As is, SUVs, if we all outlast their existence, probably won't be produced in their current form in three to five years' time. They certainly were a product of the bigger is better 90s, and now have grown out of fashion with a different driving population who realize SUVs as poor mileage inefficient road-going menaces. People want hybrids now, or at least more economical vehicles, and that hinges toward smaller wagons or smaller SUVs like the Escape, CRV, et al.
A poster earlier asked Banjomike about the gas mileage and clean-air ability of his older Porsche compared to a modern SUV. I purposely put myself in the same position last week when a driver of an Excursion yelled
down at me, "Your old Porsche probably pollutes like crazy, huh?" And I basically told him that I bet my Porsche pollutes less and gets better mileage than the hog he's driving in. But you know, I sort of think I might be wrong about that. Continual refinement of the V8 engine found in most SUVs get respectable hp and mileage in the same stroke. My engine stopped being refined the day it was made.
