I don't want an SUV. I get angry at rental companies when they try to give me one.
I increasingly don't recognize this country I grew up in with the car culture. In the early 90s nobody wanted SUVs either. The truck and SUV craze was apparently sparked by an emissions regulatory loophole, where larger vehicles were excempt because they were meant for work.
Modern "compact" or "crossover" SUVs are just hatchback cars. Some are quite small, they're just named differently to make people buy them.
The real loser has been minivans, station wagons, and actual hatchbacks. There's no reason to buy a sedan when on the same footprint you can get an SUV with more room.
Tesla Model 3 length: 185.8″
Volkswagen Taos length: 175.8″
This is a popular opinion, but there are still advantages to a sedan. e.g. driving dynamics, weight and aerodynamics and therefore fuel economy, price, etc.
It's just that many buyers don't prioritize these things.
Most buyers only really compare efficiency after narrowing down other things they deem "irreplaceable".
USED buyers, of course, are much more flexible because the main thing they care about is price. But nobody builds used vehicles, only new ones.
Sure there is, fuel efficiency being one.
Also I just do not at all like driving SUVs. I like to be closer to the road, and sedans just feel more stable to me.
The proliferation of SUVs is so profoundly disappointing.
This tax remains in effect to this day with that trade war a distant memory.
Car enthusiasts still like small sedans with handling and looks and etc. But the average person just wants the biggest, most comfortable car they can get for the money.
I had a millenial co-worker ask me why selling a 2-door car was even legal these days.
They want the biggest, because it makes them feel comfortable, despite objective data and car parts that SUVs are more dangerous and less comfortable.
One theory is that millennials have been taught that higher and bigger is better because of age related vision deterioration by their parents and it has now caught on.
Anecdotally, I asked this line of questioning recently of family that had the choice of a 20 hour road trip - 2 people in (solid rear axle) Cadillac Escalade versus a similar year Mercedes Mid Size SUV. The reasoning given was comfort. But objectively, the mid size has independent rear suspension, more responsive steering, quicker pickup, lower weight (and better center of gravity), lower miles, fewer maintenance issues, fits in more parking spaces, is not as tall to get into comfortably, better fuel economy, and more comfortable seating. The conclusion that the extra large SUV is more comfortable perplexes me.
2) cargo cult culture in literally everything these days, including what some less-than-bright footballer buys for a car (or some famous dev or company uses for building their products), so these 'suv' are seen as luxury, and not garbage dump of companies making real cars (TM) like BMW.
Severe rolling risk, slow reaction times and generally just a bad drive thanx to basic physics, high consumption and overall maintenance... not that great a choice for many
But because their profile is much more aerodynamic and they are lower to the ground, they just drive very smoothly. Especially when covering long distances on the freeway.
It's also amazing to be able to open every door and control every feature with a physical button on the dash and be able to haul full sheets of plywood in the back.
My personal cars have all been sporty little manual hatchbacks, but if I just wanted all out comfort it's really hard to beat a well equipped mini-van.
Maybe I just had bad luck with the rentals I chose?
I think a fairer description would be that American culture values space, personal property ownership, and independence. Car ownership is a means to an end.
Our fridge/freezer is on the larger size, but is also usually pretty full, so we definitely get good use out of it. Our washing machine is reasonably large, but, frankly, not large enough, as I can't fit our king-size bed's comforter in it, and have to use a laundry service to get it washed. Our couch is a pretty good size, but my partner and I want to be able to stretch out on it (at opposite ends) simultaneously, which doesn't seem like a wild or unreasonable thing to want to do.
And I prefer a smaller car! I refuse to purchase an SUV, despite my need to drive in snowy mountains several months out of the year (I of course found a sedan with a 4WD option). I hate driving SUVs; they feel bulky, unwieldy, and unstable to me. Before I bought my current car, I would rent a 4WD SUV when I needed to drive in the snow, and I hated the experience every time.
When travelling, I tend to prefer public transport, except when in a group or when I need to carry a lot of stuff, and again, for that I need a big car.
And not an EV. EVs are ideal when you can charge at home. When renting a car, it usually means I don't have a "home", and planning for charging points in a place you are not familiar with is a hassle. And EVs are not ideal for road trips where each leg typically exceeds the maximum range.
So yeah, I understand why rentals would be dominated by large gas cars and trucks.
The only thing I can think of is to emphasize their superior fuel economy and get people to appreciate the superior handling.
Make people drive an obstacle avoidance course in both a small car and a huge SUV. Maybe some people would accept that the safer car doesn't have to be the bigger car, but the one with enough agility and stability to avoid it completely.
Many times people that prize handling of the car end up pushing the limits and driving dangerously aggressively accelerating and braking, following closely, aggressively lane swerving.
Same, but I think the GP is correct to say that most people do want an SUV, in the US, at least.