There are several reasons why estate cars, once a popular car choice in Ireland, are better for protecting against climate change. Here are the main reasons below:
- Superior Aerodynamics: SUVs have tall, blunt front profiles that create massive wind resistance. Because drag increases exponentially at motorway speeds, SUVs require far more energy to push through the air. Estate cars are low and sleek, slicing through the air efficiently and burning less fuel. [1]
2. Lighter Weight: SUVs use more raw materials to build and weigh significantly more than equivalent estate cars. Less weight means the engine doesn’t have to work as hard during stop-and-start driving, directly lowering tailpipe CO2 emissions. [1, 2, 3, 4]
3. Smaller Electric Batteries Needed: If you choose a Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) or full EV, an estate car’s efficiency means it can achieve a long driving range using a smaller, lighter battery pack. Since manufacturing large batteries has a high initial carbon footprint, smaller batteries are much better for the planet. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
4. Fuel Economy: Estate cars are generally 15% to 20% more fuel-efficient than equivalent SUVs due to weight and aero advantages.
5. Child Safety: Most large family estates offer the exact same width across the rear bench as mid-size SUVs, meaning three children can sit comfortably.
