Car manufacturers did a lot of lobbying to class them as light trucks rather than cars so they can benefit from more lax emissions regulations. Then marketed the hell out of them as the more they sold the less they have to comply with the stricter emissions regulations for normal cars.

So as with every shit thing these days the big reason is to increase profits at any expense.

After successfully lobbying lawmakers to class these vehicles as light trucks rather than cars, binding SUVs to less stringent fuel efficiency standards, the industry set about slotting them into almost every arena of American life.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/sep/01/suv-conquered-america-climate-change-emissions

Status. One upping your neighbors and coworkers.

That's pretty much it.

Hummers were EVERYWHERE in my neighborhood back before 2008 because they were both ridiculously big and wastefully expensive. The ultimate one two punch to say fuck you to the Jones next door.

These days, I feel like I see more ridiculously big wastefully expensive pickup trucks than SUVs, but that could be a product of living in Texass.

No.

A RAV4 starts at 29k, a sienna starts at 37k. A small SUV is usually cheaper than the cheapest minivan from the same brand. Couple that with the ease of dealing with child carseats in a higher vehicle and there’s your reason.

A small suv is simply the logical choice for small families.

Because the structure the government set in place prioritizes the biggest heaviest vehicles over smaller cars that are more fuel efficient in absolute terms, but are disqualified due to not meeting the exponential curve of MPG per lbs that make up the limits.