- Seating and Power
- It Feels Safer
- Ability to Hold More
- They Can Handle Weather Better
- Off-Road Capabilities
- The Reality of the Situation
Despite people writing them off for the past few years, SUVs, also known as Sport Utility Vehicles, still remain popular. Even in the face of rising gas prices and environmentally-conscious consumers, these large vehicles are still an American staple. While car manufacturers and analysts may have their own reasons for why SUVs still continue to remain popular, consumers themselves listed the following reasons for why they still love them:
Seating and Power
SUVs offer the ability to hold more passengers than regular vehicles, not to mention have a pulling capacity that can handle this increased load. Most SUVs can pull over 2500 pounds, with some even offering a third row of seating. This is a big selling point for many consumers.
It Feels Safer
To many, SUVs simply feel safer. Their large size and thicker build appeals to those who value safety. In addition, some prefer the higher seating that allows them to see the road from a higher vantage point. Whether or not they are actually safer is up for debate, but regardless, this is the consumer perception.
Ability to Hold More
SUVs can hold more cargo than regular vehicles, including more than a station wagon. However, part of this is perception, as they often don't have as long of a trunk space as a station wagon. Nonetheless, SUVs can certainly hold a great deal of items, whether it is groceries or luggage.
They Can Handle Weather Better
SUVs can get around better in harsh weather conditions such as a snowstorm. Their 4-wheel drive capability and thick tires allows them to be more stable in these conditions. For many people, this is the biggest reason why they want an SUV.
Off-Road Capabilities
Many consumers want a vehicle that can handle off-road conditions, so they chose an SUV. SUVs are certainly built to be sturdy but their ability to handle off-road conditions varies greatly depending on the specific model and car manufacturer.
The Reality of the Situation
Americans are in love with cars, and SUVs are truly an American car. Even for those who are environmentally-conscious, auto manufacturers have addressed this issue by creating hybrid SUVs. Even if a newly-released SUV is not a hybrid, its fuel efficiency has most certainly been increased. Federal regulations have grown stricter, as SUVs are now held to higher standards than ever before.
Two of the main reasons that are cited for the resurgence in SUV sales are that the economy in the United States has improved and that the new models are much more appealing than they have been in the previous few years. Many of the new SUVs perform and drive like they're sports cars or sedans.
In the future, the amount of hybrid SUVs, not to mention compact SUVs and even SUVs with diesel engines which burn fuel much cleaner, will most certainly increase,
If you have put off buying an SUV, you really owe it to yourself to check out the new models that are available. You'll most certainly be pleasantly surprised!