Sport Utility Vehicles

Roughly ten years ago the modern, trendy vehicle of the day became the sport utility vehicle (SUV), and still the SUV craze is hitting America full force with its promising features and seemingly all-around versitality. But are these vehicles as benign as they seem? In truth, these SUV’s are a major gas consumer, a waste, and a major pollutant to the environment.

One of every four vehicles sold in America today is a sport utility vehicle. While 90% of these vehicles never travel on off road terrain, thousands of them are used daily for trips to the grocery store, or to pick up one or two children from school or soccer practice. Most travel on paved, well-lit roads and haul few passengers or small loads much like sedans or economy cars, but much less efficiently. On average, SUV’s achieve only 16.23 miles-per-gallon, while the typical economy car can run at 27mpg or better.

Twenty years ago less than 8% of all vehicles sold were SUV’s, and most were used for farming or in construction. Today nearly half of American Families own an SUV. Why the dramatic increase?

Some people need them for towing boats or trailers, but many SUV’s do not even have towing balls installed, and sedans often have just as much towing capacity on highways and interstates but at much less cost.

A normal, mid-sized vehicle has a modest output of carbon monoxide (which can cause smog and lead to ozone depletion). Maintained well, they are generally efficient, and increases in vehicle emission regulation in recent years have led to even greater efficiency.

SUV’s, however, put out nearly double the smog and carbon monoxide of the average economy car.

SUV’s can be useful for heavy-duty hauling and off-road travel, but the widespread use for general transportation should not be overlooked.