Over a third of all so-called 4x4 Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) sold in the Republic last year were registered in Dublin. Of over 9,500 SUVs sold last year, over 3,400 were registered in the capital between January to December 2004.
Sales of the large off-roaders were up 34 per cent on 2003, and they represented one of the fastest growing segments of the car market.
However, the popularity of SUVs amongst urban motorists has lead to an increasing international backlash at their size, claims that they record higher than average fuel consumption and questions over pedestrian safety.
Despite this, it seems the critics have had little or no effect on sales here. In particular, the larger luxury SUVs proved particularly popular with Dublin motorists, with 50 per cent of BMW X5, Range Rover and Mercedes ML-Class models sold here being registered in the city.
The figures are less dramatic for vehicles more commonly associated with working country life. Only 15 per cent of Land Rover Defenders were sold in Dublin this year, while sales 79 per cent of Toyota Land Cruisers and 70 per cent of Mitsubishi Pajeros were registered outside the city.
The rapid growth in the popularity of off-roaders has resulted in a surge in new SUVs introduced to the Irish market in recent years. Traditional premium luxury brands have been trying to feed the seemingly insatiable demand for large 4x4 off-roaders from urban and suburban customers, who rarely if ever veer off the public roads.
While the expensive SUVs may feature all the latest technology to tackle difficult off-road conditions without complaint, most are nonetheless bedecked in the same luxury trim that owners were used to in their previous luxury saloon cars and rarely veer off the tarmac.
These vehicles that environmentalists love to hate are also a hit with car firms, which make more profit selling them than regular cars.
The SUV boom can be traced to the US, where they account for a third of all car sales. There, the sales boom was driven by tax breaks introduced in 1990 to those buying SUVs.
At the time a luxury tax was levied on cars costing more than $30,000. However, light trucks and off-roaders weighing more than 2.7 tonnes, were exempted in an effort to assist small farmers who used them for work purposes.
The loophole was noted by the car industry, resulting in increasing sales of SUVs to urban and suburban motorists that in turn increased their fashion status.
As a result, virtually all the major car firms in the world have an SUV model on sale now - including premium brands such as Mercedes, BMW and sports car makers such as Porsche.
Audi is already working on a new SUV model, while its sister company VW already sells its Touareg off-roader, though mainly to suburban families.
Their popularity in Europe has slowly grown in recent years, but resistance has started to increase among urban authorities, with London and Paris politicians leading calls for them to be banned from the cities.
However, Anthony Neville of OHM Group, importers of Jeep brand SUVs says that while complaints have been made about these vehicles fuel economy and bulk, he reckons the major reason for the reaction to their increasing sales is a function of their height.
He says that other complaints about their size are unwarranted: "The actual footprint of your average SUV is no bigger than a Toyota Avensis."
"In terms of engine size, it should be remembered that they are being bought by people with a certain budget at their disposal, choosing them for issues of fashion no doubt, but also for spaciousness and comfort.
"The fact is that if they don't buy a 3-litre SUV they will buy a 3-litre or 3.5-litre saloon car instead.
"As for criticism of fuel economy, most of those sold here are powered by diesel engines, which are much more efficient. They are also far cleaner than they were five years ago, with lower emissions and better fuel economy."
He blames envious "tree huggers" for the constant complaints about the growth in SUV sales.
"The campaign against these vehicles is largely the obsession of people who are against any outward demonstration of progress or wealth," he claims. "They are also ignoring the fact that the majority of SUV sales are still outside the city and many are used as farming vehicles."