New SUVs: the American automobile
Sport utility vehicles are making a big-time comeback. Fueled with smarter design, increased fuel efficiency and more attractive sticker prices, American consumers are again lining up to buy SUVs. These vehicles are unmatched in versatility, with the ability to drive in all types of weather and many kinds of road surfaces. New SUVs keep everything drivers loved about old sport utility vehicles while adding in the efficiency and practicality of smaller cars and sedans. No more can SUVs be branded as unnecessary, gas-guzzling machines. The new SUVs of today are smart, practical and affordable.
Leading the wave in SUV technology is the new hybrid sport utility vehicle. Hybrid sport utility vehicles cost more than their standard fuel counterparts, but that doesn't mean they're not affordable. Some hybrid SUVs can be purchased for prices as low as $23,000, and you'll also be saving on gas money through the duration of the car's life. Hybrid SUVs get anywhere from 20 to 30 mpg, with some even getting better gas mileage. Most of the popular lines of sport utility vehicles can now be purchased in new hybrid models.
For years, the sport utility vehicle was the undisputed king of the road in the United States. Fueled by ruggedness and versatility, the sale of SUVs increased dramatically during the 1990s. Americans adored sport utility vehicles – and still do – for their many uses. Unlike other types of vehicles, SUVs can take your family camping one day while serving as your commuter car the next. Sport utility vehicles are safe, and many were priced very affordably. There was nothing to hate about SUVs – until gas prices started going up. Scrambling to save money, many Americans said goodbye to their sport utility vehicles and bought smaller, more fuel-efficient cars. Auto analysts predicted the end of the SUV era had come.
They analysts were wrong. The sport utility industry listened to consumers and began producing new lines of fuel-efficient SUVs. Now, through improved engine and hybrid technology, some SUVs are capable of getting close to 30 mpg, which is on par with some standard cars. This change in the way SUVs are built has led to a resurgence of this popular type of automobile. Hybrid SUVs are poised to be top competitors in the auto industry for years to come.
SUV financing options
There's never been a better time to buy an SUV from a car dealership or a private buyer. Many dealerships are still attempting to win back customers with rock-bottom prices and enticing financing offers. The private market is also booming. Rather than spend more than $20,000 to buy something new off the lot, a quick Internet search yields several perfectly good SUVs that sell for less than $10,000. Even many car lots have placed deep discounts on their SUV inventory, mainly to make room for the new, fuel-efficient lines of SUVs.
Hybrid SUVs: lean and green
Advances in hybrid SUV technology have fueled the comeback of the sport utility vehicle in America. Once the undisputed king of cars, SUVs lost their luster a few years back when gas prices shot sky high. Since then, the leading manufacturers of sport utility vehicles have invested heavily in hybrid vehicle technology. Sport utility vehicles that once struggled to get nearly 20 mpg can now get up to 30 mpg with relative ease.
The benefits of owning a hybrid sport utility vehicle come at a price. New hybrid SUVs cost more than standard sport utility vehicles, and then you must tack on the added price of a decent new car warranty. However, people who buy hybrid SUVs will save on gas money throughout the life of their vehicles, bringing down the overall price in the long run. Hybrid SUVs are also more likely to retain a higher resale value.
Plan on spending at least $23,000 if you're serious about buying a new hybrid SUV. You can buy cheaper fuel efficient SUVs that use standard engines, but even those will not achieve the same levels of savings and conservation that a hybrid SUV can achieve. You can spend as much as you want when buying a new hybrid SUV. Top-of-the-line models from Cadillac, Mercedes and Audi can easily eclipse the $50,000 sticker price. Of course, there are numerous high-quality hybrid SUVs in the $30,000 and $40,000 price range.
If hybrid SUVs are too expensive for your budget, you can also consider waiting a few years to see if prices come down. The hybrid sport utility vehicle is still fairly new to the United States auto market, and prices are bound to fall once more hybrids have had a chance to infiltrate the domestic market. You can also watch used car listings or online auction sites for great deals on hybrid SUVs.
