June 26, 2019

Have you been thinking of buying an SUV?

If you have looked out your car window lately then you may have noticed a growing trend and a much higher volume of sport utility vehicles or SUV’s on our roads. Purchasing a vehicle is one of the largest of the major purchases you will make in life so you want to make sure when you make that decision; the vehicle is the right one for you. If you’ve been considering an SUV as your next vehicle you may find it hard to know which one will best suit your needs.

Here are a few things to take into consideration when looking to purchase an SUV:

Price:

As with most vehicles, the smaller, more basic SUV models are going to be among the lowest priced in the market. As the size and features increase, so does the price tag. There is a wide range of prices between a base model compact SUV and a luxury, full sized model.

And it’s not only the purchase price you will need to consider. Generally, the smaller the SUV, the lower complexity of the vehicle, and ultimately the lower the maintenance and fuel cost will be. The opposite is also true. Larger SUV’s not only are more complex and more expensive to keep fuelled and maintained, but they can also be more expensive to insure.

So remember to keep in mind that just because a larger SUV may be within your purchasing budget, that does not mean the larger SUV should be purchased. Future expenses must be considered including the fact that the larger SUV the larger the fuel tank. Choosing between a 4-, 6- or 8 cylinder will affect the operating cost as will the choice of a manual or automatic transmission.

SUV Size:

There are three general classifications of SUV’s: compact, midsize and full size. As an SUV moves up in size, it also moves up in things like towing ability, engine power, passenger space and of course the price. Within each classification there is also a range from economy through to the luxury offerings.

Family size:

If you have a big family or are often transporting others around for things like out of school activities, a larger model may suit your needs rather than the compact or mid-sized range.

Keep in mind however that even the compact SUV’s may still have three rows of seats and plenty of cargo room.

Towing:

If you need your car to have maximum towing capacity, a bigger more powerful model is going to be better for your needs. You can easily hook up the trailer or boat and head off without too much trouble.

 Versatility:

Think about what activities you are planning for your vehicle and if off-road adventures may be in your vehicle’s future. SUV’s can be really versatile but it pays to think about what you will be realistically using the car for most of the time.

Engine Fuel Economy:

SUV’s may have 4, 6 or 8 cylinders. Compact SUV’s offer models with 4 or 6 cylinders. Six cylinders are typical for midsize SUV’s, although there are models that have 4 or 8. Full-size SUV’s sports 8-cylinder engines.

Obviously the heavier the SUV the more fuel it is going to take to run as well.  This needs to be considered when choosing a model suitable for you needs. There are more fuel efficient models as well as hybrid SUV’s on the market, so it should be easy enough to select a vehicle that will get great kilometres from a tank of fuel.

Safety:

No matter what make or model of vehicle you are considering it is important to look at the safety features.

To get a good understanding of how safe the vehicle is that you may be considering purchasing, remember to have a look at the ANCAP rating. This is an independent agency that rates cars based on their safety features and is a great guide when on the search for a new car, with a 5 Star ANCAP rating being the best.

Other Factors:

There are several determining factors to consider when making the decision to purchase an SUV.

Do you want a car-based SUV or is truck-based SUV preferred; whether 2WD, 4WD or AWD is the best option: and what size engine to purchase, as those also have a bearing on the price of the vehicle.

There are plenty of great SUV’s available on the market today. If you’re looking to make that transition why not call into Westside Auto Wholesale and check out our range of  compact, midsize and full size SUV’s we have available?  No matter what type of vehicle you are looking for, with over 1000 vehicles under one roof we are sure to have something to suit your needs.