4 Wheel Drive/SUVs: Are any current SUVs required to meet car EPA standards?, melbourne beach florida, volvo station wagon

Question
Bud,  It's time for my husband and I to retire our old station wagon, which was wonderful for hauling tools, furniture, dog et.al., especially on long trips.  

Our current thinking is that an SUV or minivan would best meet our needs.  [The used Volvo station wagon was a luxury, after driving Toyota Tercels, and Nissan Sentras!]  It met my need for a quieter ride and was better for my back, and was great for my husband's and son's long legs(both are 6'5").  However, we got it with about 89K miles on it, hopeing it would give us 200K.

Our recent Volvo trip back from a sweat equity project made us sweat(pun intented)!  It made it home, but at 138K miles, it seems to be giving out and is any trustworthy for errands, and the short local commutes required for our regular day jobs.

We are NOT willing to buy any vehicle that, by law, only must meet truck EPA emmission standards.
What's the latest? Are there any SUV's that now meet car EPA emmission standards?

The Toyota dealer I called to ask about the 2004 RAV4 said He doesn't "know about the law"..and "a car is a car, a SUV is a SUV" in answer to the same question (without giving him all our personal car history, and discribtion of our current needs)


If there's an answer in there I'm too unimformed to infer it!

ANY light you can shed on this particular question re: SUV's and Truck vs. Car EPA standards
would be GREATLY appreciated!  Thank you in advance!
                            Ann

Answer
Interesting question from a personal angle.  My wife and I had driven Volvos and Lincolns(I was a manager at both Volvo and Lincoln dealerships) for many years.  She absolutely adored the volvo.  We put 185,000 miles on her 89 760 but it began nickeling and diming us to death so we decided to get another.  I had retired from the car business in Palm Beach County, Florida and we had moved to Melbourne Beach, Florida, about 90 miles north and we love it here.  Much to my surprise many of the managers at the various car dealers had worked for or with me over the years and I felt quite at home.  I took my wife around to the various dealerships as I can no longer drive and she has to do it all.  After much looking and checking our budget we decided on a 2001 Toyota RAV4 (which is a derivitave of the Corolla) loaded but only 2wd.  We now have 33,000 miles and have never spent a dime other than normal maintenance.  The vehicle meet the car EPA standards, or at least did at the time we bought it.  Hope this helps,  Let me know how you make out.  Best of Luck, Bud