Quite often, the mantra of life seems to be: bigger is better. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Although there certainly are many benefits to owning larger cars, there are also many drawbacks.
Even with advances in engine technology, simple physics dictates that a larger, heavier car will indeed have higher fuel costs. The amount of energy necessary to move a car increases with vehicle size and load. Very often, the larger the car, the higher the chance of a gas guzzler tax is, which can sometimes go into the thousands of dollars on top of the initial purchase price.
Larger cars have a bigger turning radius and are tough to fit into tight spots, so it makes certain types of driving and parking more difficult. Larger cars also tend to have longer stopping distances because of the increased weight. It may take some time and careful driving for a driver to become acclimated with a large car.
Large cars often require larger tires that tend to be more expensive, especially when they have low profile and high performance styling. Brakes also wear out quicker on larger cars because of the added mass. Heavier components often can put more stress on the suspension causing it to wear out sooner, especially on rough roads.
Because of the higher sticker price of a larger vehicle, insurance rates tend to be higher on larger cars, all else being equal. That being said, the added safety features of larger cars can make up for the difference and bring insurance costs a little closer to those of smaller cars.
Larger cars are usually more expensive then their smaller counterparts, mostly because they require more materials to build. The aforementioned gas guzzler tax, also tends to increase the price on many large vehicles. Delivery costs and even registration costs are likewise often higher that with smaller cars.
