Yes it is very intentional, because the point is not to say, “look at this sedan and this suv”, the point is, “look at cars and how they are becoming bigger”, a major part of which is people unnecessarily buying bigger cars. It’s comparing the “average” car of the past to the “average” car today. In fact, if you were to compare sedans to sedans while trying to make that point, I say that would be disingenuous.

By example, if I was comparing computer storage though the ages, I wouldn’t compare magnetic tape to magnetic tape today, I’d compare it to ssds. And it wouldn’t be disingenuous because they’re different types of storage, because the point I’m making is about storage as a whole.

If SUVs are replacing sedans, I think it’s entirely fair to compare them.

You represent a minority

No, because all methods of transportation are not used for “the exact same thing”. If it was a 7 seater SUV, it would be a bad comparison, because that’s for carrying more people and must be larger. Same for a motorcycle. But it’s not, it’s a five seater car with a moderate trunk that people are buying for the exact same use case.

It’s a perfectly fine comparison, because people are buying them for the exact same thing. Just because they’ve been sorted into different categories for other reasons doesn’t change that.