As one motoring expert gives their opinion on the main problem with modern cars, including those designed for families, Reach Plc's Christopher Sharp also had his say in response15:14, 26 Jun 2026One of the most significant developments in motoring since the car was invented at the end of the 19th century is that it has become considerably safer. From the exposed open carriages of the Victorian era, today's driver is now wrapped in a protective shell of metal, plastic and composite materials, gliding — sometimes electronically — along the road.‌While safety has improved enormously since the early days of motoring, concern has grown in recent decades over the ever-increasing size of vehicles and whether this trend is causing problems. Cars have grown by a few centimetres each in recent years.‌Although this may not appear particularly significant, when applied across every vehicle on the road, it means there is simply less room to go around. However, one motoring expert believes there is an even greater issue at play, and it has nothing to do with size.‌Writing in Auto Express, journalist Ellis Hyde raised concerns about the sheer amount of power that ordinary family cars now produce. While 400bhp was once the exclusive preserve of supercars and hypercars, today's electric vehicles can achieve that figure with ease.That may all sound impressive, but serious questions are being asked about whether family cars actually need that level of power, particularly given that there are very few situations where it would ever be fully utilised. Furthermore, Ellis raised concerns about whether family cars are being adequately adapted before being fitted with such enormous amounts of power.‌He said: "The BYD Atto 3 EVO is a perfect example of this, because the fairly ordinary SUV that previously produced just 200bhp was recently given a whacking great 443bhp, plus 560Nm of torque....yet the suspension and brakes on this flagship car are the same as those on the base 303bhp version, which doesn't inspire much confidence."The other issue, according to Ellis, is that certain drivers may lack experience in handling vehicles with such substantial power. He added: "And with these cars being so fast, drivers who have never had access to so much firepower can easily find themselves going way beyond the speed limit without even trying."A 400bhp+ family car sounds like a fun idea, plus it's great the first time you launch it. But you might not feel quite so clever after your third speeding ticket."‌Ellis' worries emerge at a time when questions are being raised about the direction of modern cars, particularly regarding performance and dimensions. One expert recently highlighted the issue posed by 'Carspreading', the phenomenon of vehicles becoming increasingly large.That expert, speaking to the Guardian, was Hannah Budnitz, a researcher at the transport studies unit of the University of Oxford. She discussed how larger vehicles and inadequately marked parking bays are compounding the situation.‌She said: "In many places, parking bays are marked and are not being re-marked gradually in the way the scenario suggests, meaning that larger vehicles can end up taking up two spaces by default - or overflowing into space for other road users."What does Christopher Sharp - Reach Plc car reviewer - think?I share Ellis's view, though I believe this is a matter that warrants careful consideration. If you're going to equip your large, heavy family car with more power than a supercar, you need to ensure the suspension and, crucially, the tyres are capable of handling it.400bhp+ sounds impressive on paper and may deliver an exhilarating burst of acceleration, but if the tyres and suspension aren't up to scratch, that's a serious concern.Article continues belowOn top of that, those tyres are put under enormous strain on Britain's increasingly deteriorating roads, particularly on narrow, winding country lanes flanked by hedgerows and trees. In such conditions, caution is essential and a 400bhp+ SUV offers no real solution.It's not about outlawing cars with excessive power, but rather about manufacturers asking themselves whether it's genuinely needed.