Yes I know, I've seen that in some countries which are still very car-centric like Holland and others too. My ex's sister immediately went from a Yaris to this

Yes I know, I've seen that in some countries which are still very car-centric like Holland and others too. My ex's sister immediately went from a Yaris to this tank of an SUV when she got a baby. However it is very much status symbol as well. The most expensive car they own must always be prominently displayed in the driveway with the front forward, and she's always fussy about the child making a mess in the livingroom because it functions more as a museum for the expensive furniture and neighbour-approved family life that she loves to display to the neighbours in her conservative-rich street. I'm pretty sure the SUV wasn't actually for protection but rather for wealth flaunting and virtue signalling (this lady is also very much 'family values'). So she instructed her sister several times to not have any pride stuff lying around which we had lots of lol. I drove a 12 year old Volvo and she always hated that and wanted me to park far away. And all my furniture was IKEA when I lived there (and still is where I live now). I haven't owned a car for 9 years now. I really hated her but my ex was a bit of the black sheep in the family, very hippie and happy-go-lucky like me. But anyway, I just want to point out, the SUV is to certain Europeans as the Pick-Up is to certain Americans.