One learns

We've driven sedans, then station wagons as the family grew, then minivans. I looked at people driving SUV's and wondered why? You don't drive them offroad, or carry heavy loads -- what's the attraction for you?

Well, minivans are scarcer and pricier, and a pickup doesn't match our main use cases. So if one or both of the drivers have a grumpy back, an SUV is quite a bit easier to get in and out of than a sedan. Sort of like those "old people's" big sedans with soft suspensions. I get it now... and we did, a compact SUV.