There are an increasing number of SUVs out on Indian roads today and not all of them are driven by men. That’s right, SUV manufacturers today are attesting to an increasing number of women also buying their cars, according to an article in the Times of India. From functional SUVs of Mahindra & Mahindra to luxury SUVs from the Mercedes Benz stable, women are gearing up to go rough and ready and everybody seems to be surprised about that! But why on earth should they be astonished?
Isn’t this a natural progression of every driver, from small to big cars? After all, for how long will women confine themselves to society’s (and auto manufacturers’) ideas of what a woman should drive? Some auto manufacturers got over their lock-jaw issues once they recovered from the surprise and are now doing women-oriented marketing for their SUVs and tapping them in as a focus group during product development as well, says the TOI article.
For the rest who haven’t caught up and everybody else who is still feeling slack-jawed with surprise, here’s why women want to buy SUVs. (You’d be surprised at the reasons!)
1. They navigate bad roads and potholes better. This is not some earth shattering revelation. Men buy them for the same reason after all.
Actress Sridevi purchasing a Porsche because women today can afford to do so.
2. Because we can afford it. Women rake in decent moolah these days and if people think they spend all of their annual salary or several lakhs or crores on make up and clothes, they are mistaken. After all, if we are smart enough to earn that well and make wise investments, why wouldn’t we splurge on good cars too?
3. SUVs in India have gone more compact and come in many more options. Sure, in the 90s and early 2000s, the only options left to us were Tata Sumo and Maruti Gypsy. So you can’t exactly blame us for preferring a Zen. Not anymore though. Today’s SUVs are comfy, stylish and every bit worth flaunting.
4. SUVs have a comfortable step-in height, which works regardless of the outfit we are wearing. While some are much higher, we do find a vehicle that works for us. I wonder who started the rumour that women like lowering themselves into very low-slung cars. Not true, you know. We like a clear view of the road as much as male drivers do.
5. We are not intimidated by the size of the SUV. The stick-shift system is the same after all.
Don’t force-fit us into cute hatch-backs please!
6. SUVs are safer. Honestly, compact hatch-backs may be cute, but they don’t have a good pick-up, if we want to leave something behind. Besides, SUVs are rough and tough and provide better security and pick-up.
7. Contrary to what most people think, women like to do road trips too, especially with their girl gang. So a good powerful car comes in handy.
8. We ferry the family around too, and sometimes the boyfriend/ husband and his drunk buddies. An eight-seater does prove to be useful.
9. Women do road trips on Enfields, Harley Davidsons and other cruiser bikes. Why wouldn’t we extend to four-wheel cruisers as well?
10.But really, best reason of all, we buy SUVs for the same reasons men do. Because their specifications and features suit our purpose, whatever they may be.
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