The end of the SUV? Hardly. Other predictions that sucked wind include the end of the rear wheel drive and the demise of the convertible ...
There is a place for small fuel efficient cars and a place for SUVs and pickups. You won’t be able to load up the little fuel efficient car with the kayaks and the kids for a vacation somewhere....that’s what the SUV is for. In contrast one shouldn’t be driving the SUV just to go to the grocery store...that’s what the little hybrid or electric car will be for.
The SUV was a fad brought on by baby boomers & yuppies who didn’t want a mini-van or station wagon because that would make them look like dull suburban people. With Cheap gas, home-equity lines of credit, leasing and a used market SUVs became the Fad of the 1990’s.
The SUV will go back to being a niche product like the convertible, purchased by people who will actually take the thing off-road (and the prices and add-ons will go down in price).
Personally, SUV’s never made any sense. You had less passenger and storage space than a mini-van, more difficult to get into and it handled like a boat.