Recently, high-rise SUVs have become increasingly popular on the Swedish market.
As a rule, the big cars are not only more expensive to buy, but also come with higher ownership costs, and the question is how many people really need a big car.
We Car Owners have compared two of their long test cars to illustrate that many people buy far more car than they need, and that this can be expensive in the long run.
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Skoda Fabia vs Mazda MX-60
The thesis behind Vi Bilägare’s test is that many SUV buyers choose a larger car than they need in their everyday life, in order to be able to load properly on vacation a few times a year.
The cars that the magazine compared are the petrol-powered small car Skoda Fabia 1.0 TSI and the plug-in hybrid SUV Mazda CX-60, both of which have four doors, luggage space and room for five passengers.
Beyond that, however, the similarities are few. In curb weight, there is a whopping 881 kilos difference between the cars, and the difference in purchase price is over SEK 280,000.
The large SUV is also equipped with larger tires and bulkier components that are more expensive to replace, and the weight and increased air resistance due to the car’s height lead to significantly increased fuel consumption.
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The solution: A small car with big boxes
According to We Car Owners, the solution to avoid the costs of the big car, without losing its practicality on long journeys, is to buy the small Skoda and specially equip it when you have to drive long distances.
The magazine’s test family went on a mountain trip to Jämtland twice – once with a Mazda MX-60 and once with a Skoda Fabia.
By mounting a so-called “back box” on the small Skoda’s towbar, the combined load space is actually larger than the luggage space in the Mazda. Both cars were also equipped with the same model of roof box.
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Big difference for the wallet
In financial terms, the result of the test was a resounding victory for the little Skoda Fabia, which landed on an average consumption of 0.6 liters per mile for the trip.
Instead, the Mazda MX-60 drew 0.87 liters per mile, even though the hybrid battery was recharged several times during the trip.
To complete the journey with the Skoda, they spent SEK 1,200 on petrol, while petrol and charging costs for the same journey with the Mazda came to SEK 2,000.
Despite the compact dimensions, they also thought that the ride comfort in the small car was good in both the front and back seats. However, it was noted that the Mazda trumps the Skoda when it comes to performance – mainly when overtaking.
If you want to save a lot of money, there is undoubtedly an argument for choosing a small car if it works on a daily basis, and equipping it with more luggage space when long-distance driving is required.
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