My wife and I can and have comfortably traveled in our Subaru Outback wagon more than 8 hours away from home with 2 mountain bikes, gear AND luggage for a week's stay. This is while keeping ALL of the previously mentioned equipment INSIDE the car. Interesting enough we passed SEVERAL behemoth suvs with other couples (not families) who had their bikes or other equipment on the OUTSIDE of the things. Where's all that extra room? I live in a VERY family oriented community. Most of those in the know have minivans that haul all 5 members with football equipment, coolers, etc.

I never said americans only drove small cars until recently. However, can you tell me when the first year a vehicle over 6000 lbs was considered the average american car? What was the biggest average "family" car on the road in the early 80's even. How much did that weigh? Vehicles like the Expedition, Excursion, Suburban, Escalade, yada yada where marketed to boost egos of those obsessed with material status and those with low self-esteem. The marketing also preyed on the general public's lack of initiative to do actual research and instead believe the propagada techniques of advertising.

Just look at the commercials. They sell on safety when the rollover rate is twice that of a normal car. They boast offroad ability that is only as good as my "little" Outback. I know, I've driven circles around many on the dirt roads and have gone through ruts and ditches where others got stuck. All the while 90% of the suvs on the road only see dirt when the wheel drops off the driveway into the flower garden.

What they don't tell you in the advertising is that the heavier a vehicle is the faster it wears out parts. That's more money for the manufs. Couple that with the extreme brainwashing of the masses into believing that these monstrosities are a must for everyday survival and you have a recipe for big bucks fast and future maintenance.

Smooth riding is determined by shock valving, spring rates and suspension compliance. Not size of vehicle. If size of vehicle were the determining factor people wouldn't say things like, "It rides like a truck" when describing how smooth something wasn't when they drove it.

Light and softly tuned to drive smooth handles night and day better than heavy and tuned just enough to support the weight and be equally as smooth as the lighter vehicle.