The amount of cargo that can be hauled will be affected by whether the rear seats may be folded or removed. When folded, compact SUVs may feature up to 70 cubic feet of capacity, increasing to up to 100 cubic feet for midsize SUVs. Even more can be carried in the full-size SUVs. 

It depends on your point of view: an SUV is a safer vehicle to be in as a passenger in an accident, but it is a less safe vehicle for the person who gets hit by one. Again Age is a big factor. A new small car is probably going to be safer than an old SUV. 

Yes diesel motors are well suited for Suv's. They are built to last and special materials or metals are used to make its engine and fabricated well. It's heavier when compared to petrol. Petrol engines have higher rpm capacities so the load, wear and tear is much greater.