ALT-2 Should we still be Buying Suvs – Yes
I am a fan of SUV's. I drive one, an Oldsmobile Bravada. That is one nice vehicle. Lots of bells and whistles, traditional Oldsmobile comfort and handling. Typical also of the brand, the gas mileage leaves a bit to be desired. Does it fall short of perfection? Sure. Hey, I'm certainly not perfect, why should I expect perfection from my vehicle?
Because of back and knee problems, I was experiencing difficulties entering and exiting the sedan we owned prior to purchasing the mid-sized Bravada. It sits high enough that I am able to slide right in yet it remains low enough for my five-foot-nothing wife to manage handily.
The V-6 engine, though admittedly thirsty, is capable of cruising the highways and byways at eighty-five and ninety miles per hour without straining. One trip in particular was an excellent testimony to the reserve power of our Bravada. While visiting family nearly eight-hundred miles from home, we were offered an oak dining room table and six chairs. A local outlet of one of the rental chains had a trailer that was just the right size for an oak table and six chairs. We had averaged approximately sixteen miles per gallon on the outbound trip. The return leg, pulling a heavy trailer, yielded a mileage figure of fifteen and a quarter. A vehicle equipped with a more powerful engine does not strain under a sudden load. I have towed comparable loads with full-sized vans and the handling characteristics of the SUV are far superior to the van.
Just a week ago I found another reason to admire the SUV concept. My daughter has been driving a Hyundai Santa Fe short-wheel-base SUV. When she purchased it nearly four years ago, I was skeptical. Hyundai? Made in Korea! What do they know about building vehicles? I hope she never has an accident; that thing will probably fold up around her like a crushed beer can. My worst fears became fact last week. Driving the Interstate on artificially narrowed lanes brought about by road construction in the area, while in the left lane, she drove off the pavement onto the soft dirt of the median. An over-correction, typical of many drivers in similar circumstances, led to her vehicle fish-tailing several times before going over. Then it rolled two and one-half times, coming to rest on its roof.
It is quite common to see in the aftermath of a sedan having rolled a couple times, a roof line several inches lower than factory specifications. One can only wonder what sort of injuries were sustained by the driver and passengers? The roofline of the Hyundai Santa Fe. I am delighted to report, retained its integrity. My daughter crawled out of her Hyundai suffering from a mark on her neck likely caused by seat belt abrasion and a mild bruise to her left shoulder sustained, no doubt from being thrown against the door while rolling. Do I think an SUV in a wise purchase? Oh, yeah!
