Reasons to Consider Small SUVs

The price of fuel today has many looking at downsizing their vehicle’s size. Although one may downsize, they still may not want to give up the ability to drive off road and through adverse weather conditions. This is where the compact SUV becomes attractive.

When compared to larger SUVs the smaller SUV typically uses less fuel. Buying a vehicle with a 4-cylinder engine will generally provide higher gasoline mileage per gallon than do bigger SUVs with larger engines. Some smaller SUV’s, typically hybrids, have a rating of 36 miles per gallon in city driving and 31 mpg on the highway for a two-wheel-drive model. Yes, the supplemental electric power helps boost city mileage more than highway mileage.

The second benefit of having a smaller SUV is that these vehicles are priced affordably compared to larger SUVs.

Smaller SUVs often have more nimble handling than do bigger SUVs. For instance, the turning circle of a Jeep Wrangler is 34.9 feet, which is less than that for a Toyota Camry sedan. Compare that to the 43-foot turning circle for a full-size Chevrolet Suburban SUV, which can make U-turns and some parking maneuvers a bit problematic.

Another benefit of the smaller SUV’s are the extra features. For open-air driving, the Jeep Wrangler has a foldable soft-top, The Saturn Vue wears dent-resistant plastic body panels, and the Honda Element can be easy to load because it has side cargo doors with no fixed pillar. The tailgate on the Element is a clamshell design for easy loading, too, while the RAV4 and Mitsubishi Outlander are now offered with three rows of seats, if needed.

The Nissan Xterra debuted with stylish, tubular-looking roof rails that can accommodate a range of storage baskets and kits now also includes a step integrated into the side of the rear bumper. The step gives owners a leg up, if you will, so they can more easily reach items stored in the overhead roof racks. Nissan officials said they added this step after watching Xterra owners at ski facilities slip their feet into the tops of the rear tires in order to reach their ski equipment atop the Xterra.

Compact sport utilities may bring memories of early, small, rollover-prone, four-wheel-drive vehicles, but in recent years the vehicles have increased their track, meaning the distance between the two front or two rear wheels, which contributes to better stability.

Further, electronic stability control is available on several models. It's standard, for example, on Toyota's RAV4.

Small SUVs are also adding more standard safety features. The Kia Sportage ranks as the lowest-priced SUVs that comes with standard anti-lock brakes, stability control, traction control and six standard airbags, including front seat-mounted side airbags and curtain airbags for both front and rear seats.

So what are the disadvantages of the smaller SUV? There is only a couple. Towing is one. Generally consumers can't expect to tow as much behind small SUVs as they might with larger sport utilities that have larger engines. For instance, the towing limit for a V8-powered Chevrolet Tahoe is 8,200 pounds—enough for a sizable trailer—while the much smaller Honda CR-V, which comes only with a four-cylinder engine, has a towing capacity of just 1,500 pounds.

Smaller SUVs also can't carry as much cargo. Generally, room behind the front seats for cargo ranges up to 72 cubic feet or so in compact SUVs, while large sport utilities offer more storage space. Maximum payload also is greater in the bigger SUVs.

So if you are thinking of downsizing in regards to size, rest assured, you won’t have to downsize in quality and safety, there are many choices out there to choose from, depending on the ‘size’ of your time to do the research.


Greg Chapman of Greg Chapman Motors is a knowledgeable and leading provider of used cars, trucks, and SUV’s. Since 1959, Chapman motors has supplied reliable used cars in Austin and the surrounding area and is known as one of the bad credit car dealers in Austin. For more information please visit http://www.gregchapmanmotors.com.

Picking out Your Vehicle’s GPS Navigation System

GPS or Global Positioning Systems for vehicles are much more accessible and affordable than it ever has been.

Today’s GPS units are not only affordable but also provide you with the newest technology and mapping software that can get you from point “A” to point “B”, warn you about traffic or weather, and more.

There are a variety of navigation systems available for your choosing. Within those varieties are the portable or in-dash units.

The portable units are mainly made to suction to your windshield and are powered from your vehicle’s DC outlet. These units are versatile and can easily unplug and be moved from vehicle to vehicle. Some even have built-in batteries to provide you with navigation without an external power source.

The downside of the portable units is the screen size, which is around 4 inches.

The in-dash navigation units usually include a Touch-Screen Monitor, which puts entering destination addresses at your fingertip. These systems replace your factory radio, and provide control over your entire audio system. With systems designed to fit both Standard and Oversized Radios it’s possible to find a system for any vehicle. Options such as Bluetooth, IPod Integration, Satellite Radio and TV tuners also allows you to completely outfit your vehicle.

When looking for the perfect GPS unit for your vehicle, ask yourself the following questions:


1. How often do you intend to use the system? Inexpensive units simply plug in to your car's cigarette lighter and are small enough to store in your glove compartment, but they're not as user-friendly.

2. Consider the layout of your car. Some systems come with a monitor that displays a map. The monitor is commonly installed on the dashboard or on a pedestal extending from the dashboard. In some cars, such an installation may block air vents or make it somewhat uncomfortable for a passenger to enter or exit the vehicle or sit in the passenger seat.

3. Select a system that features multiple ways of getting to your destination. This can include by address, by intersection, by a personal address book or via a location selected directly from the map.

4. Look for a system that gives you vocal as well as graphical directions. The systems that use a map and monitor include arrows that show you the direction of a turn and also indicate where your car is on the map in relation to the destination. Other systems use the head unit or radio to display the name of the street on which you are to make a turn or on which you are traveling. Both of these systems also give you verbal directions as you approach a turn.

5. Select a system that includes point of interest data. Most GPS systems include locations of airports and other transportation services, ATMs and banks, restaurants, hotels and a host of other sites.

6. Choose a system that offers updates of the point-of-interest data.

7. Consider installation time if you are working on a tight budget. Systems that rely on maps displayed on monitors are more complicated and take longer to install than other types of systems.

If you take the time to pick out your unit, you won’t be disappointed.

Greg Chapman of Greg Chapman Motors is a knowledgable and leading provider of used cars, trucks, and SUV’s. Since 1959, Chapman motors has supplied reliable used cars in Austin and the surrounding area. For more information please visit http://www.gregchapmanmotors.com.