Shopping for a Sport Utility Vehicle, or SUV means looking for specific features you can't find with a minivan or truck. There are a number of considerations especially for those wanting to be able to transport more than five passengers plus the driver. For some people, the make is highly important, for others it's the price, features or consumer ratings. Some value purchasing American-made vehicles, while others prefer imported automobiles. All prices in the article are as of November of 2010.
Some people in the United States feel it to be very important to purchase American-made vehicles. With the advent of import car companies now making Import-branded vehicles in Tennessee and Illinois, it becomes more difficult to take a clear stand on this basis alone.
There are three companies that are still considered domestic auto makers and these include Chevrolet, Ford and General Motors. From Chevrolet, the Suburban 4WD, is one of the more expensive models available, with room for seven. The list price for a 2011 Suburban is $56,170. The Suburban comes standard with an 8-cylinder engine, 6 cylinders is not an option.
General Motor's Buick Enclave AWD is a seven-seat SUV that retails at $44,095. The Enclave comes standard with a 6-cylinder engine with no option for an 8 cylinder.
The Ford Expedition seats eight and is priced at $46,060. For that little extra, the driver's captains chairs made with leather may help ease the bite of the higher cost. If more power is your motivation, the Expedition is a V-8 Four Wheel Drive.
The 2011 Honda Pilot eight-seat SUV is list priced at $29,645. The standard engine is a V-6 cylinder and does not come with a manual transmission. One of the standard features with the Pilot that is optional for most other models is the trailer hitch and wiring.
The 2011 Toyota Highlander is seats seven with a price of $29,995. Despite having the same sized V-6 engine as the Pilot, it has about 20 more horse power torque with 270 hp at 6200 rpm.
The 2011 Nissan Armada is an eight-seat SUV with a list price of $43,110 and like many of the luxury SUVs comes with an automatic transmission standard. Unlike the Pilot and Highlander, the Armada's engine is a V8 with more horsepower than either of them.
If you use the Edmunds website to compare these vehicles side by side, you will see the term "True Cost to Own." This term incorporates other considerations and costs to the ownership of the compared vehicles. These include depreciation, taxes and fees, fuel, maintenance, repairs, tax credits (in case you choose a hybrid vehicle that qualifies for a tax credit) financing and insurance.
While each of these categories can be used for any vehicle, give careful consideration to maintenance costs and repairs over a five-year period. Fuel cost is another factor that should play an important part in your decision to choose or not to choose a particular vehicle. For example, the Nissan Armada annual fuel costs given 15,000 miles equal close to $3,000. That's another $270 monthly in gas.
