From a survey of Canadians in 2022 [1]: "We find that SUV drivers view their vehicles as functionally superior to smaller cars in terms of safety, space for lifestyle, handling, and fun. Symbolically, SUVs are seen as a “status symbol” that can communicate a number of images, such as being “successful”. SUV drivers are more likely to see these vehicles as common and “approved” in their social networks, and tend to downplay any negative societal impacts such as increased GHG emissions. Across respondents intending to buy an SUV, willingness-to-downsize to a smaller vehicle was highest under financial incentives (for buying or using a car) or disincentives (for buying or using an SUV)."
I personally don't understand how you could consider an SUV better for handling or fun, but denying people's views doesn't make them not hold them.
> I personally don't understand how you could consider an SUV better for handling or fun
This is an imagination problem. There are certain categories of automotive use cases which SUVs are designed to be superior. In those, being in a vehicle designed to handle better at the task is better fun!
I drove some gravel Forest Service roads in the past in a sub-compact (who knew the only way up from Oregon to Seattle was via USF roads if you didn't want to take the express way?), and I definitely wish I had more clearance for that use case. If I lived in the woods, an SUV might make sense.
We have more sedans here in the city (Seattle) because our parking space frankly are too small, and even then I see way too many SUVs trying to cram into a parking space labelled compact.
I personally don't understand how you could consider an SUV better for handling or fun, but denying people's views doesn't make them not hold them.
1: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S22146...