>The cars are getting bigger

Wasn't there a trend in the US away from pompous SUVs and towards smaller cars, people even starting to re-evaluate some European-favored "city" cars more?

Also aren't cars also getting ligther, with less heavy / metallic exterior over time?

There is some bimodal distribution. I routinely encounter trucks where I cannot see over the hood. I suspect most of these vehicles have never carried so much as a 2x4 in the bed.

We have a regulatory regime that requires that SUVs be bigger each year. It saves the environment that way.