Once upon a time it was the station wagon. Not cool enough for the boomers it was replaced by the van. Full sized vans at first but quickly replaced by the much more practical mini-van. When the mini-van lost its cool the SUV became the latest incarnation of the family wagon. The SUV's were always there, I first drove a Chevy Suburban in the late 60's for Florida State University.

The car salemen will tell you its primarily women who are buying the SUV's and if you talk to the ladies, they will tell you they like the visibility and carrying capacity. Incidentally if you look closely you'll notice most aren't really 4 wheel drive, just big.

If you have 2.3 kids you're often hauling 6, plus all the stuff kids haul in those overstuffed backpacks... and don't forget the dog, groceries and soccer balls.

'Course in the goodle days down South we got by with a pickup and several lawn chairs in the back. Couldn't afford 4WD so you always kept a couple of boards and a come-along in back.