A few recent comments on OzB got me thinking about what we see on our roads lately.. Even the narrow or single lane roads are usually full of giant SUVs and a handful of hatchbacks and sedans 'hidden' amidst them. This is fast becoming more common as car companies want us to buy bigger, more expensive cars. I am not sure if anyone else feels this but in my eyes, SUVs are inherently uglier (as f***!) than sedans and hatchbacks.. too bulky and heavy for my personal liking, especially considering our roads (case of the American roads could be arguably different). No matter which brand and how expensive really, they just don't look as attractive.
Also, I never understood why small families in our country (even in major cities) opt for less cost-effective, uglier and more expensive SUVs vs much nicer looking, cheaper and more cost-effective sedans or hatchbacks. Parking lots in Australia aren't even made for SUVs at the most places - sedans barely fit there. Not that everyone goes to camping every other weekend or all SUV owners need to fit in prams either. For a couple with no kids or a family with one kid, sedans (if not hatch) are perfect and so much better looking, ay! I was in Europe in last holidays and I didn't notice that many SUVs there. Beautiful hatchbacks and sedans on the roads was quite refreshing, honestly.. compared to our increasingly congested roads where all you see around you is giant SUVs driving past, all looking quite similar. Btw, I have owned SUV in the past for extended family needs and now own a hatch which I love driving around. If I don't have more space requirement, I would prefer hatch any day even for daily commuting or even reasonably long distance driving; so much easier to deal with driving and parking in our busy urban areas.
What do you all think?
Can't speak to any of the other examples you have given, but I have driven a friend's modern RAV4 a few times. Absurdly unstable and dangerous if you need to make a fast maneouver to dodge something on the road (animal, pothole, open car door etc). I can literally feel the outside wheels lose traction as the center of gravity shifts.