A game between practicality and design aesthetics

In October 2025, with the arrival of the rainy season, many areas in southern China entered a "muddy water mode". On social media, a discussion about whether car mudguards are necessary continues to heat up: A car owner posted a picture of an SUV without mudguards driving on a muddy road, with the body covered in mud spots and the chassis tie rods rusty. Another car owner complained that the mudguards spoiled the streamlined design of his car and even scratched the chassis when going up and down the steps. Behind this controversy lies the complex collision between automotive industrial design, user demands and actual road conditions.

The core function of mudguards: From "car protection wonder" to "Safety guardian"
The mudguard is not merely a decorative piece; its core function can be traced back to the early days of the automobile. In the era when unpaved roads dominated, mudguards were the first line of defense for vehicle bodies:

Physical protection: If the sand and gravel lifted by the tires directly hit the vehicle body, it may not only scratch the paint surface but also cause rust on the metal parts of the chassis in severe cases. According to the actual measurement by Pacific Auto Network, the paint wear rate at the wheel arches of vehicles without mudguards increases by 37% after driving 50 kilometers on sandy and gravel roads.
Functional protection: Mud and water splashing into the engine compartment may cause poor heat dissipation and even lead to short circuits in electronic components. Splashing onto components such as steering tie rods and ball heads will accelerate rusting and shorten their service life. The patent for the mudguard applied for by BYD in 2024 shows that its designed hollowed-out structure can guide the airflow to cool the brake disc while preventing mud from blocking the heat dissipation holes.
Social etiquette: Mudguards can reduce the splashing of mud and water on vehicles and pedestrians behind. Statistics from a certain online car-hailing platform show that when vehicles equipped with mudguards accept orders in rainy weather, the proportion of passengers complaining about their clothes being splashed with mud drops by 62%.
Disappearing Mudguards: An Inevitable Choice in the Evolution of Automobiles?
Despite their significant functions, mudguards are gradually disappearing from new cars. In the latest models of 2025, over 70% of pure electric vehicles and 50% of fuel vehicles do not come standard with mudguards. This phenomenon is the result of the accumulation of multiple factors:

Aerodynamic revolution: If the mudguard protrudes about 5 centimeters from the vehicle body, it will disrupt the airflow and increase the wind resistance coefficient by 0.01 to 0.02. For electric vehicles that are sensitive to range, this minor difference may reduce the driving range by 3 to 5 kilometers. Wind tunnel tests of the Tesla Model Y show that after removing the mudguards, the high-speed range has increased by 8 kilometers.
The demand for lightweighting: The total weight of the four rubber mudguards is approximately 3 to 5 kilograms. Under the car manufacturers' meticulous weight reduction strategy, they have become the objects to be optimized.
Design aesthetic transformation: Modern automobiles pursue "pure curved surfaces", and mudguards are regarded as "flaws" that disrupt the overall sense. A designer from a luxury brand frankly admitted, "Mudguards are like putting rain boots on a cheetah, spoiling the sense of speed."
Urbanization dividend: The proportion of paved roads in China has reached 92%, and the number of muddy sections has significantly decreased. A survey conducted by a certain car manufacturer shows that the demand for mudguards among urban users is only 18%, while it is as high as 73% among rural users.
User Choice: A Trade-off Guide to Install or Not Install
In the face of disputes, users need to make choices based on the actual scenarios:

Must-install scenarios
Frequent driving in rural areas, mountainous regions or construction sections poses a high risk of sand and gravel splashing.
The rainy season is long and there are many waterlogged roads. It is necessary to protect the chassis and electronic components.
Vehicle paint surfaces are sensitive (such as metallic paint and pearl paint), and the repair cost is high.
Omitted scenes:
It mainly drives on urban paved roads and the parking environment has no curb.
Pursue ultimate lightweight or aerodynamic performance (such as high-performance electric vehicles);
We accept regular car wash maintenance and don't mind any mud stains.
Installation suggestion: If you choose to install, it is necessary to give priority to the dedicated vehicle model to ensure a fit with the vehicle's arc and avoid mud accumulation in the gaps. Rubber mudguards can last for 3 to 5 years, while plastic mudguards need to be cautious of the risk of cracking at low temperatures.

Future trend: The rise of intelligent mudguards
The disappearance of mudguards is not the end but the starting point of technological iteration. Byd's 2024 patent display, "Self-cooling Mudguard", achieves active cooling through airway design by utilizing the airflow from the brake disc, preventing rubber aging. A start-up company has developed a retractable mudguard that automatically retracts at high speeds to reduce wind resistance and unfolds for protection at low speeds.

"The fate of mudguards reflects the transformation of the automotive industry from 'functionality first' to 'experience first'." " Li Ming, an automotive industry analyst, pointed out, "In the future, it may return in a more intelligent and invisible form and become one of the 'antennae' for vehicles to perceive road conditions."

In this game between practicality and aesthetics, there may be no standard answer to the retention or abolition of mudguards, but the demands of users have always been the core driving force for technological evolution. Just as one car owner commented on the forum: "I don't care whether it looks good or not. I only care that when I pick up my child on a rainy day, I won't throw mud spots on his school uniform."