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North Americans have been flocking to buy SUVs in the last 15 years as if they were going out of style.

Wait a moment...that simple phrase may be true.

Trends have been reversing on SUV sales for the most part in recent history. People are being scared into purchasing smaller cars and avoiding the SUV market altogether. In reality, SUVs are quire expendable and do serve a pretty good purpose. Or else they wouldn't have invented them, right?

Everyone harps on SUVs for the obvious reason, fuel economy. Sure, many of them do. But stop and think for a moment...how often do you hear people harping on pickup truck owners about fuel economy? You can bet your bottom dollar that you won't hear it half as much or even less.

And here's the real kicker - 70% of SUVs are based on truck platforms. For example, the Ford Expedition is the largest SUV in Ford's lineup (save he Excursion which is no longer produced). Its underpinnings, half its body panels and the entire drivetrain are EXACTLY the same as that of an F-150 pickup. Difference in mileage you ask? Less than one mile per gallon in the F-150's favor. So a whole slew of misinformed people sold their Expeditions to get a F-150. Now they have even less interior cargo room, real smart.

Myself, I owned a 1996 Ford Explorer right around the peak sales time for that certain make and model. Equipped with a 4.0L V6, it got 22 MPG highway on a good day. The newer Chrysler 300 gets 22.

The problem isn't SUVs in general..it is certain ones that are quite overbearing. The Cadillac Escalade ESV and Lincoln Navigator are two prime examples. Really, do you need a vehicle like this? I guess alot of people do consider it a status symbol and figure, if their favorite Hollywood celeb drives one, then why can't they?

Here's a suggestion: buy a smaller one. Hyundai Tuscon, Saturn Outlook/Chevrolet Equinox and Ford Escape all boast EPA fuel economy ratings over 25 MPG highway. Get yourself in a hybrid and the savings are even more. Or you can consider a "crossover" vehicle such as the Ford Edge or the all-new Ford Taurus X (formerly Freestyle). Unless you have a baseball team sized family, there's no reason for such a large vehicle. But we can't rule out SUVs altogether; they have reshaped the automotive market and are a great addition.

Learn more about this author, Dean Holmes.
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