I have usually removed the front wheel to make it easier to fit inside. I chose my last SUV, a Chevy Traverse, because I could fold down the far rear seat and had enough room to put two road bikes inside without removing the front wheels. "Larger" SUVs often provided less rear cargo space as they were designed to carry 8-9 passengers and replace a mini van. The SUV was replaced by a pickup that has a 6.5 ft bed and also accommodates both our bikes with the tires left on.

Out of sight makes them far less likely to get stolen and a thief that wants to get to the bike in your son's car is going to break a window and this means paying out for that repair as well as for a replacement bicycle.