2 Door SUV – A Thing of the Past?

The Two Door SUV has been on the decline in the automotive industry for years now. While the Ford Explorer, Chevy Blazer and Tahoe (among others) used to offer two door models, they are tough to come by these days. Why could this be? In this article, we will examine the decline of two door sport utility vehicles and why this decline may have happened to begin with.

Most people know the Jeep Wrangler just by passing one on the highway. A quick glance at a Wrangler lets the onlooker know exactly what the driver is all about – off-road conditions. The Jeep Wrangler is more or less the only  2 door SUV that has survived the test of time.

Why is this? Some would argue that the rich tradition of the Wrangler, rooted in the Jeep CJ series which were used originally as military vehicles, is what gives the Wrangler a certain appeal.

It most certainly has it’s own niche market. The person looking for great driving and handling through all weather conditions or any sort of mud will most definitely love the Wrangler for it’s four wheel drive and frame that was meant to take abuse.

So if the Wrangler is the only two door sport utility vehicle still left standing, what happened to all the others? Well, first we might examine the appeal of the average sport utility vehicle to begin with.

One of the main reasons why a new car buyer would look to an SUV is it’s family appeal. With the right SUV, Mom and Dad can drive around all of their children and the groceries to boot. Does a two door sport utility vehicle render itself impractical to this sort of purpose? Maybe so.

It can be tough and inconvenient to get everyone in and out of the car easily and safely (especially children) when there are only two doors on the vehicle.

Another reason for a lack of two door SUVs on the market is perhaps purely aesthetic. That is to say, the SUV might just simply not look good with only two doors. Perhaps the consumer is so accustomed to seeing an SUV with four doors that a two door model just appears strange.

Maybe the reason for no more two door SUVs is a lack of space. Most sport utility models such as the Tahoe can seat up to seven or eight people. Would a two door SUV be able to support this many people, or a large amount of groceries, supplies or things of that nature?

While the Jeep Wrangler thrives with several different models, other two door sport utility vehicles have fallen up short in these times. However, with gas prices still on the rise, is it possible that the automotive industry sees a return of more compact, two door SUVs?

Some believe it may be very possible. Keep an eye on the market, because who knows? Maybe 2011 or 2012 will be the year of the two door Cadillac Escalade.

3 Responses to “2 Door SUV – A Thing of the Past?”

1. Top SUVs for 2010 | SUV Today says:

   February 15, 2010 at 4:37 pm

   […] crossovers and the luxury crossovers; finally, there are the off-road SUV’s (including 2 door suvs). The categories in the affordable range are priced under $35,000 while the luxury are all priced […]

2. V6 SUV | SUV Today says:

   February 15, 2010 at 4:58 pm

   […] available but not as widely manufactured are SUV’s with off road capabilities, the traditional enclosed truck looking versions. Though they still have load hauling capacity; […]

3. Chevy SUV: Compare the Best Options | SUV Today says:

   March 1, 2010 at 5:06 pm

   […] Tahoe comes in 2 and 4 door models. There’s three different engine sizes, and multiple trim package options. There is one model […]