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Wife likes
Ah ok.
Must have high wife approval quotient.
Not really. It's just that I want a compact SUV/CUV in the stable for a number of (personal) reasons and it happens that the wife prefers it too. In fact when I first bought the Outlander she was the opposite - questioned why do we need one. Once she started using it, she never went back. Also, for personal reasons, I prefer
compact SUVs rather than larger SUVs just how I prefer compact cars/hatchbacks vs larger sizes.
This is not to say you cannot live without one. I do Costco runs with the GTI or the BMW all the time and I've never had to leave something behind. Did I wish I had the Outlander? Yes, most of the times especially when I buy bulky household items.
If I were constraint to have one car, it would probably be a wagon or a raised wagon (e.g. Golf Alltrack, Audi Allroad, etc...). I found that driving a compact SUV/CUV
on the public roads, you lose absolutely nothing vs a car or a wagon. Sure, they burn more gas, but fuel economy has never been a determining factor for me when choosing a car; instead you gain a lot of convenience which I appreciate more. YMMV.....