I just saw HGTV 2012 Dream House Giveaway that comes with a fairly big looking SUV. Is SUV still popular? If so, why is that with this economy & gas price?
because gas in the US is still not really all that expensive.
and, people are buying car-platform “crossover” SUVs which get much better economy than the truck-based ones of before.
They keep downsizing them, especially the frame/body. More and more are shifting to the automotive platform.
The utility has always been in demand. When the station wagon went away, people shifted to vans and hatchbacks. A good hatchback can carry a load. The manufacturers have morphed the look to sell more product, but the load carrying capacity has and will continue to be in demand. Call it a cross-over vehicle now, whatever. The goal and need is the same as always. Throw in better mileage and the buyers will come to the party.
PS. I suspect the manufacturers now enjoy the shifting back and forth of fuel prices. They can shift production faster now. They catch people being whipsawed and buying extra vehicles and sooner than they otherwise would have.
And, in fact, the SUV in the HGTV sweepstakes is a crossover – a GMC Terrain, which gets 32 MPG on the highway.
That’s good to know. I guess I can finally take the minivan driver tag off me.
I just test drove one of those in my quest for a small SUV and let me tell you, the 4 cylinder drives like shit. The V6 is ok, but the gas mileage plummets. And my regular car is a 4 Cylinder Honda Accord, so it’s not like I’m expecting a sports car.
In the end, I got an Audi Q5, which is a smallish SUV. Why? The mileage isn’t awful, it drives nicely, can carry what I need to lug around, and is pretty.
I have one because I have a need for one. It is still cheaper for me to make one trip to town at 16 mpg than two at 28 mpg (not even considering the time factor) and I can come home with the things on my list for tomorrow:
2 - 4x8 sheets plywood
20 - 40 lb bags wood pellets
100 lbs pig food
20-30 bags of groceries
All in one convenient, enclosed (no tarp needed) 4wd vehicle.
I have a small car, but it won’t get up and down my driveway without putting chains on, and for days like tomorrow, when I have a list as long as my arm, the bigger vehicle is better for my needs.
Functionality combined with looks and comfort.
Although my minivan that I used to have was the roomiest thing I’ve ever owned (seats out, 2 couches in or wood for entire fence in, etc.), the SUV’s I’ve owned have come close enough, plus 4WD, look good, and comfortable to sit in and drive.
SUVs still do good the things they always did. They’re good in snow, etc due to large tires and four wheel drive; mine is even limited slip both front to back and side to side. They can haul a ton so you don’t need to figure out how to get your Menards wood chips or Ikea flat packs home. They’re spacious and you ride up higher. The ones built on truck frames tend to be extremely durable if not comstanty hauling concrete blocs or taken off roading. I can drive for hundreds of miles in mine without cramping, which is more than any car I’ve ridden in.
Gas prices are high, but some people need an SUV regardless of gas prices. Some people want an SUV and paying for gas comes with the territory.
Ugly as the Aztec was, it did have one ability fairly unique for SUVs, you could carry 4*8 sheets of plywood flat in the cargo area.
I can carry them flat in my Tahoe, but I have to leave the tailgate down. It won’t be bad tomorrow because I will have a half ton of wood pellets to fill in the blank spot, so only a little cold will come in from the rear. 
Gas is still very cheap. It was only $3.20 today where I live.
And even 10% unemployment means 90% of the workforce have jobs.
Also, there are very few alternatives to SUVs these days if you want more capacity than a sedan. Not many minivans or station wagons available. Even Volvo has stopped selling station wagons in the US.
Are minivans in shortage?
I’d buy another minivan because I like them except for the stigma that comes with driving a minivan (I thought I could weather the onslaught, as I thought I couldn’t really careless what others think, but I’m just tired of hearing “But, still, a minivan…?”). What I need to carry around are not heavy, just big. Going around trying to brow a van/truck or renting one every time got to be a real pain.
I had a truck based SUV that was given to me years ago. I traded it in because I really didn’t need a truck nor the 4 wheel drive all that practical for normal driving on snow - I hardly ever used it. My minivan with front wheel drive does very well on snow. If I can look cool and be able to carry my stuff in a car-based crossover vehicle, that would be awesome.
there are fewer manufacturers making them these days. if you want a traditional minivan, you’re basically looking at a Chrysler T&C/Dodge Caravan, Honda Odyssey, or Toyota Sienna.
Or the VW Routan, Hyundai Entourage, Kia Sedona, Mazda 5 (smaller minivan), and Nissan Quest.
Like others have said, functionality. And for myself decent ground clearance and 4x4. Including low range 4x4. Having a vehicle that gets better mileage but does not suit my needs is pointless.
Also, I like the comfort and as a tall guy, the ease of getting in and out. Cars that are low to the ground are a pain for me as a daily driver.
I was talking about minivans people actually buy 
The SUV is alive and well. We have to fairly large vehicles and really couldn’t do with anything smaller. The hybrids might be eco friendly, but we have 6 kids between my wife and I so it would take two hybrids to haul us around, not much saving the environment that way.
The thing about an SUV is of course it’s size. We can haul all of us plus groceries or whatever I need from Home Depot, can’t do that in a compact car. Yes, the gas use sucks but that is the price to be paid.
FWIW we have a Jeep Grand Cherokee and a Mazda 9. For all of you who are talking mini-van I strongly suggest you take a look at the Mazda. It can seat 7 in comfort, looks great and gets up and moves. Mileage isn’t too bad either. Zoom Zoom and all of that. We owned a top of the line Chrysler Town and Country Minivan before the Mazda and will never go back. The Mazda is actually a family hauler that is fun to drive.
The Mazda 9 is a pretty good vehicle - although the one I test drove was underpowered with a 2.3 litre engine.
For the Q5 owner - the Ford Kuga is nicer, although not sure about the price differential, although personally I would actually go for an XC70 myself if I needed the 4wd or the V70 T5 if not.
My car right now is a Mazda 5 competitor, in the form of a Toyota Wish - can carry 7 (asian sized) pax OR a pretty decent amount of stuff but not both. Best thing is, with an 1800 cc power plant I’m currently averaging 11.6 km/l - whatever the hell that is in your funny imperial measurements.
The Kuga isn’t sold in North America; we have the Escape which is a totally different vehicle.
Well, until the summer, when the Escape and Kuga become united.
I don’t think actual needs for SUV/larger vehicles were the problem, the popularity/ trend of ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ was.
I like the CX-9 idea. Thanks