Compact SUVs are usually based on compact hatchbacks. Are they worth the extra money?

Here is something to get you folks to start thinking a little.

Compact Crossover vehicles - These are B segment SUVs. Small, compact and usually based on a small B segment sedan or hatchback and made larger. Usually manufacturers widen the chassis a little, raise it a little, slap on some larger tyres and slot in a larger engine too. Sometimes, stretch the chassis a little. But it is essentially the same car underneath.

Let's take the Honda Jazz and Honda HRV as an example. The Honda Jazz/Fit chassis is expanded to include the City sedan and the HRV SUV. The Jazz has a 1.5liter engine producing 120ps and weighs 1070kg. This gives the Jazz a power to weight ratio of 89ps/ton. The HRV has a 1.8liter engine producing 143ps and weighs 1320kg. This gives the HRV a power to weight ratio of 94ps/ton. In other words, the Jazz is actually as fast as the HRV. 

In the Honda City (pictured right above), you'd note that they slap on 175/65/15  or 185/55/16 or thereabouts. The 175/65/15 tyre is cheap, about RM200 each or so will get you a decent one. The HRV tyre size is 215/60/16. Obviously a fatter tyre, one that is constructed with more material will cost more. Let's say an extra RM50 per tyre. That's basically an extra RM200 or so over the Jazz.

The fatter tyres and the raised suspension allows the HRV to ride taller than the Jazz/City. This is actually why most people end up buying compact SUVs. The HRV's ground clearance is 170mm whilst the Jazz/City has about 135mm clearance. 

The cheapest HRV costs RM101,500. The cheapest Jazz costs RM73,800. 

So for an extra RM27,700 you are actually paying for the extra 35mm ground clearance, fatter more expensive tyres which you need to incur additional costs by yourself later on and a very slightly larger cabin and slightly larger exterior because of the larger tyres actually  As for interior space, the packaging of the Jazz and City is actually pretty good inside. I suppose ladies love it for the extra visibility from the extra height. Men like it because their wives, girlfriends or mistresses ask them to buy it. Well, maybe they also like the extra height and it is a Honda. Malaysians love their Hondas (but this isn't no "VTEC kicked in yo" type of Honda lah - the engine is slow to rev unlike sportier VTECs).

As for handling. It will corner slower than a Jazz. As for performance, a Jazz isn't left behind at all. A deficit of 4ps or so in the power to weight ratio usually means nothing much when you also add aerodynamics that comes into the picture at higher speeds. Obviously the Jazz is more aerodynamic as its lower without a gaping hole between the road and the bottom of the chassis like the tall HRV. And the extra drag, weight and engine size means more fuel consumption than the Jazz too.

So again. RM27,700 for added ride height and only a slightly larger interior. Of course. Added maintenance costs in the long run too. Fatter tyres, more road tax (RM90 for the Jazz, RM280 for the HRV - approx), more insurance (how much would an extra RM27000 worth of coverage be? RM800?). Extra street presence or street cred? It is still an entry level Honda. Not a Civic Type-R.

Note that this argument also applies to other compact SUVs like the Mazda CX-3 (based on the Mazda 2), the Renault Captur (based on the Clio - but since it is actually priced cheaper than the Clio 1.2 in Malaysia...this argument does not apply to it) and even slightly larger ones too. This is just a friendly reminder on what you are actually buying and paying for. Is the extra ride height really necessary?