1.People drive SUV's because they are safe, they fit (in my case) 3 car seats, and face it they are attractive to a whole host of people...The beauty of living in America is that if you like something, its likely you can buy it...The 3 car seats won't fit in the Honda Civic, I have tried.
This will prob. get moved over to the transportation forum, but I just wanted to espouse an Anti-SUV statement. Im not sure this will work, but I tried to paste a spreadsheet of SUV and comparable options. I grouped them as follows:
Make and Mode Weight (lbs) cargo cap. (sq/ft) mpg city Max seating
Fullsize SUV
Chevy Tahoe 4828 15 105 9
Ford Expedition 5267 14 111 8
Toyota Landcruiser 5115 13 91 8
Average Measures 5070 14 102 8
Fullsize Other
Grand Caravan eX 4263 17 168 7
Honda Odyssey EX 4299 18 146 7
Average Measures 4281 17 157 7
Midsize SUV
Chevy Blazer (4dr) 3791 17 68 6
Ford Explorer (4dr 8cyl) 4000 14 88 7
Honda Pilot (4dr 4wd) 4439 17 90 8
Average Measures 4076 16 82 7
Midsize Other
Chrysler PT Cruiser 3123 19 64 5
Saturn L Wagon 3272 21 79 5
VW Passat Wagon 3547 19 39 5
Average Measures 3314 19 60 5
My point?
A minivan can easily replace a fullsize SUV, provide for more than adequate seating, as well as better cargo room, while weighing 600 pounds less (600 less pounds of metal flung at another car in an accident), and getting three miles per gallon better gas mileage (4 gallons of gas less per every 300 miles driven)
A Wagon can easily replace a midsize SUV, providing almost as much seating and adequate room. wjile weighing in at 700 pounds less and also getting three mpg better gas mileage.
Price? Prices of minivans to fullsize SUVS and of wagons to midsize SUV's are similar, and even a little better.
People drive SUV's because suave marketers told them to do so. SUV's are pushed by the major car companies because they provide very high profit margins.
I really dislike the safety arguement offered by many of the SUV crowd. What about MY safety? Is it not important just because I choose not to drive around a big bloated SUV? If I choose to drive around in a tank because it is safer for me, then what are the costs to others in an accident? Bigger and heavier cars beget bigger and heavier cars. If auto manufacturers started downsizing all types of cars, then it would be safer for everyone because there would be less weight and thus kinetic energy to dissipate in any given accident.
anyways, nothing personal. please pardon the ranting.