If you have owned both a car and an SUV, you may have noticed the SUV goes through brakes faster. That is not your imagination - SUVs ask more of their brakes. Here is why SUVs are hard on brakes.
More weight to stop
SUVs are simply heavier than cars, and every stop means converting more motion into heat - see do heavier cars need bigger brakes. More mass means more braking force and more heat in the pads and rotors, which speeds up wear; see why brakes get hot.
A higher center of gravity
SUVs sit tall, so braking shifts even more weight onto the front axle than in a low car. That loads the front brakes hard, which is a big reason SUV front pads wear quickly; see why front brakes wear faster. The rears do relatively less.
How they get used
SUVs also tend to carry passengers and cargo and to tow, all of which add load and heat; see why brakes overheat towing. A loaded, towing SUV on a downhill is one of the hardest brake workloads there is, raising fade risk; see brake fade.
What helps
Use quality pads rated for the vehicle's weight, consider heavier-duty friction if you tow, and do not ride the brakes downhill. Larger vented rotors and good pads handle the heat; see best pads for towing. Fit quality pads and hardware.