Top 5 Reasons to Buy an SUV in 2009

The year 2009 is upon us and many of us are going to be purchasing new vehicles this year. Hopefully, we will be keeping the environment in mind but of course, we also have to keep our practical needs in mind as well. There is quite a bit of slander out there about SUV owners but there are several legitimate reasons why people drive SUVs. I often wonder if these people making negative comments about SUVs own a boat, have a large family, or own a mobile business that requires more cargo room. My guess is that they do not. Regardless of the ridicule, this may be your year to invest in an SUV that fits your needs.

Here are the top 5 reasons to buy an SUV in 2009:

1. SUVs handle better in rough terrain and bad weather. Depending upon where in the country you live, you may be struggling through mountainous terrain or snow for several months out of the year and an SUV will create a safer and easier drive for your family as you fight the elements.

2. SUVs have better towing capacity. Whether you’re trying to tow a boat or a camper, an SUV has the power to haul a lot of weight while maintaining a smooth drive.

3. SUVs have more room for cargo. This is a feature that can be very important for someone who travels for their job or owns a mobile business.

4. SUVs have more passenger room. Some SUVs have 3rd row seating for large families. Others may still only hold 5 passengers but have more head room and leg room than the average car.

5. SUVs are becoming more fuel efficient. As we have seen in the last year, there are more hybrid, clean-diesel, and fuel efficient SUVs being offered on the market and this trend seems to be rising.

There you have it…. the top 5 reasons to buy an SUV this year.

Before heading out to your local Kansas Toyota or Kansas Ford dealership, do your research. Keep in mind that we are living in a world that needs to be environmentally minded. Here at SUV LUV we will continue to keep up to date on the most fuel efficient, eco-friendly, and green SUVs on the market.
Happy New Year!

The 2008 SUV LUV Recap

This past year has been quite a rollercoaster for all the SUV lovers of the world. With gas prices hitting an all time high, car manufacturing plants closing their doors, and more fuel efficient hybrid cars being made the future didn’t look great for our beloved SUVs. Even with a grim future, the true SUV owners hung on and now we can expect even more fuel efficient and green SUVs in 2009 and beyond.

Whether you already own a SUV and are looking to trade in or have been thinking about buying your first one, 2009 is the year to own a SUV. Gas prices are low and fuel efficiency is high. It’s difficult to decide whether to go with a hybrid or just find a regular SUV that’s easy on the wallet. Either way, here are the greenest hybrid and non-hybrid SUVs for 2008:

Greenest Compact/Mid-size SUVs

1. Ford Escape Hybrid
2. Mazda Tribute Hybrid
3. Mercury Mariner Hybrid
4. Saturn VUE Hybrid
5. Toyota Highlander Hybrid
6. Lexus RX 400h
7. VW Touareg
8. Toyota RAV 4
9. Honda CR-V
10. Subaru Forrester

Greenest Large SUVs

1. Chevy Tahoe Hybrid
2. Dodge Durango Hybrid
3. GMC Yukon Hybrid
4. Cadillac Escalade Hybrid
5. Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel
6. Audi Q7 TDI

There will be more SUVs added to this list as we approach the New Year but there may also be some taken away. It is hard to decide what to buy in 2009 with the auto industry closing plants and receiving “bailouts”. But, it is assured that SUVs are here to stay and with the new eco-friendly models and gas prices being $1.60 per gallon or below on average, it couldn’t be a better year to go ahead and get the SUV you’ve been dreaming about.

Cheers to all you SUV owners and soon-to-be owners in 2009. May you have to happiest of New Year’s!

Yukon Hybrid

If you’re looking for a full sized, loaded SUV the GMC Yukon hybrid may be the way to go. This monster of a vehicle gets much better fuel economy than most large SUVs, can tow a ton, and includes some great options. The Yukon hybrid is modeled after its 2007 non-hybrid brother. It weighs in around 5,600 pounds so it may not be the most eco-friendly vehicle on the market but it is the most eco-friendly Yukon on the market!

The GMC Yukon gets around 14 mpg city and 19 highway. The fuel economy for the hybrid version comes in at 21 city and 22 highway. It is another hybrid SUV that runs on the two-mode technology. The Yukon hybrid comes with the standard V8 under the hood but the two-mode technology allows cylinders to deactivate when they aren’t needed so that it becomes a V4. The electric motor gives the added power the SUV needs to accelerate quickly and smoothly. The Yukon hybrid is a full hybrid and can run on electric power alone up to 25 miles per hour.

The Yukon hybrid is very tempting with its strength and amenities. It can tow around 6,000 lbs, which should cover all you boat owners out there. It can also haul eight people so it is perfect for a family vacation to the lake. The 3^rd row seating is optional and the only drawback to it is that it does not fold down but actually has to be removed if not needed. It also comes standard with touch screen navigation, DVD entertainment system, XM radio, remote keyless entry, rear parking assist, remote vehicle start system, and optional On Star and sunroof.

All in all, if you’re looking to haul a boat, ride around with 7 other people, show off to your friends, and be eco-friendly, then the Yukon hybrid is for you! Of course, you will be paying for it…. the Yukon hybrid starts at $50,945.

Hybrid Hemi?

That’s right! The Hemi-powered Dodge Durango is available in a hybrid version. Ok, so it seems like an oxymoron to call any Durango an eco-friendly vehicle but if you’re going to go for it anyway, why not get the hybrid version and save the environment a little bit.

The 2009 Dodge Durango hybrid can run on electric power alone so it is considered a full hybrid. It uses the two-mode system like the Chevy Tahoe hybrid and claims to reduce fuel consumption by 40 percent while driving around town. The first mode uses the electric motor without using any fuel while the second mode uses the electric motor while teaming up with the HEMI V8 engine to get maximum power. Dodge also claims that the Durango hybrid has better fuel economy due to its Multi-Displacement System (MDS). The MDS deactivates half of the V8 cylinders during cruising and acceleration, creating a fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine.

Dodge did not make many changes to the exterior and interior of the Durango hybrid. In fact, if the hybrid Durango and its non-hybrid counterpart were right next to each other, most people would not be able to tell the difference. The Durango hybrid can still seat up to eight people. Dodge hid the battery pack well, so that it would not lose any passenger room. It also continues to carry the same safety features such as a tire pressure monitoring system, Park Sense rear park assist system, and an electronic stability program. The hybrid version also has a high voltage disconnect designed to disable the energy flow in an accident.

If your reason for getting a Durango is towing, the hybrid version does fall a little short. The standard Durango can tow up to 8,900 pounds while the hybrid is reviewed to carry around 6,000 pounds. Still, not too bad considering it should get around 18 mpg city and 22 highway. The 2009 Dodge Durango comes in around $45,000 for the base model.

Luxury Can Go Green!

Lexus, a division of Toyota Motor Sales has three elegant and luxurious SUVs on the market but they also have an environment friendly edition to that line. The RX 400 hybrid is considered a “crossover” vehicle that can be purchased as an all wheel drive or front wheel drive.

The Lexus RX 400h is very eco-friendly. It has actually been certified as a super ultra-low emission vehicle. This means that it does not give off as much toxic fumes as the average new vehicle. Lexus claims that it reduces smog-forming emissions by 70%. This SUV estimates 27 mpg in the city and 24 highway for the front wheel drive models. The all wheel drive is just a bit behind with 26 city and 24 highway.

What makes the RX 400h such a big deal is its power. The 2008 model can go zero to 60 in 5.2 seconds. Even though it has a V6 engine, it has the power of a V8 due to the electric-drive motor. With the engine and electric motor combined it has 268 horsepower and can tow up to 3500 lbs.

This powerful, luxurious, environment friendly SUV does not come cheap. The 2008 RX 400h starts around 43,000. Buyers can add a voice activated navigation system and blue tooth technology. With the extra package this brings the grand total to $50,000. It is possible to buy it previously owned. The Rx 400h made its U.S. debut in 2006.

Eco-Friendly SUVs

If you’ve done the research, you will quickly realize that eco-friendly SUVs cost more initially than a conventional SUV of the same model. This is generally true but there may be some benefits to buying a hybrid SUV that you’re not aware of.

First and foremost it is great for the environment. Hybrid vehicles use less gas, which in turn creates less pollution. Carbon monoxides and carbon dioxides are the two key pollutants in the air produced by traditional vehicles. Since hybrid vehicles use their batteries to accelerate they do not release these air pollutants. It is estimated that hybrids cut down on air pollution by 90%.

Hybrid SUVs use less gas therefore their owners spend less money, a lot less money! Many of the hybrid SUVs on the market run on their electric battery until they reach speeds over 40 miles per hour. So, taking a quick trip to drop a kid off at school or running to the grocery store often times does not require any fuel at all. The electric battery also aids in turning the vehicle on and accelerating. Again, less gas used, less money spent.

Another factor that may offset the initial extra cost of an eco-friendly SUV is a federal tax credit. In the U.S. the IRS is giving a tax credit to some hybrid SUV owners. The credit is subtracted directly from the federal tax owed, leaving some hybrid SUV owners owing little or no taxes at all. The amount of the tax credit depends upon the year of the vehicle, when it was purchased, and which model was purchased. One example is the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid 2WD. If this vehicle were purchased in 2008, the tax credit owed would be $3000. The IRS website gives detailed information about this tax credit at www.irs.gov.

If you’re in the market for a new SUV, check out some eco-friendly options. It not only benefits the world around you but you might be surprised at some of the other benefits you receive directly.

Toyota Highlander Hybrid

A unique, “crossover” eco-friendly SUV is the Toyota Highlander hybrid.The Highlander hybrid was introduced in 2005.It is considered a “crossover” vehicle because it has a sleek design like a car but has the passenger and storage room of a sport utility vehicle.The newest edition, the 2009 Highlander, has recently been introduced.

In 2008, Toyota redesigned the Highlander hybrid.It now has third row seating and fits seven passengers.The third row can also be folded down easily for extra storage.The Highlander hybrid has a V-6 engine along with three electric motors, one that functions as a starter-generator, one that charges the battery pack, and one that aids propulsion.Its fuel tank holds around 17 gallons. The Highland gets about 27 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.

Toyota also received an excellent safety rating for this hybrid SUV.It contains anti-lock brakes, stability control, and front seat side airbags, side curtain airbags, and a driver’s knee airbag. Seatbelt pretensioners automatically tighten seatbelts during a collision.There is also a back-up camera standard in the vehicle.When the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conducted its crash-tests on the Highlander they gave it five stars for driver front safety, and four stars for passenger front safety.

It is possible to buy previously owned Toyota Highlander hybrid SUVs at your local Virginia or Kansas Toyota dealership, although many of the new features were added to the 2008 models so check your local dealerships and auto sites for specific details about each year’s model.The 2008 Highlander hybrid starts at $27,500 for a basic model.

Related articles

• What is a Hybrid Vehicle? (gogogreencars.com)
• Best Sites for Buying Tires (verybestsites.com)
• Can You And Your Car Survive A Collision? (partsandautos.com)
• Solar powered driving; myth or potential reality? (supergreencar.com)

The Escape Hybrid

Due to the rising prices at the gas pump, many of us have given up on ever owning an SUV. Fortunately, not all hope is lost. There are several models out there that are eco-friendly SUVs. It sounds like an oxymoron but it’s true!

Many of today’s automakers are jumping on the bandwagon and going green. Companies like Ford, Toyota, Chevrolet, Lexus, and more, already have eco-friendly SUVs on the market. As a consumer you can read and get important information about these green vehicles directly off the auto company’s web sites. If you are in the market or even thinking about being in the market for an eco-friendly SUV you will want to compare fuel efficiency, added features, and price before heading out to the dealerships.

The first and leading eco-friendly SUV on the market is the Ford Escape Hybrid. This green SUV hit the market in 2004 so it is possible to purchase a previously owned Escape Hybrid at your local New York, California or Kansas Ford Dealership. The new, 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid estimates 34 miles per gallon in the city and 31 on the highway. Under the rear cargo area is a nickel-metal-hydride battery. This feature allows you to run in pure electric mode when stopped in traffic or driving under 40 miles per hour, using no gas at all!

Another awesome, green feature of the new Escape Hybrid are the seats. They are made from post-industrial materials that would usually be thrown into a landfill. They have been reviewed as stylish yet comfortable. This is just another reason to check out this eco-friendly SUV.

The new 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid starts around $29,000, but price depends on the options that are included. Used Escape Hybrid’s range in price depending upon year, options, and care of the vehicle.

SUV LUV

Sure, gas prices are kinda bad right now, but that doesn’t mean you should just write off that SUV you’ve had your eye on for years.  We’ll be looking at SUV’s that are gas friendly, eco-friendly, and some that you wouldn’t have thought of when you were looking for that family car to get you from point A to point B without have to stop at points C, D, and E for gas.  Check back often, because there are more than you’d think and we’ll be updating often.