So with the tons of snow that the Bavarian and Austrian alps are getting and all the families taking ski holidays, I wonder how all the familys sedans/wagons are getting around ? I mean, we all have winter tires here in Germany/Austria (by law), but somehow the Europeans manage largely fine without high-ground clearance SUVs and 4x4s.......
My colleague came back from a ski holiday with his family and the snow covered his Golf wagon (up to the roofbox.....) "It was the only way I could find my car....."
https://www.wetteronline.de/wetterticker/video-schnee-ohne-ende-in-den-alpen-201901071917810
I think the Europeans have started to jump in the SUV bandwagon as well in the past few years. Last summer I've seen quite a few SUVs on the road in Germany/Austria. Sure, they are not as predominate as they are in Norh America, but their numbers are not negligible either. Mind you, they are mostly compact SUVs plus some of the larger Euro (ML/GLE, X5, Q7, XC90) and some Jeep. I have seen one Durango though (definitely and outlier), but it was in a small town with a US military base nearby so I assume its presence was related.
While you can perhaps get by with a sedan/wagon with winter tires in those conditions, with a compact SUV with AWD, winter tires and some ground clearance you can do better without a doubt hence the reason to have one. SUVs have some other benefits compared to wagons/cars which is the reason why some people buy them.....