Hit song puts boot into suburban SUV culture

"Remuera tractor" drivers beware - a musical assault is coming your way.

A quirky pop song about tiny suburbanites driving huge sports utility vehicles is fast becoming a hit across the US and beyond.

The song, 90-Pound Suburban Housewife Drivin' in her SUV, was written almost three years ago, but it wasn't played on US radio until a few months ago. Within a few weeks it had made its debut on iTunes, Apple's online music store.

The response has overwhelmed writers Suzanne Sheridan and Rozanne Gates. "It's just a sign that we struck a nerve that we weren't aware of," said Ms Sheridan.

The song, though light-hearted, has a political message and will strike a chord in New Zealand, where SUVs represent more than 11 per cent of all vehicles on the road.

The lyrics spell it out, describing the "90-pound suburban housewife/ drivin' in her SUV/ talkin' on her cellphone/ oblivious to you and me/ kids in the back seat watchin' the/ little TV."

Ms Gates said: "They're everywhere - and they're getting bigger, and the ladies are getting smaller."

The song has yet to hit record stores in New Zealand, but is available for online download.

Ms Gates said the couple hadn't received criticism from any neighbours - even those who might have unwittingly inspired the song.

"I know so many people who fit that description, and they will say to me, 'I know somebody just like that!' and I say, 'Of course you do'."