transition from SUV to car

[corie161]

We're thinking about selling our Chevy Trailblazer EXT for a car. I'm a little hesitant about doing so for a couple of reasons. One, I love the 4wd, mostly to break through snow at the end of my driveway in the winter, and two for the height of the vehicle. However, with the kids in a bunch of activities, having a car with better gas mileage would be great.

I realize there are small SUV's out there, but I can't find one that gets the gas mileage of a car, that is in the price range I like.

We're contimplating a Ford Fusion (we're normally a Chevy family so this is tough ).

Just looking for others that might have had experiences they'd like to share.

 

[Pakey]

I went from a full sized 4 wheel drive SUV to a tiny car. It's a hard adjustment. I'm used to it now but I sometimes miss sitting higher on the roads.

 

[Darcy03231]

I went from a full size SUV to a car. I got the Dodge Caliber and have to say I really love it!

There were a couple of big storms here this winter (I live in Southern NH) when I missed the 4 wheel drive, but I really don't miss having to fill up at the pump every other day. I find I'm averaging about 32 mpg on the highway and about 28 mpg in town. I really like only filling up once a week.

 

[corie161]

I went from a full size SUV to a car. I got the Dodge Caliber and have to say I really love it!

There were a couple of big storms here this winter (I live in Southern NH) when I missed the 4 wheel drive, but I really don't miss having to fill up at the pump every other day. I find I'm averaging about 32 mpg on the highway and about 28 mpg in town. I really like only filling up once a week.

I drove a Caliber when I was in Florida one year and thought it was fun to drive. We tested one here and my DH didn't care for it but I might have to try again.

 

[UGAFan0829]

I traded my Chevy Equinox for a Honda Accord a couple of years ago. It was definitely hard to get use to not having the room of the SUV, but I do love my Accord, and it gets great gas mileage, even though it's a V6, as was the Equinox.

 

[deezeealum]

I went from an Explorer to a Ford Fusion and couldn't be happier. Yes, there are timjes when I miss the hieght of my Explorer IE trying to get out of an intersection with a truck or minivan next to me, but gthe gas prices totally outweigh those few excpetions. I can now fill up every 2 wks-18 days as opposed to every week! What a savings. The Fusion also had many upgrades taht my Explorer did not. Good luck with your decision, but your pocket will definietly thank you if oyu go with a car.

 

[DVC-Don]

We downsized from my wifes 2004 Cadillac SRX to a 2011 Hyundai Sonata recently. All was good until I went to Home Depot and bought two sling chairs and a table for our lanai. What a pain tying that stuff in and driving home with the trunk open and the chairs hanging out the back.

 

[winjos]

Went from a 3 row SUV to a Scion xB. Just couldn't give up on the space especially since we already have a sedan. We went from 15 mpg to 26+mpg. What a difference that makes ... fewer trips to the gas station and less money too!
The car is fun, priced well, and although low, it isn't too bad.

Best of luck on your transition!

 

[thespouseandi]

I went from a jacked up Suburban to a tiny little Saturn. It was a big adjustment...the lack of storage areas still get me...I do like having a trunk (I have had a fear of flying objects in case of an accident) I love the 37 mpg, so it is a trade off. We don't live in a heavy snow area, so the only thing I miss with the 4wd is driving on the beach...big Chevy family here too, but we stuck with the cousins

 

[Vijoge]

I love my Explorer way to much to think about getting rid of it.

 

[kellydizfan]

We went from a 2007 Saturn Outlook down to a 2010 Dodge Advenger with 3 kids - 2 of them teenagers. It was hard and still is as there are 5 of us and we can't take anyone with us - that is the one complaint I have. I fill my gas tank up once a week now which is so nice instead of only getting 100 miles on a 1/2 tank. I drive at least 50 miles a day or more depending on what is going on. That was a year ago this month - I just put 19,000 miles on the car in a years time.

 

[auralia]

look into a mazda 5 i LOVE mine was under 18000 brand new second level of trim automatic LOVE IT! about 23 mpg city

 

[princessnoelly]

We traded in our HUMMER H2 (miss my loved H2) for a Subaru Outback. I also wanted the AWD for when we do get snow but was worried about the height. My requirement for gas was double what I was getting in the H2. I just hit it this week! Went from 11.8 to 23.7!

Look at a Subaru. The resale value is amazing!

 

[corie161]

Thanks for the input, I really appreciate it! Keep it coming.
We have a pickup, so for hauling things I'm not really concerned about that part of it.

 

[Frannie115]

I had a Toyota Highlander (V6) for 7 years and loved it. Then I was laid off from my job that was 6 min. from our house. I was very fortunate to find another job but it is a 45 min. drive now .

So we decided to get a car. I loved the size and height of the Highlander. My new car is the Toyota Venza (V4). I love it! And it's great on gas. The car (or maybe it's a crossover) is very roomy and I don't feel like my rear is on the pavement like I do in my husband's Civic

 

[Darcy03231]

Went from a 3 row SUV to a Scion xB. Just couldn't give up on the space especially since we already have a sedan. We went from 15 mpg to 26+mpg. What a difference that makes ... fewer trips to the gas station and less money too!
The car is fun, priced well, and although low, it isn't too bad.

Best of luck on your transition!

The Scion Xb was on my short list when I was looking (along with the Honda Fit). I might have gone with it, but we were offered such a great deal on the Caliber that I had to go with it (it ended up being almost $5000 less than the Scion).

 

[Helene]

After several years of SUV's I bought a 2010 Subaru Legacy. I absolutely love it. It's great in snow and the gas mileage is so much better than my last SUV (Toyota 4-Runner).

I worried about the conversion to a smaller vehicle, but I haven't had a problem with it.

Happy shopping!!

 

[homedad]

we went from an Explorer and a Commander to a Passat and an Acadia, we have to have one big vehicle with awd

 

[ENSOCK]

I went from a NIssan Xterra into a Toyota Rav-4. It takes some getting used to not being up high but the gas went from 19 to 28. I will deal with the shortness!

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

I went from 3 Trailblazers into the Traverse which is bigger, but I HATED IT! We had the AWD and it handled the snow like CRAP (my TB's were all 4x4). We just unloaded it for the new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. We're a GM family too, so I'm betraying my uncles and jumping ship, LOL.

For us we wanted to stay SUV (American) and 4x4 (husband has a Malibu) but get something with a smaller payment.

Whatever you do....avoid the Traverse. It sucked!