As to the comments about US Americans and SUV's, I have a Honda CR-V (technically an SUV) I love the darn thing. It's small enough that I don't feel like I'm driving a school bus (like I did when I drove our mini-van) yet I sit up high enough so that I can see around all the big hulking Chevy Suburbans, Ford F150 extended cab pick-ups, GMAC Tahoes, Hummers, etc. that everyone out here in the boonies seem to drive.
When I drive the kids' Civic Hybrid, I feel like the little kid sitting at the adult table on Thanksgiving (without the phone books on my chair)! My CR-V gets okay gas mileage, but, since I only use it to drive to the grocery store and Ryleigh to school, I only fill it about once every 2 weeks.