America's Love Affair with Big Fat Vehicles

[ChewChewTrain]

SUV and truck sales have grown to 70% of all new, American vehicles.

No wonder Tesla's follow-on vehicle to the Model S was the Model X SUV.

I'm a contrarian. Both my vehicles are small; a Civic hatchback and a Miata.

Like Lotus would rather increase performance with less weight, I feel better MPG efficiency should be done the same way.

[Draigflag]

It's a global trend Doug, not just in the US. The Crossover is popular here, not quite an SUV perhaps, but a large family car, raised up to feel like an SUV, often with just 2WD and clever traction control for light off roading. On saying that, designers have been very clever with their weight saving techniques, your average SUV might only weigh the same as a regular car did 10-15 years ago. Never saw the point in driving anything larger than I needed, and never believed larger vehicles are safer either as you're more likely to roll and loose a limb out the window, or break your neck.

[R.I.D.E.]

Wife says she will never own a station wagon. She buys a Rogue, which is nothing more than a station wagon version of a Sentra platform. She loves to sit up high and have good visibility and has an accident free driving record going back to 1973 when she wiped out a Volkswagen.
Just another word for a Shooting Brake LOL.
She does average close to the EPA highway rating of 33 mpg (about 40 Brit)

[ChewChewTrain]

Want a good, used car deal? I read station wagons are so "undesirable" they have the lowest resale value.