It's tempting to upgrade to an SUV by default, but for a lot of trips a sedan is the smarter — and cheaper — pick. Sedans generally get better fuel economy and are easier to park in dense cities.
SUVs earn their keep when you're carrying more than two passengers with luggage, heading somewhere with rough or unpaved roads, or traveling with kids and gear that needs space.
For a city-focused trip — New York, Chicago, downtown LA — a compact or midsize sedan is usually the better call. Parking is tighter, streets are narrower, and you likely won't need the extra cargo room.
For a national park trip or a group of four-plus with bags, the SUV starts making a lot more sense.