Kia Design Boss Hints At The Death Of The SUV

Kia design boss Karim Habib was recently quizzed byAutocaron the future of SUVs and told the British publication that he thinks "the post-SUV is coming." He feels that the market's fascination with SUVs may have come from people's boredom with MPVs, and now that seems to be the notion buyers are finding with SUVs. In addition to a changing customer base, a greater focus on aerodynamic efficiency is causing designers to rethink the idea of a tall, two-box vehicle that almost never goes off-road.

"SUVs were maybe a learning from people driving [MPVs] and being tired of it," said Habib, adding that Kia "will try different things. I do think there are more efficient ways of doing space."

This assertion mirrors that of several automakers who feel that the SUV obsession may be waning. SUVs don't stand out as premium anymore, and other body styles can better them - possible considerations in whyneither Bugatti nor Rimac will go that routefor at least the next decade.

There areseveral benefits to lower cars over SUVs, but most of the market has simply gone with the trends.Genesis is a notable exception, saying numerous buyers still want a lower three-box vehicle. Similarly, Volvo has said that it is looking into the idea ofreinventing the station wagon. With no need for transmission tunnels and other ICE powertrain components, future cars could offer the same space and comfort of a crossover without the drawbacks of that body style.

And manufacturers are not imagining an increasing need for non-SUVs - buyers are starting to move on too. Last month, we learned that the popularity of SUVs and crossovers among buyers of new vehicles was droppingfor the first time in two decades.

Kia is not abandoning SUVs or crossovers, but it is exploring other types of cars. So will Kia build a wagon or something different?