Are SUV's gas guzzlers ?

Question

Do they use far more gas than a regular car ?

Is it preferable to buy a regular car ?

Answer 1

my explorer uses more gas then my car did.

Answer 2

yes they are,  if you don't need the power to tow or/and the room for your family, go with a car.

Answer 3

depends on what you mean by gas guzzlers with the gas prices the way they are now even regular cars are gas guzzlers just take the city bus or carpool

Answer 4

SUV's are nice but i would get the one that needs less gas.

Answer 5

SUV's typically get 15-20 mpg.  There may be some hybrid versions that do a little better.  There are also some large regular cars that get similarly low gas mileage if you get one with a V-8 or large V-6 engine.  However, there are plenty of small cars that can get 24-30 mpg, and a Toyota Prius hybrid can get 44mpg in mixed driving (city and highway).  If you're looking to buy a car or SUV, you should pick up a copy of Consumer Reports' annual auto issue.  It contains reviews of new vehicles including gas mileage ratings for most of them.

Answer 6

First off there are hybrids for SUV choices that aren't as bad but this is really a two part answer. First off think about it logically it takes more effort to push a heavier object, thus it's going to take more fuel to power an engine to propel a car. The other factor would happen to be the false appearance of consumption which is the size of the tank, while it may last less than if in another car, the tanks often last a bit longer but are huge thus looking like a big chunk of money when you go to the gas station.

Answer 7

It's all about the vehicle's weight and engine power.

It doesn't matter if it's an SUV or "regular" car.

If it's bigger, heavier, and/or stronger, it uses more fuel.

Answer 8

Yes they are.

Is a fad now days to use a truck to pick up groceries.  One of the excuses are safety.  There are no much safer than any car.  Some says that like to be high up there to see ahead.  Well, with the large quantities of them that purpose is defeated.  There is not much space inside.  A minivan has a larger Cubic Feet capacity.  Other excuse is the 4X4.  That will help no to get stuck, but the braking is the same as any other car.  The higher center of gravity makes it harder to control.

So what they are good for?  They were in one point a work truck, to be used off road, in farms to tow and haul heavy stuff.  Now they are full of comfort creatures and called them family vehicles.

Due to the large weight, boxy shape, larger drivetrain drag and a bigger engine to pull that with power to spare to tow / haul stuff.  There you have it, the laws of physics does not lies, you need more energy so where to get it from?  The fuel itself and lots of it.

Hybrids, with the current prices, you are no saving anything, in most cases, you spend more.  Why?  They cost more, so you are diverting the price of the fuel for a higher car payment or they simply cost more.  The purpose of saving gas to save $$$ is defeated.  The hybrid trucks only gives you just a bit better gas economy, no for much.

I am not against them, just that is not a very cost effective solution.  You are better off with a regular car.  By the way, Hybrids is not a new technology, Submarines, Ships, Trains use that technology.  Just that has been incorporated lately on cars with a big fanfare.

The VW and Audi TDI diesel engines are a very impressive system, they are light years ahead of anything out there, in performance, economy and pollution.  They go head to head with the hybrids on fuel consumption and they do have a lot of power.  Also Diesel engines are multi-fuel, meaning that you can run Bio Diesel if you need to, no dependency of foreigner petroleum.

IMHO, when I have a need for a truck, I will buy one.  In the mean time I am saving gas with a very comfy car, a full size sedan.