The SUV is dead — long live the SUV

MSNBC ^ | April 10, 2009 | Dan Carney

[Lorianne]

SUVs, crossovers dominate at 2009 New York auto show ___ The smart set here in New York has long declared the SUV dead.

That gas-guzzling, pollutant-spewing darling of suburban and rural America is a passé relic of a bygone era, according to the book editors, fashion photographers, literary critics, Broadway choreographers and other practitioners of the bedrock industries that built this country.

They’d better stay away from the New York auto show this week because there they will see car manufacturers showing off their latest off-road contenders, and the majority of the new models unveiled at the show’s press preview earlier this week were SUVs or crossovers. Why? Because while these vehicles may have been declared dead in Manhattan, the residents of the Fly-Over states have kept buying them (to the extent that anyone is buying anything more than food and water these days).

“While the perception coming from the mainstream media is that there is a hatred of SUVs, the numbers don’t show that,” observed Rebecca Lindland, director of auto industry research for IHS Global Insight. “Consumers want a mixture of utility, fuel economy, safety and practicality.”

[Myrddin]

I like the Escape and Mariner line. They are hardly "gas guzzlers". The Kuga looks like it might get the job done for moving people in a snowy locale, but the back cargo area looks like a big loser. My Mariner/Escape vehicles have the ideal mix of passenger and cargo. I have two sons that are 6' 2 1/2" and one at 6' 0. All three can comfortably sit in the back seat of a Mariner. There is still room for groceries and/or coolers for trips to Yellowstone in the Mariner. It would be a mistake for Ford to dump the Escape/Mariner line. I drove some of the Freestyle vehicles as rentals at Hertz. The Freestyle feels bigger, but wasn't any more functional for me. The current "Flex" offering looks like an ugly box. It reeks of "Honda Element".

[Yardstick]

That little Ford is pretty neat lookin. I also like the Ford Flex, which I thought would sell well but which I haven’t seen too many of on the road.

[Dallas59]

We just bought a Used 2000 Nissan Pathfinder for a third car. 109,000 miles and in perfect condition. Clean title, no wrecks, floods or chop. Interior is excellent. $1500.

[EyeGuy]

“As such, the days of the large SUV are coming to an end.”

####

Maybe. Maybe not.

If so, Americans who desire the benefits of full-size, safe, powerful vehicles, will just have to buy large, full-cab pick-ups.

[Myrddin]

I've seen a couple "smart cars" going south on I-15 in Feb 2008. They move along just fine, but are too damn small. It's a tiny coffin on wheels. One of them showed up in Pocatello this week. I haven't figured out the attraction. The gas mileage isn't that great and the cargo capacity is terrible. The Smart Fortwo gets 33 mpg city, 41 mpg highway. The Prius beats that with greater carrying capacity. My 2007 Yamaha Roadliner get 31 MPG city, 42.5 MPG highway. It looks better and is more fun to ride. Top speed of 140 MPH for those daring or stupid enough to push the limits. Freeway speeds in Idaho are typically 75 MPH (posted). The "Smart" cars are hard pressed to hold that speed.

[When do we get liberated?]

I once sold a V10 2500 Ram to a guy so he could tow his power washing equipment. 400 gallon tank, trailer and washer.

Prior to having the Dodge, I kid you not he was towing it with a Malibu....

[Liberty Valance]

[When do we get liberated?]

Just bought a Kawasaki Ninja (older) for less than a grand. 60 miles per gallon and way more fun. Went to get a haircut today, so I took the car. It occured to me what a waste it is to carry a 3,000 pound box around with you as you drive.

[WVKayaker]

My Suburban is getting too small.

Expand your fleet!

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

“he was towing it with a Malibu”

With a dodgey transmission, I’m sure......

[Kryptonite]

$1500 for that? Sweet deal. I’m driving my Explorer forever. Pulls ma boat, gets me through snow, and I can even fit a youth atv in back. Plus its nice to see traffic better from a higher view than any sedan or s/w can do.

[VeniVidiVici]

Crossovers are the dumbest things on the road. They cost more than a car but have no more room on the inside than a car. They certainly aren’t SUVs.

What’s the point?

[prismsinc]

I’m with you. If the eco-commies are so hell bent on having all of us go “green”, they’d better prepare for the law of unintended consequences.

I won’t give up my truck. Like many where I live, if Sun God 0 wants to buck up the gas price to $5 a gallon with higher oil taxes, my alternative ride will be a HORSE.

Yup. That’s right! You wanna go green? Can’t get greener than equine transportation. The foul smell of horse dung in the morning out on your way to work! Can’t wait to see these statists try to ban horses!

[sockmonkey]

Crossovers are the dumbest things on the road.

I hate Crossovers. Why don't they just call them what they are? Station Wagons.

[BigCinBigD]

Crossover smoshover. I want a good old fashioned station wagon.

[bikerman]

I’ll be driving one for a long time.

So will I.

[bikerman]

I tried pulling my boat with a Segway......

Try pulling a 40 foot RV.

[Hiryusan]

The SUV is the vehicle of the future.
I covered a few states on my vacation last week, and everyone will be driving SUVs if the roads keep being maintained the way I saw. Some of these work zones have been torn up for YEARS!, but at least they finally finished the I-70/I-75 interchange(at least I think its finished).

[Vaduz]

Agree they couldn’t pull the hat off your head so much for camping.

[usconservative]

I paid pennies on the dollar for this three years ago when gas first topped $3/gallon here. I drive 7 miles a day with it. I don't care how expensive it gets, I'm going in style and comfort.

This gets 18 in the city, the times I've had it on the highway I've gotten 24-25 as long as I keep it under 70.