A prominent electric vehicle advocate has launched a scathing attack on the ever-increasing size of modern utility vehicles, branding them a significant danger to road users and a setback for decarbonisation efforts.
The 'Vanity Wagon' Versus The Traditional Workhorse
In a social media video viewed nearly 67,000 times, pro-EV influencer Sarah Aubrey directly compared a classic early-2000s Ford Falcon ute with a contemporary Ford Ranger Raptor dual-cab. She questioned the necessity of the dramatic size shift, stating the older model was a perfectly functional 'tradie's ute' with a larger practical tray.
Ms Aubrey labelled the newer Ranger Raptor a 'vanity wagon', arguing its heightened design and imposing front end made it 'much more dangerous to everyone else on the road'. She highlighted critical safety concerns for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers of standard-sized cars, pointing to 'appalling blind spots and high hoods which increase the risk of fatalities'.
A Heated Public Debate Erupts
The video ignited hundreds of comments, sharply dividing public opinion. Many users agreed with the safety assessment, with one recounting how their small car was sideswiped by a ute whose driver likely couldn't see them. Another claimed most large utes never carry work equipment.
However, critics countered that modern vehicles incorporate advanced safety technology absent in older models. Others accused Ms Aubrey of unfairly targeting tradespeople, noting large 4x4s have long been on roads. Defenders of dual-cab utes praised their family-friendly features, camping suitability, and superior towing capacity.
Industry Perspective and The Electric Future
Melbourne car enthusiast Stephano Calabro responded forcefully, telling the Daily Mail that manufacturers build larger utes because 'people want to drive them'. He defended the visibility and off-road capability of his Nissan Navara, arguing for consumer choice.
Ms Aubrey linked the trend to rising road deaths and emissions, stating: 'If we want to decarbonise we need to make it safer for people to walk and cycle or to choose a smaller car. This race to the bottom for the biggest vehicle is having catastrophic consequences.' Her comments align with the broader push from bodies like the Electric Vehicle Council, which advocates banning new petrol and diesel car sales by 2035, though it has not yet extended that call to utes and trucks.
Mr Calabro expressed anger at such proposals, valuing the long-range versatility of petrol and diesel vehicles over current electric alternatives, which he sees as primarily suited to city driving.
