Low Impact SUVs, Minivans, and Pickups

Despite what you may have heard, sport utility vehicles are not inherently evil. Pickups are not road hogs. Minivans are not nondescript boxes whose function is merely to block the road ahead.

Given appropriate use, they all serve their purposes well. SUVs are the modern equivalent of the family station wagon, only more versatile. Likewise, the minivan is a most competent family shuttle. Pickup trucks with extended cabs and four doors serve as people movers as well as offering exceptional cargo handling ability. All of these vehicles are immensely popular…and in some environmental circles, intensely reviled.

They have a larger footprint than conventional family cars, it’s true, and that’s the basis for much of the controversy surrounding these vehicles. That larger footprint, however, provides considerable interior volume and packaging flexibility. All three platforms also provide plenty of elbow room for adapting green technology.

Clearly, these vehicles and their owners have the most to gain from technology that increases fuel efficiency. Consider a 20% increase and the total fuel savings between a 15 mpg full-size SUV verses a 35 mpg compact car. A 20% increase will yield 18 mpg in the big SUV and 42 mpg in the thrifty compact. At first glance, the 7 mpg increase compared to just 3 mpg in the SUV seems to tip the scales toward the compact in terms of overall improvement.

But consider the difference this change makes for the driver who travels 15,000 miles in an average year. At 35 mpg, the compact burns about 428 gallons of fuel. Add in the 20% improvement and use is only 357 gallons, a savings of 71 gallons of fuel over those 15,000 miles. Now consider the SUV: At 15 mpg the SUV will consume about 1,000 gallons of gas over 15,000 miles. Bump it up 20% to 18 mpg and the SUV burns 833 gallons, for a total fuel savings of 167 gallons – 95.3 gallons more (or less) than the higher mileage compact.

Fuel economy improvements that don’t adversely affect drivability and overall performance benefit us all. In the case of larger family haulers, these vehicles, after all, often must serve multi-purpose roles where mass, bulk, and capacity are part of the overall equation. Towing a trailer or hauling a heavy load necessitates more mass to safely control the weight. And if you need seating for six or eight? Well, that requires a larger family hauler as a matter of course.

Technology advances over time will improve fuel economy and lower emissions, and certainly, today’s fleet has plenty of room for improvement. That’s why such advances as hybrid electric power, clean diesel, and advanced technology internal combustion engines are so important as they come ever closer to new car showrooms.

In the meantime, if your situation finds you among those who need a larger family vehicle but whose conscience can’t tolerate the thought of doing things the same old way, welcome to the club. Things have changed...and there are of lot of us out there. Here, we share 10 important things to consider as you shop for a new pickup, van, or sport utility vehicle, allowing you to choose a vehicle that fits your driving needs and your environmental ethic as well.

1. WEIGH YOUR NEEDS
A more efficient vehicle isn’t a good value if it doesn’t meet your needs. Obviously, the ability to move people and stuff from place-to-place is a primary concern. So, first consider what you will normally be carrying with a buffer for occasional use items. People are the most precious cargo. If you are single, your needs are likely to be very different than those of someone with a large family. Fortunately, because the light truck industry is very profitable for automakers, there is an almost overwhelming array of vehicles from which to choose. Product planners are constantly searching for new niche markets that will spark a new industry trend. The result is the recent crop of crossover vehicles that blur the line between traditional categories of pickups, vans, and SUVs by incorporating features of each. Narrow the field by considering your needs carefully.

2. CHOOSE WISELY
First, arm yourself with as much background information as you can find. Compare fuel economy and emissions ratings for various engine and transmission combinations with horsepower and torque ratings provided in sales brochures, or on the manufacturers’ websites. For a comprehensive listing of fuel economy numbers, try www.fueleconomy.gov. Also, don’t get stuck in the rut of driving the same category or brand of vehicle. An SUV owner with a large family who really doesn’t need four-wheel-drive capability might seriously consider a small van – unless, of course, sensibilities dictate the more rugged look, feel, and commanding view of the road that an SUV affords. That’s no joke. If we’ve learned nothing more over the 100+ year history of the automobile, it’s that there’s often an aesthetic appeal between human and machine that helps drive an automotive purchase decision. Keep in mind that crossover products come into play here, too. Torn between a pickup and an SUV? Consider one of the new crew cab-style pickups with an abbreviated pickup bed.

3. TECHNOLOGY IS YOUR FRIEND
One hard fact in the green arena is that new engine designs are more efficient than old ones. Advances in computer engine controls, fuel delivery systems, multi-valve cylinder heads, the use of weight-saving advanced materials, and improved emissions controls all add up to a greener, cleaner engine. Respectable fuel economy is also no longer mutually exclusive of high performance. Be sure to check out the latest and greatest engines that are making their way to our family hauler categories. It’s an incredibly competitive market out there and automakers are constantly bringing new and better engine and transmission technologies to their vehicles. This is certainly true in the high-profit pickup, van, and SUV categories where auto manufacturers compete vigorously for market share. Not all family haulers are created equal, or as green.

4. GET THE SMALLER ENGINE
While there are some standard entry-level engines we wouldn’t recommend, there are also many models that offer a base engine that just makes sense. Great examples of this abound. The secret is to weigh horsepower and torque ratings for the various powertrain combinations with their respective EPA mileage ratings. Look for the sweet spot where power is acceptable and mileage is well above average. Remember, too, that if you plan to regularly carry or tow heavier loads, the smaller engine choice might not be a bargain. Load a truck to capacity and the smaller engine may actually deliver worse fuel economy than a larger optional engine simply because it will be working far too hard. Before you buy, be certain you test drive the vehicle with your desired powertrain. An extra mile-per-gallon won’t be a bargain if attempts to accelerate and merge into traffic makes the hair on the back of your neck stand.

5. SIZE DOES MATTER
When all is said and done, it’s generally true that vehicles of greater mass require greater amounts of power and fuel to motivate them down the highway. Plainly, an eight-passenger Ford Expedition will use more fuel than an eight-passenger Honda Pilot. Do the math: A well-equipped V8 Expedition weighs roughly 5,500 pounds. The trimmer V6 Pilot, with an ability to carry the same number of passengers, has a base curb weight below 4,500 pounds. Each time it accelerates from a stop, the Honda has a half-ton less bulk to set in motion. As a short haul family grocery-getter, the Pilot is clearly more efficient. If your weekend activities include towing a boat, horse trailer, or travel trailer, then the Expedition is the obvious winner. That extra mass makes it a far superior tow platform; in fact, it can pull twice as much weight as the Honda. Again, consider your needs carefully.

6. SHED THOSE EXTRA POUNDS
The curb weight of different trucks, SUVs, and minivans can vary considerably. There are some very basic physics involved here – it takes energy to change a body from rest to motion, and maintain that motion. Generally, the heavier the weight, the more energy must be expended. This holds true for vehicles, so pay attention to the manufacturer’s curb weight listed in the specification and capacities chart in those glossy brochures. The more accessories you load on the vehicle, the more it will weigh. A fully loaded Limited Grand XYZ Edition can weigh hundreds of pounds more than a basic model of the same product. And that weight will not only rob fuel economy, but also cause the engine to work harder and spew more emissions every time you pull away from a stoplight.

7. UPDATE MORE OFTEN
Here’s one that may make you reconsider leasing a vehicle. We’ve already established that newer vehicles and powertrain technology advancements generally deliver better fuel economy and lower emissions. Running the wheels off a vehicle may bring a sense of pride in getting the most from your investment, but count on yesterday’s hardware being a paler shade of green. Upgrading to newer technology is often easier for those who lease rather than buy, if for no other reason than vehicle leases are often of shorter term than purchases, and there tends to be a bit less attachment to a vehicle as it approaches its end-of-lease. Further, reinvesting in the latest environmentally friendly technology supports those manufactures that pursue greener vehicles.

8. CONSIDER THE SOURCE
Although performance and aesthetic attraction can be overwhelming elements in a purchase decision at the showroom, for some it’s impossible to separate the product they’re buying from the manufacturer that makes it. That’s where an automaker’s overall environmental ethic and performance come into play. Rewarding the good guys puts profits in the plus columns of their balance sheets and makes the competition take notice. While often portrayed simplistically as corporate greed, corporate profits are a positive and very necessary force if we expect advances in environmental technology to take hold and proliferate. Driving technology forward by mandates works to a degree, but let’s not understate the importance of capitalism when it comes time to reinvent the wheel.

9. ADD THE PLUSSES AND MINUSES
There’s more to the selection process than meets the eye. Your personal preferences and sensibilities are important if you’re to be satisfied with your driving experience over the coming years. If the bumper height controversy is important to you, then buy a model with bumpers that won’t ride over smaller vehicles. Worried about rollover safety in an SUV? Several of the new generation SUVs incorporate stability control devices that modulate throttle and braking inputs when a roll condition is sensed.

10. “RENT UP” AS NEEDED
If you like to take vacations where you pack in friends and family that number more than five, your vehicle choices diminish rapidly. Anticipating this kind of occasional use drives many people to buy vehicles larger than they need 95% of the time. One effective way to deal with this is to buy a vehicle with the seating capacity appropriate for handling your everyday needs, and simply rent a larger vehicle for those vacations.

Contrary to some folks’ conventional wisdom, driving a large family hauler can be environmentally responsible and personally satisfying. It just takes more thought to make it happen.