European lawmakers’ attempts to convince their citizens to drive smaller cars appear to be falling on deaf ears with ever greater numbers buying much-maligned sport utility vehicles.

This dissonance between policy and practice will be evident at this week’s International Motor Show in Frankfurt, where carmakers – alongside their new “green” low-emission small cars – will be showing off an eye-catching range of small and mid-size sport and mid-size utility (SUV) and crossover vehicles, one of Europe’s fastest-growing segments.