It’s no secret that SUVs (and their owners) have been vilified at a rising rate roughly commensurate with the
escalation of gas prices. No strangers to this debate, most Autoblog staffers believe that they occupy a valuable niche
for owners who use them regularly in a manner consistent with their construction (read: hauling all and sundry over hill
and dale), and champion the arrival of improved and new models regularly.
That said, we’re also firmly of the mindset that a goodly number of consumers fell under the spell of the SUV’s
charms without issuing themselves a reality check vis-a-vis their daily needs. As such, we welcome the market
correction that has seen owners moving to vehicles that more accurately meet their needs– be they spatial, dynamic or
social.
As a result of all this, the SUV segment has been under tremendous social and political pressure as of late,
but a champion of the genre has arisen in the form of the web-based SUV Owners of America organization. The San
Francisco Chronicle’s Vicki Haddock takes a look at the group and its goals, and it’s a worthwhile read regardless of
which camp you pitch your tent in.
Have a look here.Â