[tweetle_beetle]

If SUVs were genuinely solving a widespread problem that would otherwise involve people owning multiple cars, I suspect that we would all hear a lot from environmentalists about them.

Anecdotally, when I've met "real" people who live in remote areas, they tend to drive old, unglamourous, and often semi broken cars. Wealthy second home owners, city folk practising an outdoor activity on the odd weekend, suburbanites keeping up with the neighbours, etc. are the ones who feel the need to buy new vehicles suitable for conditions they experience once in a blue moon, if ever.

[orev]

Those “real” people are likely driving those vehicles because they can’t afford anything else, not because of a conscious choice.

And the most-selling SUVs are built on car chassis, so the idea that people are buying them for some imaginary future off-roading it mostly is an outdated relic of the original SUV generation.

Most people buy them because they’re a good balance between size and cargo space, and many modern models have gas mileage comparable to a sedan.

[throwaway0a5e]

I agree. The problem with trying to regulate this is that if you can't get to the point where you get the HN classes to give up the stupid 4Runners and Model Ys they don't need for their 1.2 kids without screwing everyone else along the way. As much as it would bring me joy to halt their conspicuous consumption the collateral damage is unacceptable.