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Car Options in the Post SUV World

June 12, 2008

There will come a time, sooner better than later, when we will witness the extinction of the large SUV and we will all breathe a sigh of relief. Behemoths like the muscle cars of the sixties and seventies suffered a similar fate as the oil crisis of 1973 led to the evolution of compact cars with better gas mileage. As SUV popularity now plummets, smaller, more fuel-efficient models will claim their territory.

As far back as 2006, the New York Times had articles on the front page claiming large slumps in SUV sales as gas hit $3.00 a gallon. This year, with plant closures and large SUV sales dropping 23.6% in the last twelve months, consumers are well on their way toward shifting their buying dollar to more evolved, alternative vehicles. Even new car dealers are reluctant now to accept SUVs in trade due to their dwindling value and low demand.

The Toyota Prius hybrid car is now the status symbol green vehicle to own, even among the rich and famous. There is a dealer somewhere who can put one on back order for you - for next year's model. While the Prius may have struck a chord with those ready to hop on the green bandwagon, other vehicles now in production and concepts that have been introduced at recent car shows may soon serve as well the needs of families, tradesmen and commuters.

Although the SUV had its drawbacks, the features that have always remained attractive are its roominess for family motoring, enhanced survivability in auto accidents, traction with all-wheel or 4-wheel drive, and its ability to go off the beaten path. Non-SUV models with most of those strengths are on the road right now, serving families and commuters in the shape of the Subaru Outback and other mid-size "utility wagons." Endowed with larger wheels, increased ground clearance and fair gas mileage (19 mpg city/26mpg highway), the Outback is reasonably priced with a base M.S.R.P of $21,195. There are currently five or six others in this segment for which former SUV owners are opting

If you are willing to swap all-wheel drive for improved fuel economy, then the eclectic Scion xB might be worth a look. With its top ratings in crash tests, including a low rollover resistance rating, the lower premium you will pay for car insurance will be another plus. Its redesign for 2008 offers a less boxy exterior, more interior storage and decent fuel economy ratings (22 mpg city, 28 mpg highway). Another unlikely choice for SUV refugees could be the Mini Cooper Clubman, with its enhanced storage and passenger-side rear half-door, the Clubman is reasonably priced at $19,950 and fuel-miserly (28 mpg city/37 mpg highway).

For families and active individuals, the 5-door hatchback has always been a practical and appealing vehicle. The Saturn Astra, for example is new on the American scene and provides 45 cubic feet of storage, a respectable fuel efficiency rating (24mpg city/32mpg highway), and an attractive, sporty exterior.

Models like the Ford Escape Hybrid may someday be looked at as a throwback to the SUV era, and may also be among the few surviving members that live on, due to its fuel economy rating of 34mpg city/30mpg highway. Future vehicles that may someday emerge as the transportation solution that the SUV once was, might include the Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell SUV currently being given to select test families in New York, Washington, DC, and California. Although the days of the Yukons, Sequoias, Suburbans, Expeditions and Tahoes are quickly coming to an end, their best traits will be evident in the smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles which will replace them.

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