All of todays cars are larger and heavier than what went before due to safety legislation and tech. SUV's are no longer an outlier in terms of weight, and modern suspension technology means they no longer wallow like models from a decade ago.
What's surprising is people don't seem to be acknowledging how manufacturers line-up's are changing, or how the size & shape of traditional models have changed. Back in the day every family had a mid-large size saloon or estate, models like the Mondeo, Laguna, 3-series etc. Today, only premium brands like BMW, Merc, Audi are in this segment. With sales losing out massively to SUV models, often from within the same brand.
Put a modern Civic, Yaris, Puma etc. next to an equivalent model from the 90's, and they all have the dimensions of mini SUV's.
Modern Civic's are big, more like the size of larger medium family cars from 20 years ago.... certainly more usable space, well designed than large family cars from the 80's (in the UK).
I was looking hatches 5 or so years back and Civic is/was class leader for boot space, interior size in hatch range. Equivilent is something like the q5, qashqai (mid suv's at least in the UK, perhaps smaller if in US...). Yaris is smaller, Corolla better example from Toyota in that segment. Yaris is more like a q3 or Juke (small UK suv's). The useable space is the same, but the suv is much bigger...
But yes read something few years ago about how saloon sales in UK have dropped massively in past few years. Saloons don't have hatch boot, so even if large 5 series, A6, still can be a little awkward compared to hatch boot on cars or suv's.
Personally, I love the looks of high performance german estates/tourers. If I ever had to get rid of my M3 F80 for practical reasons, I'd be looking at Rs4, M3 (first m3 estate coming out), C63 etc to meet my needs over any SUV. Or S4, 340i etc. Even the less focused versions from those brands look decent with sline, m trims etc. I took a new Corolla Estate out a year back, 1.8 or 2ltr hybrid. Was very impressed tbh.
Mazda 6 saloon and estate also decent and great value imo (if you avoid their dodgy diesel versions...). Very nice looking cars, not as wonky looking as many Japanese cars over the past decade or 2. Or Volvo V60's, nice looking cars...
I do like look of the x5m's, volvo xc90's, but can;t see myself every choosing one over the cars listed above, unless 'normal' cars become obsolete. I see SUV's as something you cruise around in, relaxing drive, eating up straight motorway miles with your family onboard etc. Obviously you get performance versions that are more focused, and no doubt fun to drive in many ways, but regardless, I can't see how ultimately, they'd handle as well as a performance car due to centre of gravity??
If I needed to 'meet in the middle' with rest of family, I'd do that by suggesting an Rs4/6, not an SUV
. Although I must say, my ex wife refuses to sit in my M3 (20" inch low profile wheels), as says the firm ride (even on comfort settings) gives her travel sickness
. I think she's just being difficult!
I'll watch how I tread with this, as stepped over the forum line last time, but ime, women in particular seem to find SUV's appealing. Women I've 'dated' past few years all said they prefer SUV's and pick out SUV's when I ask their 'dream car'. Whereas men more likely to say a supercar, or high performance more 'normal' car if the topic comes up. My colleague has a Cayenne Hbyrid on order, so it'll be interesting to see what he thinks of that. He currently has a Range Rover Sport (diesel).