How Well Do Compact SUVs Drive In the City?

Nov 12
08:32

2010

Hugh McInnes

Hugh McInnes

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This article looks at how the new breed of compact SUVs perform in cyt and town driving, in comparison to their full four-wheel drive vehicle cousins.

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Remember when the nineties were "fresh" and the size of an SUV was a status symbol of wealth and power. Well,How Well Do Compact SUVs Drive In the City? Articles those days are behind us with worries of fuel consumption, roll overs, finding parking spaces in shrinking car parks, or so it seems, and maneuverability. Now the chosen symbol of status is how small your carbon footprint is and how long it takes to refill the tank with fuel. SUV makers have addressed and solved many of the problems that have plagued the SUV market in recent years with the advent of the more refined town and city vehicle, the compact SUV.The compact SUV is designed to look and feel like an SUV with the maneuverability, fuel consumption, and safety of a sedan in place. The way that some car companies accomplish this is by placing an SUV body on a sedan frame, others deliberately downsize their full-size SUVs. Lower clearance helps the vehicle to be more aerodynamic, helping to lower fuel consumption in addition to minimizing risk of rollover, by lowering the center of gravity, which provides for a more stable ride with less side sway during windy conditions or gusts. Some of the breeds of new compact SUV have options that are normally seen with off-road vehicles. Options such as four-wheel drive, independent suspension, and more, usually reserved for full off-road vehicles, are offered as upgrades. Although these options may make you feel like you could conquer Mount Kosciuszko, it is best to be careful. These options will help on the road but those vehicles built on a sedan frame may be ill-fitting for off-road conditions without serious overhaul - whereas those from an SUV or performamce 4WD or luxury 4x4 vehicle ancestry will be better suited to going off-road.What makes the compact SUV an ideal solution for growing families is the ability to switch cargo room to passenger room among others. Some compact SUVs will seat up to eight in reasonable comfort, and when the room is needed for a grocery trip at the warehouse store, the seats stow away with ease and speed and set up just as quickly. Most compact SUVs offer a higher cabin height for extra room and comfort which can be favorable on long road trips. There are many options to be had in the compact SUV market from the basic CD player, to full entertainment centers to keep the back seat quiet, to brush guards for keeping dingos out of the grill. If you have any outdoor skills, there are bike racks, luggage racks and plenty of other racks for getting your gear to where it needs to go in the easiest, and most secure, way possible.The recent evolution of car-works has presented some of the most rugged and most luxurious vehicles to have ever been conceived, compact SUVs are among the top-tier. Whether you have to car-pool for football practice or are taking the family to see the beautiful sites of Sydney or the most interior sections of the outback, it is assured that with a compact SUV you will be comfortable, safe, and satisfied with your adventure. The key to happiness with your purchase is to ensure that all the requirements your family needs will be addressed and met. This will make ownership a much more rewarding experience and keep the family happy.