SUVs or sports utility vehicles come in all sizes, but the most popular ones in Singapore are “soft roaders”, unlike the fuel-thirsty giants preferred in the USA. Most of these vehicles are marketed as lifestyle statements on the road for adventure-loving yuppies.

Ladies, be careful about your modesty if you attempt to climb up one of these in your super mini skirt.

Bigger SUVs include a third-row seat that increases passenger capacity to seven or eight. While SUVs offer more cargo space than sedans, they don’t match MPVs in this department, primarily because they’re not designed as people-and-goods movers. Leg space in the last row may be tight and best suited for keeping a naughty child apart from his siblings.

Some SUVs have a foldable third-row seat to expand the cargo area when needed. The most convenient type of third-row seat is one with a split design.

Among the various types of cars, SUVs seem to attract the most negative publicity. This is mainly because they seem more prone to dramatic rollover accidents due to their height. Besides dual front air bags, some models come with side air bags and air curtains to protect rear passengers from side crashes or rollovers.

One common sense action for drivers to take is to distribute heavy items evenly throughout the SUV and place them as low as possible. Avoid overloading the roof rack to keep the centre of gravity low.

Driving a bigger and taller vehicle doesn’t mean you’re invincible – basic road safety and courtesy are still the keys to a smooth journey.