[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by BSiple

Matt, I rented a Chrysler minivan last year for my annual VA to NC beach trip. I barely got 18 mpg in that POS. The year before I had a Durango that equaled the gas mileage.

Bill

I bolded the problem with that sentence. Our Mazda MPV (small minivan) gets an easy 25 MPG on the highway, about 21 in town. It also has more room for people than the Ford Expedition I just sold for my in-laws, and more space behind the 3rd row seat. It's also much smaller on the exterior, just much better packaged inside. My wife was a die-hard SUV driver, but once I finally pried her away from her gas hog she now confesses that she likes her minivan. Our next vehicle will be a Honda Odyssey, which is a bit bigger. The Odyssey, by the way, can haul sheets of 4x8 materials laying flat inside with the hatch shut (try that with most SUVs).

Basically, I'd be willing to bet 95% of SUV drivers would be better served by a car or minivan. Need to haul kids? A minivan is superior, no question. Commuter car? A car will better suit your needs. If you tow or go off-road, an SUV is superior. But how many SUV drivers do either?

I'm cool with people driving whatever they want. Just don't try to justify it as being the "practical choice". Hell, I've almost bought both a Land Cruiser and a Land Rover Disco. But it's because I liked the damn things.