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But ... Why do they want to? I'm genuinely curious. Did this desire for larger vehicles exist latent in the human psyche? Is it an emergent property of a race to the bottom as everyone tries to have the safest car? Or to secure prestige via a positional good, leaving everyone worse off? Do you think marketing choices played a role in shaping our collective desires?

>>igor47+(OP)
On big American roads it's easy to own big cars. Given that people have to drive a lot because it's so spread out, it's very convenient to be able to put lots of stuff and/or people in a vehicle. I theorise that your car is like another room in your house.

I know my wife likes storing things in the boot of our car and I'm not even American. It means they're always conveniently there - chairs for sitting in the park, shopping bags, groceries that she's going to take to a party or bought for someone else, kids sports equipment.

>>igor47+(OP)
Humans have an instinct to seek status, like many (most?) other animals.