>This is something that many forget. This country is so large and there are many places where a 4wd is absolutely necessary. Sometimes a front wheel drive will suffice if the roads are good enough. When I lived in Colorado you pretty much were stranded for periods of time if you did not have a 4wd. Here in North Carolina, there are places where a 4wd is necessary, but to be honest, most of those driving SUVs are driving them simply because they prefer it, not because it is necessary. There are more fuel efficient vehicles for families.
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SUV owners also feel safer, although that has been shown not to be the case.