUV design is shifting from curves to boxy shapes. We look at the aesthetic controversy and the debate over their real usefulness and responsible consumption.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
The end of the SUV era: goodbye to rounded design, hello to the boxy look?
SUVs have been the kings of the car market for a decade, but their design is mutating, and the change leaves no one indifferent. The shift from rounded, aggressive shapes to plain, boxy volumes has peine a front of criticism among enthusiasts.
SUV aesthetics split: curves versus cubes
The consensus among analysts is that the 2015-2023 period represented the peak of SUV design, with lines that combined roundness and angles to achieve visual balance. Since 2023, however, there has been a turn toward more angular, boxy shapes, exemplified by models like the Jeep Avenger. For some, this evolution means a loss of personality; for others, it is a return to the functional roots of the off-roader. In parallel, nostalgia is resurfacing for the Japanese coupés of the 90s and the TTs of the 80s, which never became mainstream.
The dark side of the SUV boom
Beyond aesthetics, the debate extends to functionality and fuel consumption. Some consider SUVs overrated vehicles, often financed over many years, that are barely used for what they promise (less than 10,000 km a year). Critics point out that manufacturers have eliminated affordable coupés and sports cars, leaving only premium options like BMW or Mercedes. Meanwhile, some argue that modern SUVs are, in fact, raised compact cars – like the Cupra Formentor – that offer no real off-road capability.
An unstoppable trend
Despite the criticism, the sales figures don't lie: there are more and more SUVs on the streets. The question is whether the design shift toward boxy shapes will be a success or a passing fad. The truth is that, while some long for the curvaceous SUVs of years past, the market keeps turning toward a more functional, if less inspired, aesthetic.
The SUV dilemma reflects a broader conflict: to what extent should design take priority over practicality? While manufacturers bet on the boxy look, enthusiasts cling to curves. The answer, as always, will come from sales.
Related debates in the forum
SUVs have been the kings of the car market for a decade, but their design is mutating, and the change leaves no one indifferent. The shift from rounded, aggressive shapes to plain, boxy volumes has peine a front of criticism among enthusiasts.
SUV aesthetics split: curves versus cubes
The consensus among analysts is that the 2015-2023 period represented the peak of SUV design, with lines that combined roundness and angles to achieve visual balance. Since 2023, however, there has been a turn toward more angular, boxy shapes, exemplified by models like the Jeep Avenger. For some, this evolution means a loss of personality; for others, it is a return to the functional roots of the off-roader. In parallel, nostalgia is resurfacing for the Japanese coupés of the 90s and the TTs of the 80s, which never became mainstream.
The dark side of the SUV boom
Beyond aesthetics, the debate extends to functionality and fuel consumption. Some consider SUVs overrated vehicles, often financed over many years, that are barely used for what they promise (less than 10,000 km a year). Critics point out that manufacturers have eliminated affordable coupés and sports cars, leaving only premium options like BMW or Mercedes. Meanwhile, some argue that modern SUVs are, in fact, raised compact cars – like the Cupra Formentor – that offer no real off-road capability.
An unstoppable trend
Despite the criticism, the sales figures don't lie: there are more and more SUVs on the streets. The question is whether the design shift toward boxy shapes will be a success or a passing fad. The truth is that, while some long for the curvaceous SUVs of years past, the market keeps turning toward a more functional, if less inspired, aesthetic.
The SUV dilemma reflects a broader conflict: to what extent should design take priority over practicality? While manufacturers bet on the boxy look, enthusiasts cling to curves. The answer, as always, will come from sales.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (39 replies).
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