I do not think that was the message. Look at stats in the article that present deaths (drivers and others) per million vehicles. They are three times as high (BOTH for drivers and others!) for SUVs than for some other vehicles (I do not have the article handy).
The reason for that is the sheer physical properties of these monstrosities - the mass which makes steering a five ton vehicle is more difficult than steering a two ton one, regardless of the driving skill), the high centre of gravity which make it more prone for rollovers, and the positioning of the front wheel (necessary for all terrain driving, which these monstrosities purport to be) which makes the vehicle very unstable when it hits rail guard along the road.
But I think that the most interesting aspect of that article (and the book on which it is based) is what it tells about American mentality to which these monstrosities are designed to appeal: fear and low self-confidence coupled with a desire to achieve safety through isolation from the supposed danger and intimidation of others. That is just the classical US-er as seen through an outside observer's eyes as well as those of some more insightful insiders - such as Michael Moore in _Bowling for Columbine_ where he links gun violence to pervasive fear in the US society, or Barry Glassner in _The culture of fear_.
There is nothing more dangerous than a fearful coward equipped with modern technology.
Wojtek