There's another factor here and it's large animal collisions. You're safer in a high driving position with a heavier vehicle. Here in Australia SUVs with "roo b

There's another factor here and it's large animal collisions. You're safer in a high driving position with a heavier vehicle. Here in Australia SUVs with "roo bars" are popular with people who do a lot of bush driving. There are a lot of collisions with kangaroos and other animals unfortunately and they can more easily come over the bonnet and through the windscreen of small cars.