Crossovers prove that facts are useless

Here is the thing about Brexit: there are no facts. Both sides of the debate talk as if there are indisputable facts that we must heed if we are to make informed decisions, but the reality is that we only have hypotheses and predictions. That is not to say that these are not valid and an important part of the discernment process, but we have never been in this situation before, and the outcome, whatever the final deal will be, cannot be known beforehand. Only in retrospect will we see how all the variables and complexities came together to shape the future of the United Kingdom. At this point, we cannot expect people to make a decision based on facts, because there really are none.

A crossover vehicle that I have driven.

It is entirely the opposite with the crossover segment, however. Here we do have a multitude of concrete facts. Every test crossovers are subjected to proves that they are objectively worse than the cars they share platforms with: they are worse to drive, worse to look at, worse on fuel, worse on your wallet, and the list goes on and on. And I suspect that nearly all professional motoring journalists, who have extensively sampled and tested the range of crossovers on offer today, will tell you exactly this. There is no reason to buy a crossover when the market is full of estates that do the job better in every way. In fact, I would go so far as to suggest it be made a truth universally acknowledged that you should always buy a car instead of a crossover.

Earlier today, Pistonheads‘ contributor, Matt Bird, tweeted this rather surprising bit of information regarding the Cupra variants of the SEAT Ateca and Leon estate, which highlights the absurdity of the crossover:

Here’s something interesting: if you can find a manual, FWD Leon Cupra estate (like this one), it weighs 200kg less than a Cupra Ateca with the same engine. Two hundred kilos! pic.twitter.com/1rdqIzUv7d

— Matt Bird (@PHMattB) November 19, 2018

That is a worthy use of an exclamation mark, because that is an astounding figure. A vehicle whose handling is already compromised by a higher centre of gravity, then laden with two hundred extra kilograms. If such a thing existed, that would be the very first lesson in ‘How to Ruin Vehicle Dynamics 101’. Armed with that knowledge, it would defy sense to then go out and buy an Ateca over a Leon, but of course that is precisely what people will continue to do.

Everyone who argues that Britain needs a second Brexit vote now that we have the ‘facts’ ought to take a look at the crossover market. Here we actually have the facts, and people simply ignore them. I want to believe Andrew Frankel’s argument that the crossover fad will end, but at the moment, the future looks bleak.

If you’re reading this, please just buy an estate. Let us arm ourselves with the facts, and unite to stop the madness that is the crossover.