SUVs don’t inherently kill a brand, but a SUV/CUV heavy line up can indicate an image crisis. Jeep and SUV is obvious, but Buick is on the ropes. As SUV/CUVs are the natural progression after 80s nightmares, so it became that brand loyalty eroded away. There is something to the mainstream fans, GM and Ford, but once we tiptoe into the Euro brands and exotics, the lesser knowns and eclectic collectors, what brand SUV they drive is like a factor of practicality over preference. I could have got a Buick Rainier V8, but it had no low-range, so it was right out. Enter the second Grand Cherokee. It wasn’t a brand preference, rather the perfect fit of size, function, and ability. Towing, 4x4 and off-road capability, plus room for the family. We have a Ford 3/4 ton. Again, not a preference, rather the perfect fit of capability, fuel economy (diesel), and rear seat room for kids. I had a GM truck, but it was steaming garbage off-road and that’s important to me. So, yeah, I’m the GM guy with non-GM daily drivers. Back to SUVs…. They represent the family vehicles in a world of fickle gadget focused, feature demanding customers. Originally Tahoes were good because they were smaller suburbans with more capability than a front drive, heavy minivan. If you’re gonna get bad fuel economy, might as well have something with truck longevity. Cars, well, there were lots of good cars, but all the regs made them unappealing, the gadgets were difficult to make them profitable, and let’s face it … if you can’t build quality, build profits. So what about everyone else? Meh. When consumer tastes change, so will the line ups, or they will die. Porsche - not concerned. Buick - 5 years, tops.
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