When most people think of sport utility vehicles they think of a large vehicle that consumes massive amounts of fuel just getting from point A to point B. This is the case with many SUV models of course but there are an increasing number of options for the fuel economy conscious sport utility vehicle driver.
In America most large passenger vehicles -most vehicles of any type for that matter- are powered by gasoline engines. In Europe there are quite a few really exciting diesel powered engines that are available in motor vehicles of all types. Unfortunately we are looking at the U.S. market here and will have few choices when it comes to powerful, efficient diesel powered transportation.
The good news is that there are more fuel efficient options than there were in the past for people who need the power and perhaps the off road ability of an SUV. Of course if you just need 4 wheel drive and high ground clearance a small model like the Honda CRV or Toyota RAV4 might meet your needs but if you are into something larger and more advanced you might want to check out a model like the Volkswagen Touareg TDI which has plenty of power.
In addition to having good power figures it still maintains an EPA fuel mileage rating of 19 city and 28 highway for an estimated average of 23.5 miles per gallon. This is probably on the low end of what you can expect to get. VW Touareg owners on Fuelly, a fuel mileage tracking service, record that their 2011 models are getting an average of 24.3 to 27.7 miles per gallon with one owner reporting an achievement of 36 mpg on one tank.
The options are more limited when looking for an older model sport utility vehicle that goes easy on fuel consumption. It does not quite qualify as an SUV but the Subaru Forester is a slightly more rough road capable AWD vehicle that is quite popular in snow country and worth considering. You can pick up a nice clean example of the model for about five thousand dollars on online auctions or classified advertisement sites.
Whatever model you decide to get don't become discouraged in looking around. Despite what you might think there are some good options especially if you only need a light duty model. It might help to take a few minutes to prioritize your needs and decide whether fuel mileage, power, towing ability or off road capabilities are more important. This will help you be more focused in your vehicle search.
If you're interested in the best off road SUV models on the market you might be interested in reading more right here.
No comments:
Post a Comment