There are a couple of threads in the Pit complaining about SUVs. I thought I’d start a thread where people can post positive things about SUVs. 
I have a 1999 Jeep Cherokee. It’s rather small as SUVs go – a compact SUV. It’s significantly smaller than its ancestors, the Jeep Wagoneers (and Cherokees) of the 1960s and 1970s, and certainly smaller than many of the more popular SUVs on the roads today. But it still falls within the class. So what’s good about it?
Four wheel drive. There’s a Wilderness Discovery Trail about 30 miles from here. I like to take the Cherokee on it after it rains. Some parts of the trail are steep, most parts are very narrow, and obviously after a rain they are muddy and slick. I need 4WD low-range to get over them, especially with my stock tires. Without the 4WD, I would not be able to enjoy the views from the different parts of the trail. While hiking in Canada, 4WD came in handy when I was parked in mud off of an unimproved road.
Towing capacity. My Jeep is rated to tow 5,000 pounds. I used to have a Porsche that I needed to tow when it was having mechanical problems. Since the Porsche was so low-slung, I had to tow it on a flat bed trailer. The total weight was about 4,500 pounds. I also have an old Willys CJ2A Jeep. The Cherokee tows it quite handily.
Camping. Although the cargo area of the Cherokee is smaller than I’d like (I’d like to be able to lay down in back with the seat folded, but I can only do it if I lay diagonally), there’s enough room for my tent, sleeping bag, extra clothes, and other gear. And I don’t have to rearrange to reach a particular item.
Carrying capacity. I’ve been moving stuff out of my apartment and into a storage unit for the past several weekends. I’ve been able to carry much more per trip (reducing the number of drives to the unit) than I would be able to carry in a passenger car. I have a lot of books, which are very heavy – about 50 pounds per box. The Cherokee swallowed a dozen and a half of these boxes with room to spare.
In addition, I sometimes work on no-budget films. Movie lights are bulky, and the case for my 16mm camera is large. So are the small light kits I have. Plenty of room for them.
In this thread I say that I’ve ordered a kayak. I have a rack on top of the Cherokee that will carry it with ease. With its long roofline, I can space the bars far enough apart to provide good support to the boat.
Gas mileage. Yesterday I checked the ol’ econometer on the overhead console. 23.1 miles per gallon average on this tank. Not too bad for L.A. traffic. I switched over to the “current mileage” mode a couple of days ago on the freeway. 30 mpg. My dad had Toyotas in the 1970s. My 1990s Jeep gets better mileage. Its milage is as good as the Porsche’s was, and comparable to a Ford Taurus-sized car.
Inline-six engine. This is why the Jeep gets good mileage. The six-cylinder engine is just loafing along. That should be good for its longevity. Since it’s not working very hard, the fuel efficiency is good – and since it’s a newer vehicle it’s controlled by a computer that makes it very efficient indeed.
Parking. My Cherokee takes up less room in a parking space than many so-called “compact” cars like Hondas and Toyotas. Usually these “compacts” stick out a foot or more farther than my Cherokee. Since my Jeep is the same width as “compact” cars, I have plenty of room to open the doors.
So enough SUV bashing. Let’s hear the good things you have to say about them!
) golden retriever; she didn’t have much trouble getting in by herself, and she loved staring out the back window. I haven’t had to tow very much with it, but it has served very well in that capacity as well.