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Comment by sorenjan | Hacker News Reader

What can an SUV do that something like a Volvo V60/V90, Audi A4/A6 or similar cant? Do you really need the extra ground clearance because you have a kid in the car? A Honda Accord should work just fine for three kids, at least the estate version.

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V60/90 is considered an "SUV" since the term has become synonymous with crossover. A6 isn't offered in wagon form in the US, nor is the Honda Accord. The Accord also can't be optioned with AWD.

Limited practical options in the US definitely helped push the move to CUVs.

edit: whoops, was looking at the "Cross Country" variant of the V60/90, which is a raised wagon. The normal V60/90 wagon I'll concede to be sufficient for most people's needs, but it's only been available in the US market since 2014.

V60 and V90 are station wagons, you're thinking of XC60 and XC90. The reason wagons aren't offered in the US is because the consumers didn't buy them, which is my point. When given the choice, they chose the bigger, heavier option because the extra cost of using more resources weren't high enough.

I actually believe hatchbacks are making a comeback. Toyota just introduced the Corolla hatchback in response to the new Civic hatchback. Jaguar has a new XF wagon. Porsche made the Panamera Wagon.

I'd like to believe all these automakers aren't going through the trouble of safety testing and certifying wagons without demand being there. The hatchback version of the Golf/Mazda3/Impreza seem to be selling well enough.

Honda tried valiantly to sell the Crosstour but couldn't give it away and finally gave up on it. Looked like a raised Accord wagon. I've been searching for a used one but so few were sold I've about given up.

The Crosstour was such a dorky thing. It had a fastback instead of a proper hatchback which really limited it's utility. For comparison, Honda's CRV had the same engine, more cargo room, and better fuel economy for $5k less.

I live in Chicago. We had a foot of snow land on us this morning. Our 300-foot driveway was not cleared this morning, so my wife took the 2007 Mercury Mariner (Ford Escape). She made it to the road without any issues. It took me two hours in a 1994 BMW 525 to get to the end of the driveway; go two feet, shovel, backup, shovel, then just shovel a path the whole way.

We have three kids in car seats. Getting a baby carrier out from the middle of the BMW is a mess. It's simple in the Mariner.

I frequently need building materials for things around the property. Where do I load a car with shovels, 2x4s, plywood, and hardware cloth?

Shovels go in the trunk or back seat. Plywood gets strapped to the roof. Just like millions of people did for the nearly hundred years before SUV’s existed.

I don’t know what hardware cloth is, though.

I live in Sweden, we get some snow from time to time as well. What we do is put winter tires on all cars (it's mandatory in winter conditions and after December 1).

I'm pretty sure getting car seats in and out of cars have improved in the last 24 years. A baby carrier is probably more convenient in the front passenger seat, don't forget to turn off the airbag.

Most people around here just put a trailer behind the car if the stuff doesn't fit in the back with the back seats folded.

I'd also like to point out that of course some people need 4x4 with higher ground clearance. But do the majority need it?

I live in Canada and I will take a 2WD car with good winter tires on it over an AWD 'crossover SUV' with crappy tires any day.

True 4WD with high clearance is needed for some unpaved mountain roads, but only a vanishingly small number of people need that.

Many states in the U.S. require car or booster seats to be placed in the rear seat, as well as seating any child 8 years or under in the back seat. Even where it might not be required, it's considered irresponsible to do otherwise and there's a lot of cultural pressure to conform.

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