Continental Tyres has released a new national report lifting the bonnet on  Australia’s SUV obsession, with more than 700,000 SUVs sold last year1. The report reveals that  while Aussies love the idea of adventure-ready vehicles, most SUV drivers are barely venturing  beyond the school drop-off or the daily commute. 

The survey, commissioned by Continental Tyres, found that despite nearly one in four (23%)  Australians associating SUVs with outdoor adventure, those who own an SUV primarily  purchased it for day-to-day transport (46%), school runs and family transport (21%), or long distance travel (19%). Only 12% indicated that they bought their SUV with recreation (8%) or off roading (4%) in mind, with the remainder (2%) buying their vehicle for work-related use. 

The research coincides with the launch of Continental Tyres’ UltraContact UX7 tyre – a next generation tyre engineered specifically for the real-life needs of SUV drivers in Australia, including  those with smaller SUVs, sometimes called ‘crossovers’. 

From navigating busy city streets to venturing on countryside roads, the new UltraContact UX7 is  empowered by SUV Confidence+ Technology, which delivers on three core aspects – safety,  durability, and noise comfort.  

Australians are drawn to SUVs for their space and higher driving position, with 67% citing  passenger and luggage room as a key benefit, and nearly two-thirds (62%) pointing to improved  visibility. But that appeal is double-edged, with 25% saying the biggest downside is how difficult  SUVs are to park and how large they are on the road (17%). 

Despite these concerns about their size, more than half of Australians (55%) believe SUVs are  no more dangerous to other road users than any other vehicle type. Respondents generally  described typical SUV drivers as similar to other motorists (36%), confident and in control (26%),  and safe and considerate (14%). However, some also viewed SUV drivers less favourably,  describing them as rude and impatient (11%), aggressive (10%), or overly cautious (3%). 

Encouragingly, 95% of respondents recognised the importance of tyres in overall vehicle safety.  Additionally, more than half (57%) said they’d be more likely to purchase tyres specifically  marketed for SUVs, citing the added confidence this gives them in the tyres’ performance and  safety.

Mitchell Golledge, Managing Director, Continental Tyres Australia, said, "The SUV market  has seen exponential growth in recent years, and we anticipate this trend will continue.  

“Australians aren’t just buying SUVs – they’re buying into a lifestyle. Similarly, UltraContact UX7  is not only optimised for SUV vehicles but also meets the demands of drivers for both urban  commutes and casual off-road trips.” 

The new UltraContact UX7 tyre offers sizes ranging from 15” to 22” to fit crossovers, mid-sized  SUVs and large SUVs, and is now available Australia-wide. 

For over 150 years, Continental Tyres has been a leader in creating world-class innovations using  advanced technologies. The German-engineered tyres are refined and tested with safety in mind  and are the first choice for leading vehicle manufacturers globally. 

For more information, visit https://www.continental-tires.com/au/en/b2c/UltraContact-UX7/

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