Here's a perfect rationalization for a minivan (or preferably and SUV because the mileage losses aren't worth the stigma of driving an minivan): Kids. Now I am not talking about just the kids that you have, I am talking about all of the ones that you have to lug around, especially when the kids play sports, as Matt's soon will.

We had a minivan growing up, until I was 16 when my mom just got sick of it and traded up to a Lexus GX470. It gets slightly less mileage, but is 100X better in every other conceivable aspect. From the time I was 6 until I was about 16 or 17 (when my parents finally let me drive wherever I wanted), at least a few times a week, the van had a minimum of 5 people in it. The reason was driving carpool for sports practices. It will happen, and its a hell of a lot more comfortable driving around for extended periods of time with 5 people in a van or SUV that was designed for 8 than at full capacity in a regular car.

I know sometimes people can't see outside the immediate bubble of how a decision would affect their own lives, but often that same decision would impact someone else very differently.

Garrett, I think you'll find that most of the anti-suv crowd on here doesn't have kids. If they do, it's only one or two. If you have many kids and/or your kids are involved in anything, you need a big vehicle. You simply don't understand until you're in that situation. And yes, my son is starting tee ball this summer, so your point is very valid. My wife is a professional mom, so it's inevitable that she be a kid hauler for the working moms.

How many kids do you have?

Two, and we inherit 2-3 on a regular basis.

Matt, your situation sounds similar to mine. Is an Armada big enough? I need to haul five adults and a dog and have enough room behind the third row seat to put some gear. I thought the CX-9 would be big enough for that. Is there anything between a pilot/Exploerer/CX-9 and a full blown Suburban? I prefer my houses on foundations instead of wheels. Those puppies are big.

I don't know if I'd want to put an adult in the backseat of a CX9 for an extended period of time. But to clarify, Explorer/Pilot/SRX are all very close in size. CX9 is slightly longer. Tahoe/Expedition are bigger yet, and the new Sequoia and Armada are a bit bigger still. Top of the heap is the Suburban and Yukon XL.

I don't care for the Expedition, and the Tahoe doesn't do it for me. Even worse, the Tahoe/Yukon doesn't have a fold flat 3rd row, so you have to remove those heavy seats to haul bigger stuff. Major PITA. The new bodystyle Sequoia and Armada are big enough to fit adults in each row if necessary, and a decent amount of stuff in the back, without being huge like a Suburban. But hey, if a CX9 fits YOUR needs, go for it. I'm sure it gets better MPG and is more fun to drive than the truck-based SUVs. Though I have to admit, with fully independent suspension and 317 HP, the Armada is fairly amusing to drive, especially for it's size.