MPG = Must Pay (less for) Gas!

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So far, 2008 is shaping up to be a very interesting year from an automotive perspective. Sales of any large vehicle that delivers less than 18 MPG are drying up faster than many oil wells around the world, and as a result, there are big changes happening to the industry as well as within individual drivers. The government's recent CAFE decree that each manufacturer's fleet must average at least 35 MPG by 2020 has the manufacturers scrambling, and was recently illustrated by Ford's big announcement that it is cutting SUV and truck production and increasing small and mid-size car production. But not as readily expected was the general public's response to now over-$4.00 per gallon fuel in parts of the country. Economy is King, and many of us now understand the new realities of the global economy, the undeniable impact of simple oil supply vs. demand, and how we must modify our driving habits to meet this new reality.

So where does that leave today's buyer who needs utility and space (and a bit of fun) but must also be forced to find balance in their checkbook every month? You have come to the right place....

Subaru Forester--Let's be honest...did you really need that Escalade when you went SUV shopping a few years ago? Chances are many of the full or mid-size SUV purchases made since the late '90s were driven by ego or the American notion that "bigger is always better." But a regular and weekly diet of $100 fill-ups cannot last, so it is time to downsize. And there may be no better way than with the 2009 Subaru Forester. The 2008 model received good Cost of Ownership scores from IntelliChoice, and after driving the all-new model, I feel it will reward its owner with continued smart economics plus a new rewarding and stylish ride. Expected fuel economy is in the 24 MPG range, and while that might not seem outstanding, it puts the Forester right in the top part of the 4WD segment that also includes the RAV4, CR-V and Saturn Vue. But possibly of even more importance is how much "stuff" you can safely and easily carry. Recall that the term SUV includes the word 'utility,' but many of the smaller versions seem to leave that word by the side of the road in search of style. In the Forester, you can truly have it all: the safety and security of 4WD, reliability, style, and that rugged Subaru nature.

Ford Escape and Escape Hybrid--Take yourself back to 1997 when a new breed of 4-wheeled behemoths began its reign on America's highways: the Ford Expedition. Then jump to 2000 when its even bigger brother, the Excursion made its debut. And then in 2001, the baby brother Escape jumped into the ring, and while it has sold well in the years since, it never enjoyed the respect of its big brothers or the established competitors from Japan.

Well, those days are over as the Excursion has been put to sleep, the Expedition has been relegated to the back room, and the Escape has been reborn with new style--and more importantly, with new efficiency and economy. The 2009 model that will be rolling into showrooms later this year is a force to be reckoned with...a vehicle that can satisfy your "Made in America" jones as well as your desire for a well-made and fully-equipped daily driver. Ford has loaded the new version with all the latest toys--six-speed transmissions (auto and manual), a 171 horsepower 2.5-liter 4 cylinder, a 240 hp 3.0-liter V-6, and Microsoft's Sync to bring all of your electronic toys along for the spirited ride. In fact, Ford tells us that the 2008 V6 Escape would be hard-pressed to beat the 2006 4 cyl. version in a race--now that it progress! And don't forget that Ford offers the only hybrid option in this competitive small SUV/crossover segment.

Volkswagen Tiguan--When the representative from Volkswagen handed me the keys to the all new 2009 Tiguan, she whispered in my ear, "Remember...this is the GTI of small SUVs." I couldn't help but giggle a bit and pulled on my seat belt with a fair amount of skepticism. After all, the Tiguan is a somewhat late entry to this growing segment and cosmetically attractive but not exactly exciting.

But it's amazing how a six-speed manual gearbox and 200 turbocharged horses can quickly change all of that--especially on this particular drive, which included some fun canyon-carving in the hills near Denver. In fact, I knew that VW was on to something as soon as my driving partner whipped our little vehicle through a particularly curvy section. As he let out a big breath, I told him that a CR-V or RAV4 would also make it around those corners, but not nearly with as much enthusiasm or poise. Somehow, VW makes this tall wagon feel as low to the ground as a sports sedan.

All three vehicles are excellent alternatives to many of the larger SUV alternatives, as they offer nearly the same day-to-day luggage-carrying abilities but reward with a much more efficient and nimble driving experience. If you have any questions or would like more details on these new vehicles, please feel free to send me a note at james_bell@intellichoice.com.

Posted on 2008-05-30 | Permalink | |

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