The minivan replaced the station wagon starting in the mid 1980's.  The SUV's ascension was due to the poor image of the "family van" and the SUV was thus a cooler, higher-status vehicle for your kid to be picked up from school in.  Ultimately that status grew to include being a cooler vehicle to be seen stuck in traffic on the freeway in.

Americans are idiots.  

The vast majority of SUV's can be found in suburbs.  In the city you will find a higher percentage of German cars.