Why you should consider purchasing an SUV

Growing up as a kid, my dad was a fan of station wagons. He found it handy to pack the vehicle up before going on vacation, compared to having a vehicle with a trunk. He liked the practicality of it. I appreciated his way of thinking and had a couple of station wagons as an adult. Going beyond that, I’ve been partial to having SUV’s. They often serve the same purpose my dad and I had with station wagons, but can offer a lot more now than ever before.

I currently own an SUV and enjoy it. The roomier seating compartment makes longer trips easier to handle. Sitting a little higher up in the seat also makes it a little easier to see well up the road to be able to see and anticipate traffic patterns. Sitting in a lower vehicle, such as a sedan, makes it a little more difficult to look up the road sometimes.

I like the advantage of the higher ceiling in the cargo area in the SUV. It can allow for transportation of larger items that a sedan can’t handle. A hatchback may handle it, but the cargo area isn’t as high as most SUV’s so larger items may not fit in it. Although sedans can safely hide your precious cargo, many SUV’s have a cover that can slide across the cargo area so would-be thieves won’t know if you have anything tempting them. So that works too. SUV’s boast one of the largest cargo areas of all. Many sedans seem like the trunk can hold a lot, but once you compare it to a sedan, you’ll appreciate what it offers. 

As far as fuel economy goes, sedans have often been more economical. However, as the years have progressed, more SUV’s have become more and more practical to drive. Many SUVs are becoming similar to sedans with smaller engines and improved fuel economy. Since SUV’s come in a variety of sizes, the smaller ones seem to be almost as efficient as a sedan, yet have the advantages of full-size SUV’s.

Safety features are ever present in SUV’s as they are in sedans. They still have everything a sedan has, which helps to keep the occupants quite safe. SUV’s have also improved over the last few years with vehicle handling. They used to handle like a truck, but more recently they have been put on a sedan platform, which makes them easy to handle in every driving condition.

Despite the fact that SUV’s have become more popular and cost-effective, you do have to ask yourself if you really need one. When I was in the market for a new vehicle, I went out and shopped around. I compared my notes and found one that best suited my needs. I checked everything from fuel economy, safety features, reliability, repair history, cargo area, how easy/difficult it was to get in (for my older family members) and of course cost.

For many people, the real clincher could be cost. SUV’s tend to be more expensive to buy and more expensive on fuel compared to sedans, but that too is changing. If you’re looking for a change, perhaps the SUV is in your sights. But do your homework. Safety should always be a top priority when you’re contemplating a new vehicle. SUV’s have become safer and easier to drive than ever before. Maybe now is the time.