Autos >
SUVs
Get a Widget for this title
RSS FeedShould we still be buying SUVs?
Results so far:
| Yes | 53% | 366 votes | Total: 696 votes | |
| No | 47% | 330 votes |
Yes
Write now
Print
Invite a writer™
Add to FavoritesSeveral years ago, there began a focused effort to demonize Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and those who own them. The theme was that SUV owners are rich people who do not care about the environment. It even became a class battle where SUV owners had an unfair safety advantage over the poor people who drove smaller, less expensive cars. The media delighted in reporting accidents where an SUV was involved, especially if the SUV turned over because of its higher center of gravity. But ownership of SUVs increased rapidly during the last decade. Why? Because they provide a great capability that Americans need, utility.
Should we still be buying SUVs? Yes, of course, if that's what you choose to do. It is a question of personal preference and balance. SUVs provide unique capabilities that satisfy and appeal to the needs of many Americans. They are a great family car, providing safety, flexibility, better drivability in rain and snow, and of course, utility. Utility means it's a vehicle that you can use for many purposes. You can utilize the SUV for hauling equipment, lumber, camping gear, landscape material, furniture, pet cages, and countless other items that will not fit into a typical car. You can carry a canoe on top or a car top carrier loaded with Christmas gifts. Try to tie anything on the top of most cars. SUVs are great camping vehicles, allowing you to carry your campsite with you and to access difficult terrain without tearing up the underside of your car. And, of course, even the smaller SUV's will easily pull a boat or small trailer.
So are the great SUV benefits worth the cost? Your choice. When gas prices were so high in mid-2008 people had to decide whether the extra cost of operating an SUV was worth the benefit. Many decided it wasn't, and SUV sales fell. Now in late 2008, gas prices aren't as much of an issue. However, none of us will be surprised to see the prices rise again. The market will determine whether people will buy SUVs, large or small or hybrid. That's the beauty of checks and balances in our free market system.
What about our societal responsibility to save energy? Yes, we should all be conservation minded, responsible citizens. We all have to decide personally what that means. It's our personal choice to the extent the Government allows. We choose to own houses larger than we need, using more energy than necessary. We set our thermostats for comfort when we could save by sacrificing a bit of comfort. Our long vacations use considerable gas or airplane fuel. We choose to go because we enjoy the experience.
If SUV's were purely for luxury, then our choice should be not to purchase one. But the outstanding features and benefits make it an obvious choice. We must balance these great benefits against the cost and energy use and decide for ourselves. Let's hope we continue to have that choice and that the Government doesn't make it for us.
Learn more about this author, David Pitts.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.
No
As gas prices continue to increase in proportion to the decreasing supply of oil reserves, a question still managing to plague U.S. consumers is whether or not SUVs are a smart buying decision. The picture SUVs paint in the minds of consumers is more negative than ever, considering today's knowledge of global warming, rollover accidents, and poor fuel economics.
Studies have been taken since the controversy surrounding the vehicles, and most of them point toward the same conclusions. "SUVs inflict more harm on occupants than other cars do because of their size and weight, sport utility vehicles can cause considerable damage to smaller passenger cars in side-impact crashes" (Reuters). "SUVs do not provide superior protection for child occupants and that age- and size-appropriate restraints and rear seating for children under 13 years are critically important because of the increased risk of a rollover death an SUVs increased risk of rolling over during a crash offset the safety benefits associated with larger, heavier-weight vehicles" (Mortensen).
Other risks in owning an SUV include the increased risk of off-road accidents, and the habitual non-use seatbelts. "Unfortunately, many people who are killed (especially in rollovers) many times are not wearing safety belts" (Reuters). Due to the fallacy that SUVs are bigger, have more safety features, and are otherwise indestructible, passengers do not wear seatbelts as often as they do in cars which causes a much higher risk of injury or fatality.
Although SUVs do pose serious physical threats during accidents, recent models have begun to offer more safety features with better benefits to consumers. "SUVs are becoming more popular as family vehicles because they can accommodate multiple child safety seats" (Mortensen). They have more seating, more space, and better capacity for hauling groceries and other household items.
Some of the most popular SUV models today include the Honda Element, the Toyota Land Cruiser, the Ford Escape, the Mercury Mariner, the Chevrolet Trailblazer, and the Subaru Forester. As for gas mileage, according to Wickell, the 2005 Honda CR-V averages between 21-29 miles per gallon. The 2005 Toyota RAV4 averages between 22-30 miles per gallon. The 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid averages approximately 40 miles per gallon, by far the most of all 2005 models available (2007).
The 2007 Honda Element's reviews seem to be mostly positive. "Element's rear passenger doors are half-size clamshell doors that hinge at the rear. The front door has to be open before the rear doors can be, and there's no 'B' pillar between the doors" (Fogelson). Safety features include an electronic stability control, traction control, advanced airbag features, 4-wheel ABS, child seat lower anchorage, energy management feature, side airbags, rear seat head restraints, and tire pressure monitors (Automotive.com). Reviews of most 2007 SUV models state the same features.
Pricing comparisons between two models from the same manufacturer, one SUV model and one car model, reveal differences which every consumer should weigh against all options, features, and benefits. According to the Cars Direct website, the 2007 Honda Element LX (Front Wheel Drive) costs $17,782. The Honda Civic DX 4-door Sedan costs $15,305. The 2007 Ford Escape XLS Manual 2.3L 4-door Front Wheel Drive SUV costs $16,234, versus the 2007 Ford Focus SE 4-door sedan which costs $13,070. In both cases, the SUV models are only a few grand more than the car models.
The lingering question in the minds of consumers is: do the positives outweigh the negatives? Many sedan-style cars have similar safety features without the risk of rollover, mechanical failure, high gas fill-ups, and issues. Also, hatch-back vehicles have adequate storage space with the possibility of additional rear seating capacity. Considering the extra expense, SUVs are not worth the worry. However, it is a decision every consumer must make individually, with heavy research in mind.
References:
Auto motive.com. (2007). 2007 Honda Element Crash Tests. Retrieved July 4, 2007, from: http://www.automotiv e.com/2007/12/honda/ element/safety/index .html
CarsDirect website. (2007). Compare Cars. Retrieved July 4, 2007, from: http://www.carsdirec t.com/research/compa reresults?acodes=USB 70HOS041A0,USB70HOC0 21A0
Consumer Reports website. (2007). What to look for in an SUV. Retrieved July 4, 2007, from: https://www.consumer reports.org/cro/cars /what-to-look-for-in -an-suv-1205/overvie w/index.htm
Fogelson, J. (2007). 2007 Honda Element SC. Retrieved July 4, 2007, from: http://suvs.about.co m/od/honda/fr/07_Hon daElejf.htm
Mortensen , D. (2006). SUVs No Safer than Passenger Cars for Children, New Study Finds. Retrieved July 4, 2007, from: http://www.prnewswir e.com/cgi-bin/micro_ stories.pl?ACCT=1596 81&TICK=CHOP&STORY=/ www/story/01-03-2006 /0004241179&EDATE=Ja n+3,+2006
Reuters. (2003). Report: SUVs pose danger to cars. Retrieved, July 4, 2007 from: http://www.cnn.com/2 003/TECH/ptech/02/26 /hearing.suv.reut/in dex.html
Wickell, D. (2007). Top 9 Compact & Mid-size SUVs with the Best Fuel Economy Ratings. Retrieved July 4, 2007, from: http://trucks.about. com/od/suvreviews/tp /best_gas_rating.htm
Learn more about this author, B Borcyk.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.
Difference of opinion? Debate now.
