That's exactly the problem. Suburban sprawl is entirely car-focused because you can't get out to the boonies without one.

Not talking about suburban sprawl, just living next small city over.

But "tons of houses and not a shop or anything else in sight" is of course a problem on its own. Thankfully not really in my country, there is usually some local shops nearby everywhere

what if I told you that even the smallest town could be pedestrian friendly, and before the advent of cars they were this way for thousands of years