Britain is becoming a nation of wide boys on the road – because many modern cars are now too big to get through standard width restrictions.
According to a report, the trend for beefed up 4x4s and SUVs mean an increasing number of vehicles are now so wide they cannot squeeze through the typical restrictions put in place to stop large vans and lorries entering.
And many others are only able to get through with just half an inch either side to spare…and that doesn’t include the wing mirrors, said the guide produced by consumer group Which?
The trend for beefed up 4x4s and SUVs mean an increasing number of vehicles, like the pictured Land Rover, are now so wide they cannot squeeze through typical restrictions
On the plus side, it does mean fewer giant Chelsea Tractors in quiet residential streets and potentially less of them on the school run.
But it also means no entry for cheaper but equally musclebound models too, such as the Kia Sedona.
The typical width restrictions on British roads are 6’6” and signposted as such on the approach, but many driver yet to experience them may not be aware exactly how wide their own car is.
The widest of the lot is the Land Rover Discovery Sport, which spans a huge 6’9”, a full two inches wider than the next biggest motor, the Mercedes GLE Coupe.
Other cars too wide for the barriers include the BMW X6 and Audi Q7s made before 2015 which are both a fraction above 6’6” and so cannot get through the gap.
Those which can pass but only just – leaving half an inch or less of clearance on either side – include the trendy Tesla Model S, Range Rovers in general and even the less fashionable Renault Trafic Passenger.
And those which are tight, with a width of around 6’4” to 6’5” include models from Chrysler, Jeep, VW and Porsche, said the Which? report.
It added: ‘Many UK roads have width restrictions to prevent large vans and commercial vehicles from using them.With the increasing popularity of SUVs and crossovers, many cars are getting larger. It’s no longer just round-hugging performance cars and large van-like MPVs that are too wide for many width restrictions – some family SUVs are now too large, as well as luxury cars.’
It added: ‘The Land Rover Discovery Sport is one of the widest cars you’ll see on UK roads. It’s easily too wide to pass down roads with the usual 6’6” width restrictions.’
Amid a general decline in the new car market, SUVs have been the only type of car to see a growth in sales.