LUV SUVs? | Green Energy News

March 28, 2004 – Vol.9 No.1

LUV SUV’S?

If Sport Utility Vehicles got significantly better fuel economy, say 30-40 miles per gallon. would they still get the same verbal - sometimes physical - bashing they now do? If they had the same fuel economy as a compact or mid-sized car (depending on the size of the SUV) would they still be seen as the the great destroyers of the environment and threats to energy/national security?

In a new survey of consumers preparing to buy a new vehicle 57 percent said that they felt more favorable towards SUV’s now that hybrid SUVs are being developed. The study, New Vehicle Buyer Attitude Study on SUVs, was conducted by Kelly Blue Book Market Research which conducts on-line polls concerning potential buyer automotive attitudes.

The survey shows that despite record-high gasoline prices, 61 percent of all car buyers - and 86 percent of all those considering buying a new vehicle - rated SUV’s favorably. The top concern for buyers was the rollover issue (49 percent). SUV’s impact on foreign oil dependence was at the bottom of their concerns - only 19 percent.

Even though the survey shows that people like the idea of hybrid SUV’s - with presumably better fuel economy - how many will actually buy them? Choices will be small - only a handful of models available - and they will be more expensive than conventional SUV’s. Still, when hybrids SUV’s hit the market soon, critics of the SUV’s must be careful to check model name plates. Some SUV’s may be greener, in terms of fuel economy, than many small cars.

The survey from Kelly Blue Book is available from Robyn Eckard at 949-286-3049.