Choosing Between Pickups vs. SUVs

When you are searching for a vehicle, you may decide to choose something larger than a compact car to fit your needs.  Whether you have a large family and need the room, or need room to haul items for business or personal use, you may find yourself trying to choose between an SUV or a pickup truck.  There are pros and cons for each one, so doing your research beforehand can help you make the final decision when you are choosing an SUV vs. pickup.

Pickups

A pickup truck is a motor vehicle that has an open-top cargo area located in the rear.  Many people opt to buy a pickup truck for many reasons.  One of the most popular reasons is for the power.  A pickup truck can come in 4-wheel drive, making it an excellent choice for people who live in rough terrain, or who have bad winters.  Gearing into 4-wheel drive will enable the driver to handle the worse road conditions that many SUV’s and compact cars cannot.  Pickup trucks are also used for driving through areas that other vehicles can’t get through, including forests and mountains, and even sometimes, water.  Additionally, a pickup truck can be used to haul trailers, campers, water vehicles, and much more from a hitch attached to the back of the pickup, easier than an SUV could.

Pickup trucks are also a popular option because of the loads they can carry.  While an SUV has large cargo space, as well, a pickup truck may or may not have a cab on the back.  Without a cab, a pickup can carry larger items, such as beds, dressers, lawn equipment, refrigerators, and much more.  Pickup trucks are ideal for moving, as they can carry a large and heavy load easily.  Pickups are also an ideal choice because of the many sizes and styles they come in.  Pickup trucks may use their fair share of gasoline, but when it comes to efficiency, nothing can beat them!

Hybrid pickup SUV models are becoming more and more popular with the rising gas prices.  General Motors offers hybrid versions of their Chevrolet Silverado as well as their GMC Sierra 4x4’s.  A hybrid gets much better gas mileage, about 18 mpg for city miles and 21 miles per gallon on the highway.  However, a hybrid costs more, but GM claims that within three to five years the money you save on gas will make up for the extra that you have invested into the hybrid.  Toyota is the next to reveal that they are hybridizing their pickups, too, and have unveiled the FTX concept truck, their first hybrid.

SUV’s

An SUV is short for sport utility vehicle, a vehicle that is similar to both a station wagon and a light-weight truck.  SUV’s became popular in the late 1990’s, and have since taken off in popularity among young mothers, couples, and men alike.  An SUV has many advantages.  For those with large families, an SUV can easily and comfortably accommodate many people.  They come equipped with two to three rows of seating and also an ample amount of cargo space.  An SUV can come with many extra features that, while you will pay more for, can prove to be very comfortable to have.  Many offer side-air passenger airbags, as well as front airbags, built in, fold down DVD players for the passengers in the front and back, tinted windows, GPS systems, state-of-the-art sound systems, and more. 

SUVs are also good at hauling items, but not as well as pickup trucks.  While an SUV will have plenty of cargo space to haul smaller items and bags of groceries, it can’t compare to the height options that the back of a pickup has.  However, an SUV can still come in handy in the event of a move or a vacation.  SUV’s can also handle the weight of towing campers and trailers and such, but will burn more gas in doing so.  Because of the recent high oil prices and customer complaints, manufacturers of SUV’s have begun implementing a car platform into their newer models, which is lighter and helps with fuel efficiency.

You may also look into hybrid SUV models if you want to own an SUV, but realize that it will hurt in gas mileage.  There are many models on the market that are well known for better fuel efficiency, such as the Toyota Prius hybrid, the Honda Civic hybrid, or the Nissan Altima hybrid.  Owning a hybrid vehicle, whether it is an SUV or pickup truck, may also earn you tax credits, so that’s an important factor to look into, as well.

There are many things to consider when you are deciding between an SUV vs. pickup truck.  Factor in all the pros and cons of each type of vehicle, so you can make a smart and informed decision on your purchase.