Soldato
But thats essentially what you'd get in an estate, I'm not sure compared a small car to even a crossover is a valid comparison, they always seem to be the next size up.
Estates tend to be longer rather than taller. And longer usually means harder to park for some people.
One thing I’ve heard is people with young kids prefer a crossover/SUV as it’s much easier putting kids into child seats rather than hunching down into a lower hatch/estate/saloon car.
Ultimately it seems an SUV type car is all about convenience for a normal non performance motorist(the majority of the public):
Pros
- 4wd models better in inclement/off road conditions
- raised ride high can deal with potholes and driving up kerbs without destroying a wheel/front splitter
- generally more luggage/passenger space than a estate/saloon
- easier to get in & out usually
- better vision of the road ahead
- usually safer in an accident
- towing capability due to higher vehicle weight
Cons:
- usually higher running costs due to weight, bigger wheels, wear on brakes etc
- cost to buy is normally higher compared to equivalent saloon/hatch/estate
- worse handling compared to a normal ride height car
- larger vehicle means harder to park and takes up more space on the road
The reality is, cost & size are really the main drawbacks for the motoring public. I’d argue size is not a big deal as most crossovers and mid size SUVs aren’t much bigger than a regular sized hatchback or mid sized saloon car. Offset those points against the hugely increased practicality and you see why for most, it’s a no brainer.
I didn’t add status or looks etc in the mix as these are too subjective to really be quantified.
Performance SUVs on the other hand are something entirely different.