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SUV Buying Guide - Finding the Best SUVsWith the recent surge in oil and gas prices, it seems SUVs have fallen a bit out of favor. But for large families and people who want a large, comfortable vehicle, the SUV is still the king of the road, offering protection, versatility, visibility, and comfort. The Chevy Suburban was around long before SUVs became popular, same with the full size Ford Bronco, and the Jeep Grand Cherokee. But a whole new product line of first mid-size, and then full-size SUVs emerged in the late 80's and early 90's, culminating in the roads we see today packed with SUVs from BMW, Mercedes, Jeep, Ford, Volvo, Lexus, Chevrolet, Toyota, Hummer - see below for information and reviews on the latest SUV models.
Buying a SUV - Best 2006 SUV Models - Best 2007 SUV ModelsWhat's the best SUV? Let's start with the 2006 and 2007 Cadillac Escalade. With a base price of $54,725, the Escalade has an aluminum 6.2L V-8 engine that pumps out 403HP, enough to power you through most offroad and onroad obstacles. The well-appointed interior and aggressive street look has made the Escalade a favorite among the rapper and hip-hop crowd, but the average age of an Escalade buyer is actually 50 according to Cadillac! The 2007 Escalade is available in several colors: black raven, gold mist, blue chip, quick silver, red e, and radiant bronze. The Audi Q7 is a late entry into the SUV market from Audi - due for 2007. Its built around the Cayenne platform, and can hold up to 7 passengers, but again the rear 3rd row seating is cramped. The 4.2l engine will crank out 350HP, making it a powerful, solid performer. We'll be waiting for its official release to get more information. If you are looking for a full size luxury SUV, the Cadillac Escalade is our first choice for overall performance, features, and price.BMW X5 - Porsche CayenneHow does the X5 compare vs. the Cayenne? The BMW X5 SUV is the largest model BMW offers - there is also a smaller X3 model. Starting at $41700, the X5 is cheaper than the high-end models from Lincoln and Cadillac, and built more in the style and performance characteristic of the BMW line of autos. In 2003 Porsche launched its first 4x4 SUV, the Porsche Cayenne. Many people originally ridiculed the Cayenne, but it quickly won over converts with its agility and toughness, and legendary Porsche performance and handling. The high-end version comes with a 4.5L V8 engine packing 340HP. It has standard SUV gas mileage - 18 highway, 14 city. Porsche Cayenne prices range from $42K for the base model to $90K for the top of the line turbo tiptronic. Three versions of the Cayenne are offered: base, S and Turbo. If you are a Porsche or BMW fan, you are probably already leaning towards their SUV flavors, but for the average family, these would not be our first choice.Volvo XC90 - Hummer H2 and H3Volvo's popular XC90 SUV drives more like a car than a truck, and is popular with the safety conscious family crowd. The XC90 has become its best selling vehicle in North America, selling even more than the Volvo sedans in 2004. As a family vehicle, the Volvo XC90 remains our favorite, given its healthy dose of amenities like 12 cup holders, etc. and its safety and stability record. Hummer monster size H2 has been shrunk down to the more tamed size H3. The Hummer H3 starts at $28,900, and loses about 17 inches in length compared to the H2, making it more likely to fit in your garage! It is based around the Chevy Colorado truck platform, but retains the same military look and design of its bigger brethren. It has a 220HP 3.5L engine, which won't match the power of the H2 but will get you about 20mpg in fuel economy. If you are a Hummer fan but can't handle the nastly looks the big H2 gets on the road, consider this smaller version as a compromise.Jeep Commander SUV - Mercedes Benz M ClassThe Mercedes line of SUVs (M class) was first seen in Jurassic Park being smashed up by T Rex's. The 2006 M-class has been available since the spring of 2005, and has a new, more car-like suspension and feel, and is slightly larger all around. Seating inside is comfortable, but there is NO option for a 3rd row seat - an issue for some larger families. The ML350 has a 268HP 3.5L engine, while the larger ML500 has a 5.0L 302HP motor. As with most SUVs, the larger engine is usually appreciated on these heavy vehicles, especially if you are doing any towing or load hauling. The prior M-Class had some mechanical reliability issues, so we will wait and see how the new design fares. Jeep is also finally getting back into the SUV market with a new model, the Commander. The boxy looking design seats seven comfortably, and is powered by a V8 Hemi engine that is popular in many Jeep and Chrysler vehicles. Starting at $27K, the Commander is a slightly bigger Jeep Grand Cherokee, meaning the 3rd row seating is not very spacious - no basketball players, and maybe even no adults! Both 2nd and 3rd row seats can fold flat for cargo, but they do not fold into the floor like some SUVs can (namely the Navigator). The standard V8 model comes with a 235HP 4.8L engine, but the Hemi cranks out 330HP and is available only on the Limited version. At an affordable price, Jeep lovers will like this SUV.
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