SUV Pros And Cons

By: Jonathon Hardcastle

Your car is bursting at the seams with children, sports
equipment, groceries and pets. You think it may be time to trade
up to a larger car. But is an SUV the right choice to make for
your family?

First and foremost, as anyone who watches the evening news
knows, the price of gas has skyrocketed and SUVs are notorious
for poor gas mileage. Or are they? Depending on what make and
model of SUV you choose, some get as good or better gas mileage
than some large cars. For example, the 2004 Honda Element gets
22 miles to the gallon in the city, just 2 miles per gallon less
than the 2004 Honda Accord. At highway speeds, the Element gets
8 miles per gallon less than the Accord, a larger, but not huge,
difference Also, more and more auto manufacturers are designing
hybrid gas-electric SUVs that provide better gas mileage along
with the traditional extra space and power of SUVs.

Another major consideration when choosing between a car and an
SUV is safety. Most people assume that, because of their larger
size, that SUVs are safer than cars. However, crash tests
conducted in 2003 proved that large SUVs were only slightly
safer than mid-sized cars and were actually slightly more
dangerous than large cars. SUVs also can roll over when taking
turns at high speed, something that cars are far less likely to
do. Drivers who are switching to SUVs after many years of
driving cars may need some practice to learn to drive their SUV
safely.

Many people think that SUVs, due to their larger size are more
comfortable and have more cargo capacity than cars. To a certain
extent this is true, but it depends heavily on what make and
model of SUV you choose. Some SUVs actually have limited cargo
space, though almost all have the power to haul a trailer. As
far as comfort, many drivers prefer being higher up from the
road, but older drivers and those with disabilities may have a
hard time getting into the raised seats. Additionally, buckling
a child into a car seat installed in the recommended back seat
center position may be difficult for shorter moms and dads.

Finally, if you do a lot of city driving and, more importantly,
parking, SUVs are less maneuverable and harder to parallel park
than traditional cars. Even in the suburbs where most people
park in lots, the spaces may not be wide enough for certain
SUVs.

About the author:
Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including Automotive, Real Estate, and Business