5 things you must consider before buying that SUV

Ford’s compact crossover Escape

MANILA, Philippines–It’s one of the fastest-growing vehicle categories in the country today, reflecting that rapidly evolving dynamic between three key elements in the motoring industry: changing consumer lifestyles, developing auto technologies, and an increasingly challenging physical driving environment.

All of these unpredictable factors seem to coalesce into one definitive design that seems to fit everything that every motorist has in mind when it comes to the ideal ride: the sport utility vehicle (SUV), and its more recent sub-category, the crossover utility vehicle (CUV).

Classified in between the fineries of sedans and the rough-and-tumble pickups, SUVs and CUVs are considered commercial vehicles (CVs) preferred by those who need space to carry gears as well as passengers. Top Gear technical editor Ferman Lao said that the original definition of the SUV was based on the pickup platform, while that of CUVs was based on the passenger car chassis with AWD.

Sales figures reported by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (Campi) and the Truck Manufacturers Association corroborate the observation that the CV segment’s market is growing. CVs accounted for 60 percent of total sales during the first three months of 2015, an increase of 13 percent compared to the same period in 2014.

Inquirer Motoring had a near-fiesta of SUV field tests this summer, and we knew instantly why these brutes have been the rave of the motoring crowd.

From the Mazda CX-5 SkyActiv with its spacious interior and impressive fuel economy (10.5 kilometers per liter even on a Friday evening rush hour along Edsa), to the Volkswagen Tiguan TDI and its no-nonsense, seat-of-your-pants diesel-powered acceleration and confidence-building ride stability, to Ford’s Ecoboost-powered crossovers (the seven-seater 3.5-liter Ford Explorer V6 with dual-panel moonroof, and the more compact Escape with an ultra-responsive 2-liter engine), the experiences from these encounters were eye-openers, to say the least.

Volkswagen’s CUV Tiguan emerges from a foggy Cordillera valley.

Even Isuzu, which had for the longest time been content with riding out the popularity of its bread-and-butter AUV Crosswind and its workhorse D-Max pickup, wanted in on the SUV action by introducing the mu-X, which this author initially thought was designed for tall drivers (because endorser Doug Kramer kept on harping on its spaciousness).

It turns out that, apart from the mu-X being admirably adaptable to small-physiqued Asian women drivers, the mu-X could hold its own in the engine response, fuel efficiency and ride comfort departments.

With all of these SUVs and CUVs coming out left and right, trying to outbox each other in the market, what should you consider first before settling on a particular brand? Inquirer Motoring asked motoring experts and enthusiasts, and got these interesting responses:

1. Value for money

“The biggest consideration would probably be whether the added space, versatility and cargo capacity of an SUV are worth the higher purchase price, higher registration fee, additional fuel expense, and higher overall maintenance costs, because for some unexplainable reason, an SUV part costs several times more than their non-SUV counterpart,” quipped Steven Edward S. Yu, contributing writer of C! Magazine.

Isuzu’s SUV: mu-X

“In buying an SUV, the biggest consideration is the ‘intended use’ of the vehicle in terms of number of passengers, amount of cargo, route, destination, terrain and the like. The buyer must balance the need for transport and the want for status from an SUV,” said lawyer Robby Consunji, Car Awards Group Inc. president and offroad editor of Top Gear Philippines.

Price, prestige and function are the biggest considerations, according to Ferman Lao, Top Gear Philippines technical editor. “More often than not, most people don’t really buy SUVs for their capabilities. They base their decisions on the perceived prestige or interior space.”

For Ferdinand I. Raquelsantos, president of the Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturers Association of the Philippines Inc., the application and use of the SUV should be the main considerations. “I tow my speedboat on a trailer, and I need the right power and plenty of passenger and cargo space. Riding comfort is the second priority.”

2. Get the “balanced package”

Yu said that a great SUV buy would come with a balanced package, a little something of everything. “It should be a 4×4 with a torquey but frugal diesel engine; factory-equipped roof rails for expandability; comfortable long-range seating; a decent entertainment system and, most importantly, genuine offroad capability.”

For Consunji, a great buy is “an SUV with predictable costs from the purchase price, maintenance, fuel and depreciation. A great buy must also comply with the BIR Revenue Regulations on the Deductibility of Depreciation Expenses as it relates to purchase of vehicles which sets a value of P2.4 million.”
Lao said: “If the SUV is going to be used more for heavy offroad than on the road, then the likes of a Mercedes G Wagen, Land Rover, Patrol Royale or Land Cruiser would be top of the list, price not being an issue. And if you can afford any of those SUVs, you really shouldn’t be complaining about their fuel consumption. If it’s primarily for urban use with very little offroad use, I would go for a crossover like a Subaru Forester XT, Nissan X-trail and a Honda CR-V.”

3. Get real; clear your mind of those SUV fantasies

Zoom-Zoom’s Crossover Mazda CX-5 AWD SkyActiv

Yu explained, “the most common misconception most SUV buyers make is thinking that SUVs are indestructible, imparting a false sense of security, and sometimes, downright arrogance to the owner.”

Consunji said that “the common misconceptions about SUVs, such as a deep water wading depth, in reality an SUV needs a low transfer case to traverse deep water. Another misconception is that heavier vehicles are safer on the highways. There are innovations on safety that no longer depend on mass and weight.”

Lao, for his part, said: “The misconception is that SUVs are spacious. Despite the large exterior, they aren’t as spacious as their size suggests. A large part of the space is taken up by the mechanicals. Another mistaken notion is that SUVs ride comfortably. If you want more space and ground clearance, but expect car-like handling or ride, and aren’t shopping at the top end of the pricing scale, you’re better off with a crossover.”

4. Common mistakes SUV buyers commit

Yu said: “Do away with the thinking that you can drive an SUV like a sedan, that if you drive light footed, your fuel consumption in an SUV will improve, and that SUVs are built tougher than average cars.”

Consunji added: “The common mistake is hoping for fuel economy in an SUV and realizing that the economy sales figures are not attainable in the real world. Another common mistake is the ‘accessories race,’ which is the quest to have all the accessories and modifications available around the world and on the Internet, but not getting the driving skills and terrain for these
accessories.”

Lao said: “The greatest mistake is for the buyers not to do their research, and not test-driving before they buy, and limiting themselves to a certain number of models to choose from.”

Raquelsantos observed that the most common mistakes would be buyers falling for the “newly launched” hype, or when an SUV’s price is low but value-for-money is less. “Some buyers only think of an SUV’s gas mileage consumption. You buy an SUV because you also look for muscle and at the same time riding comfort.”

5. Look closely at critics’ choices

It pays to read up on motoring experts’ actual experiences with specific SUVs.

Raquelsantos’ first choice would be a “Ford Expedition, as it has the horsepower and the air cushion suspension that provides a really comfortable ride.” He also picks the Ford Explorer for its segment for its “great styling” and that just-right space for families.

Lao’s picks are the Mercedes G Wagen, Land Rover, Land Cruiser, Nissan X-Trail and Subaru Forester XT. “The last two are crossovers, but they have a decent amount of offroad capabilities,” he noted.

Yu’s Top 5: 1) Land Rover Discovery; 2) Land Rover Defender (“The original and ultimate offroader”); 3) Mercedes-Benz G-Class (“The German answer to the Defender”); 4) Toyota Land Cruiser 70-series, and 5) Suzuki Jimny (“Despite its diminutive size, it’s a legitimate 4×4”).

And after everything, motoring experts urge SUV buyers to make sure their friendly neighborhood dealerships are up to the task in competently servicing their SUVs or CUVs (and that is usually determined by word of mouth and, increasingly, by social media reviews). Also, the purchase price is just the tip of the iceberg as far as actual costs go. The real test of a great buy comes with the cost of owning and operating it.