Are small cars about to be run off the road?

With US car manufacturers ending production of hatchbacks and sedans, is Australia poised to follow suit, and our roads overrun with utes and SUVs, asks Richard Blackburn.

Is this the beginning of the end for the car as we know it?

General Motors in the US has just announced it will end production of a number of traditional hatchbacks and sedans as it focuses on SUVs and utes, or pick-ups as they are called in the US.

The decision follows a similar move by Ford earlier this year. The Blue Oval announced it would not invest in another generation of sedans for the US and would stop selling the Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks.

By 2020, Ford says 90 per cent of its portfolio in the US will be trucks, SUVs and commercial vehicles.

It’s only a matter of time before Australia follows suit. Last year SUVs — essentially jacked up all-wheel drive family wagons and high-riding hatchbacks with styling that mimics 4WD off-road vehicles — outsold hatchbacks and sedans for the first time and the trend towards softroaders has gathered pace this year.

While hatchbacks such as the Toyota Corolla, Mazda3 and Hyundai i30 still sell in decent numbers, they are propped up by fleet sales.

Smaller cars like the Hyundai i30 still sell in decent numbers, but SUVs outsold them last year. Picture: supplied

When they dip into their own pockets, Australian buyers are increasingly opting for SUVs or one-tonne utes such as the Toyota HiLux, our top selling vehicle.

Last month the top ten selling cars included three utes and four SUVs. It’s a far cry from the nineties and the noughties, when the Commodore and Falcon family sedans ruled the roost.

So far this year, sales of sedans are down by more than a third, while small hatchback sales are also dwindling as buyers flock to SUVs of all sizes.

In the process, some of our most popular cars have disappeared. Nissan’s Pulsar and Micra are gone, Mitsubishi’s Mirage is on life support and the Lancer hasn’t been updated for years. Both brands are now focused on where the money is: SUVs and one-tonne utes.

Ford will no longer bring the standard Fiesta to Australia, Volkswagen’s not selling the Jetta anymore and Holden’s US-sourced Malibu has come and gone.

SUVs are popular because they’re high on the road and easy to load. Picture: supplied

So what’s the attraction of SUVs? People like the better view of the road thanks to the high seating position (so they can see around other SUVs) and they are sold on one day exploring the great outdoors, even though most models sold don’t have four-wheel drive systems for tackling slippery mud and soft sand.

There’s another attraction for older buyers, too. They find it easier to get in and out of a baby SUV because they don’t have to stoop as much as a normal hatchback.

As for work utes, they’ve become the ultimate work and play vehicle — throw the tools in the back during the week and the surfboards or kid’s bikes on the weekends. Car makers have recognised the trend and added more creature comforts to make families feel more at home. They used to be hose-out affairs with vinyl floors but now they have leather, Apple CarPlay and all the latest safety features. There are also the tax breaks to enjoy.

Unfortunately, utes and SUVs also use more petrol/diesel than traditional cars, so vehicle emissions and pollution are unlikely to improve. Be careful what you wish for.

Richard Blackburn is National Motoring Editor for News Corp.