They are widely criticised as gas guzzling monstrosities out of step with modern demands for clean air - but new figures suggest we could be entering the age of the sports utility vehicle.

SUVs are now the most popular choice for car buyers, according to industry research firm JATO Dynamics.

Defined as vehicles which combine attributes of traditional cars with off-roading elements such as large cabins and a high ride, SUVs represented 40.1pc of all new car sales across Europe last month – a total of 484,400 vehicles.

This was a new record and up from a 35.6pc market share a year ago.

In a world where drivers are being encouraged to go green, whether through taxes, charges to drive in cities, higher fuel prices and the push towards electric motoring, the attraction of these large vehicles might seem surprising. Yet analysts believe they are benefitting from demands for better protection and a fall in costs.

“Much of it is the sense of safety from their high driving positions, but also the comfort and extra space they offer,” says Felipe Munoz of JATO.

“What’s also helped is prices falling. In 2007, when this trend started, there were very few SUVs around and they were generally very large, expensive and four-wheel drive – think of the Range Rover.