Best and worst type of car guys?

Automakers absolutely influence consumer preference, specifically with crossovers and car size in general. I love and support good environmental standards. Through the 90s and into the early 00s with broad-scope emissions reduction equipment requirements phasing in (EFI, OBD, catalytic converters, etc), cars were getting smaller and more efficient; shit was on a good trajectory, and the market was pretty naturally balanced. Sedans and coupes dominated, pickups made up a consistent portion of the market, and there was some SUVs and very few crossovers on the fringes. Had stuff continued on this trajectory and broad-spectrum environmental regs (more similar to EURO7) been applied, the majority of new EVs would be small sedans/hatches. But CAFE standards have been a fucking dumpster fire since then. The reducing requirements for larger classes of vehicles - without setting a cap on sales of those larger vehicles or requiring different licensure - makes those vehicles easier to design/build “lazily”. Example: a sedan - or more specifically its wagon counterpart - and a crossover have essentially identical space/utility. But the sedan/wagon would literally have to be built to a stricter environmental standard, whereas the crossover does not. The crossover therefore costs the same or often less to build - and it appears bigger, so they can justify upping the price compared to that sedan/wagon too! Sprinkle some marketing in, push the crossover over the sedan, brand the SUV as a premium option over the crossover, then just cancel the wagon entirely and you’re off to the races! And wouldn’t you know it - wagons and minivans are effectively dead, and automakers have been pushing crossovers and SUVs HARD. And for them it’s been working; crossovers and SUVs now make up a huge portion of total sales. And of course average vehicle prices have soared; they used to track to inflation but they’ve recently stopped doing that. And every new EV is now a fucking crossover because “that’s what the market wants” - even though the vehicle class doesn’t really matter for EVs. And because vehicles are getting bigger on average, small vehicles are now unfairly considered unsafe. So now you’re burning the cigarette from both ends - and even small vehicles have to get bigger to keep up with “the trends”. Sorry for the rant, but I want to clarify - crossovers and SUVs are a quintessential cynical marketing exercise.