The H3 and Hybrid SUVs: Helping or hating?

Environmentalists hate SUVs, and there are few vehicles that draw more green anger than the Hummer. While the new H3 has been downsized, one still has to ask, "What's the point?" Recently I skimmed a USA Today article that questioned the real functionality of the H3, but still noted that it makes quite a statement.

Is that what Americans should be proud of, making a statement? And what does that statement really say? I am materialistic, I am rich, I should be envied, or I am so cool because I bought a vehicle lacking any common sense in the modern world? Screw high gas prices, screw foreign oil dependency, screw terrorism, I don't have to worry about those things because I'm cool and rich.

Right on brother.

Many might extend this line of thinking to SUVs as well, but at least hybrid SUVs utilize the cutting edge of fuel efficient technology. Unfortunately, Americans simply cannot give up the 'big is better' belief. While the H3 does nothing to help balance this problem, hybrid vehicles, such as the Ford Escape hybrid, the Toyota Highlander hybrid, and the Lexus RX400h offer technological hope.

Hybrid SUVs make a statement that says 'I want to help'. The H3 screams, 'I don't care!'