A New Vehicle-Buyer Attitude Study by Kelly Blue Book (KBB) on SUVs found that more than half of its respondents feel the negative press around SUVs is hype and more than 70 percent felt that groups criticising SUVs ignored the vehicle’s positive aspects.

A press release issued by KBB singles out journalist Arianna Huffington and activist group Earth Liberation Front for their criticisms of SUV owners for ‘making our country oil dependent and creating unsafe highways’. KBB says other statements by SUV critics imply that SUV drivers are vain, self-absorbed and have little interest in their community.

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KBB claims that its study shows six out of 10 shoppers still feel positively toward SUVs and of those considering an SUV the number rises to eight out of 10.

KBB says the study also shows shoppers rank rollovers as their No.1 concern in purchasing an SUV. Four out of 10 surveyed say that concerns of rollovers could even keep them from buying an SUV, yet more than half rate the vehicles high for safety.

“We have not seen an effect on SUV values or sales due to recent news. Any effect thus far can be attributed to uncertainty in the economy,” said Charlie Vogelheim, Executive Editor, Kelley Blue Book. “We do expect to see a drop among larger SUVs but attribute the decline to market saturation as well as the growth and popularity of crossover vehicles, not necessarily criticism or hype.”

KBB says the other issues appear to have been dismissed by in-market car-buyers. Kelley Blue Book survey respondents disagree with the assertion that SUV drivers are vain and have little interest in their community.

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With the looming possibility of war, oil dependency issues have become a major topic in the press, but those currently shopping for SUVs ranked environmental concerns and oil dependency issues last among their concerns in buying an SUV. KBB says that in-market car-buyers understand SUVs are less fuel efficient than compact vehicles, however it does not appear to be a deterrent to purchase.

“America saw a major decline in vehicle sales and values during 1991s Gulf War. We expect to see similar trends and a drop in SUV values should we go to war in coming weeks,” said Vogelheim.

The issue of terrorism arose in the press through journalist Huffington, as well as activist group Earth Liberation Front (ELF). The ELF organisation, religious groups and Hollywood celebrities link gas-guzzling vehicles to oil dependence on the Middle-East and the support of terrorism. The groups point out that US oil imports have increased 60 percent since the Gulf War. On terrorism, only one in 10 survey participants felt purchasing an SUV actually supported terrorism.