SUVs in particular have come under fire as a luxury, so they are beginning to transform into more fuel conscious products. New technologies that have redefined the SUV market include hybrids, which are also the most efficient SUVs on the road. Hybrids combine a traditional combustible engine with an electric motor, creating an efficient vehicle that uses the best of both worlds.

The Ford Escape, the Mazda Tribute, and the Mercury Mariner are the class of the SUV hybrids, achieving 34 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway, which is around 32 mpg combined.

All three vehicles are based off of a similar design and contain a four cylinder, 2.5L engine. The starting MSRP for the Ford Escape Hybrid is $29,860. The Mazda Tribute Hybrid, which is mostly sold in California, starts at $29,175, and the Mercury Mariner Hybrid starts at $30,105. These vehicles can cost up to several thousand dollars more than the starting MSRP of their gas-dependent versions.

The standard Ford Escape, for instance, costs between $21,000 and $27,000, depending on the trim, but only gets a 22 city/28 highway mpg split at best.

It will often take several years for hybrids to make up in fuel economy what they eventually cost by any reasonable mileage estimate without a tax credit or subsidy, which can be received depending on the model, but hybrids also tend to maintain a higher resale value.

They are adept vehicles for those who plan to use the SUV extensively. In the future, more efficient vehicles and robust technology will continue to make the hybrid a better value for the dollar.

But hybrids are not the sole proprietors of efficient SUV fuel economy either. The standard Mazda Tribute, which starts at $20,090, gets 22 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. The GMC Terrain is better on the highway at 32 mpg and starts at $24,250.

Both the Jeep Compass ($18,720) and the Jeep Patriot ($17,795) get 23 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway; for those consumers who have fuel economy on their minds, these vehicles represent excellent value for their dollar.

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The surprise is that the cheap SUVs are sometimes embraced more by the female driver than most males. The main reason for this is that the SUV is much more stylish than a mini-van but still can be used for grocery shopping, taking the family to extracurricular activities, or just to school and home.

The driver of an SUV gets a feeling of safety for themselves and their passengers because of the external size of the vehicle which gives a mother more peace of mind when transporting children. The SUVs do have some drawbacks, such as gas mileage and the possibility of a rollover type of accident.

The experts in the automobile industry feel that the SUV is a vehicle that is here to stay for awhile even though there is a slump now due to the nation’s economy. The SUVs slump may be no worse than what any of the other vehicles on the market are suffering.

Any exceptions would be that the consumer is now taking the go-green movement more seriously and they don’t really believe that the cost of oil will decrease significantly in the near future.

The fact remains that people are still purchasing SUVs, but now they are more conscious about trying to find the most cost-effective style of a SUV. Some of the top new cheap SUVs all sell somewhere under $20,000 and fall in the compact SUV category. These are mainly the crossovers which are built using the platform for a car instead of a small truck.

2010 Kia Sportage

One of the most well known cheap SUVs is the Kia Sportage. This model is considered a compact SUV but still offers the whole package of safety features and complete versatility at a tremendous value.

Another of the cheap SUVs is the Jeep Patriot, which is a great off-road vehicle with a notable gas economy and is very powerful at accelerating.

The Hyundai Tucson was the first small SUV when it entered the market in 2005 and it also falls into the category of cheap SUVs.

The Tucson has numerous great qualities including many types of safety equipment and is thought to be one of the more enjoyable cost-effective SUVs to drive.

The Jeep Compass is nothing like any other Jeep and has a cheap price tag also. The Compass is fuel efficient and is a single-speed system, but four-wheel drive can be ordered for this model. The word is that the engine is weak and that the low cost is due to Jeep’s cutting the interior amenities.

Suzuki Grand Vitara

The last one in this group of inexpensive SUVs is the Suzuki Grand Vitara whose initial shortcomings did not make it very successful in the states. The current model is said to have been improved and has peaked the consumer’s interest as a satisfactory cheaper SUV.

When shopping for a new model of one of the cheap SUVs, it doesn’t mean that anyone has to settle for less than high quality. Even though a fast growing cheaper crossover model may be selected, they still offer comfortable interiors and stylish exteriors.

The majority of the time they can’t be distinguished from the larger SUVs in some of the important qualities. The majority of the crossovers are, however, not designed for heavy off-road capabilities, but they are designed for more fuel economy and easier handling ability on the road.

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The reason they are so useful in off-road situations, is because they were made for them. Most sport utility vehicles have higher clearence (so you don’t scrape the underbody), stiffer suspension and larger tires.

All of those aspects are critical if you do not want to damage your vehicle or get stuck. Almost every car manufacturer makes a model of SUV, if not multiple ones with many trim options.

Jeep is the original off road SUV maker. The history of this company dates back to the early 20th century, when we were at war and needed reliable transportation. Other companies such as Land Rover, soon entered the market as well, and now there are just about one hundred different models available.

Chevrolet, Ford, Chrysler, Dodge, Honda, Nissan, Toyota, Mitsubishi and many other companies have popular models of SUVs on the road today. They come in all different styles and body types, and some are more capable than others.

Depending upon the intensity of off-roading you plan on doing, there are different types of SUVs you should consider. While larger makes such as the Chevy Tahoe, and Ford Expedition can hold their own off of pavement, they are better equiped for highway driving, and their value makes them less ideal for off-road situations.

Less expensive makes, like jeep wranglers are more ideal for mudding and constant off-roading. If you have a lot of money to spend and still want to do a lot of off-roading you may consider a Hummer H2 or Humvee. These vehicles were made originally for military use and are still the number one troop transport of the U.S. army (because they go anywhere).

2010 Hummer H2

Many people only need an off road SUV for minimal amounts of off-roading. For these folks, it may be more ideal to purchase a vehicle with either all-wheel drive or 4 wheel, that is smaller in size and gets better gas mileage.

This type of SUV is meant mostly for highway driving, but can do relatively well on dirt, snow and mud as well. Many that fit into this category are considered “cross-over” models, since they aren’t full size SUVs, but are considerably larger than cars.

Examples of these models include; the Chevy Equinox, Ford Escape, Subaru Forester, Dodge Magnum, Volvo XC60 and many others. Great handling in poor conditions, and higher fuel mileage make these models ideal, light off road SUVs.

While the traditional models from Jeep and Land Rover still hold a large portion of the off road SUV market, almost every major manufacturer has some of the market as well. If you’re a serious off roading enthusiast, there has never been a better selection of vehicles.

Style and functionality are now combined to satisfy almost all consumer preferences. Even base models of off road SUVs contain the luxury of smaller cars and sedans at affordable prices. No matter what vehicle you choose, you can always utilize after market parts to personalize it even further.

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Most people know the Jeep Wrangler just by passing one on the highway. A quick glance at a Wrangler lets the onlooker know exactly what the driver is all about – off-road conditions. The Jeep Wrangler is more or less the only  2 door SUV that has survived the test of time.

Why is this? Some would argue that the rich tradition of the Wrangler, rooted in the Jeep CJ series which were used originally as military vehicles, is what gives the Wrangler a certain appeal.

It most certainly has it’s own niche market. The person looking for great driving and handling through all weather conditions or any sort of mud will most definitely love the Wrangler for it’s four wheel drive and frame that was meant to take abuse.

So if the Wrangler is the only two door sport utility vehicle still left standing, what happened to all the others? Well, first we might examine the appeal of the average sport utility vehicle to begin with.

One of the main reasons why a new car buyer would look to an SUV is it’s family appeal. With the right SUV, Mom and Dad can drive around all of their children and the groceries to boot. Does a two door sport utility vehicle render itself impractical to this sort of purpose? Maybe so.

It can be tough and inconvenient to get everyone in and out of the car easily and safely (especially children) when there are only two doors on the vehicle.

Another reason for a lack of two door SUVs on the market is perhaps purely aesthetic. That is to say, the SUV might just simply not look good with only two doors. Perhaps the consumer is so accustomed to seeing an SUV with four doors that a two door model just appears strange.

Maybe the reason for no more two door SUVs is a lack of space. Most sport utility models such as the Tahoe can seat up to seven or eight people. Would a two door SUV be able to support this many people, or a large amount of groceries, supplies or things of that nature?

While the Jeep Wrangler thrives with several different models, other two door sport utility vehicles have fallen up short in these times. However, with gas prices still on the rise, is it possible that the automotive industry sees a return of more compact, two door SUVs?

Some believe it may be very possible. Keep an eye on the market, because who knows? Maybe 2011 or 2012 will be the year of the two door Cadillac Escalade.

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