Small crossovers (CUVs) like the RAV4 are literally hatchbacks that are lifted. How does this beat a hatchback in any way? An equivalent volume hatchback has all of the exact same utility, and has better driving dynamics and is safer due to a lower center of gravity.

The main reason people like driving crossovers is that it raises their seating and viewing height relative to other vehicles on the road because we're in one of the dumbest arms races ever with vehicle height, where anybody who buys a sensible car loses.

I drive a crossover myself, but if you do the math, driving a cheap sedan and renting a truck when you need it is often WAY cheaper.

I remember when a neighbor bought a new washer/dryer and gave their old set away to whoever would haul it away. A couple came to get it in one of those huge late-model bro-dozer pickups. This was a ~$60K vehicle. All I could think is that there's NO WAY that couple was ever going to score enough free stuff to make up what they spent on that vehicle.

An honest question from someone without a car or a driving license: why exactly were you renting/borrowing SUVs or trucks? Where does the need come from?

Home Depot will rent you a Ford 250 for an 75 minutes for $19. I've done this a few times and it's a great option for the once or twice a year you actually need to haul something heavy.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/rental/load-n-go-truck-rental/31...

better yet, the minivan! I bought one, very reluctantly, when we were exepecting our third child. I really tried to get something else but the soccer-mom Honda was the most comfortable and performant. Now my kids are starting to drive and I get the van all to myself - it's awesome! going biking? just put it inside and don't worry about highway, weather or security for an after ride beer. Need building supplies? go camping? hauling the family on a long road trip. And I'm now into essentially "free miles" with the age and still awesome condition. My biggest fear is any accident will have the insurance company write it off and I'll get nothing towards the current generation of sub-optimal, over-priced vehicles.

My sister hit driving age when I was a senior in college. My parents took my car away from me to give to her, and so for about two months I drove my mother's old minivan.

It didn't exactly wow anyone with how cool it was, but on move-in day I had a lot more friends than I remembered from the year before (we had taken the rear bench seat out and left it at home, so I had tons of cargo space).

>Sounds like yet another out-of-touch rich __ telling people how they should live their lives while living large himself.

That's all the internet is now.

I don't know why you're aggressively attacking this guy, it sounds like agree with most of what he says.

The Rav4 is basically the kind of car most people should get instead of a lot of what's popular today. The Rav4 is a hatchback on tall suspension. What car enthusiasts want is the hatchback without the lift because tall cars don't handle as well and to top it off, are usally less efficient.

Road wear is a cubic function of weight and our roads, I think it's reasonable to ask why cars have gotten so big and who's going to pay for the increase in damage done to our roads?