With gas prices continuing to soar, "big" seems quickly headed for the has-been bin. Consumers are reconsidering the size-matters mentality of the prosperous 1990s — when SUVs grew in size nearly as fast as the Dow — turning instead toward smaller cars that earn better fuel economy.
Sales of SUVs and pickup trucks from domestic auto manufacturers, in particular, have sagged drastically under the yoke of high energy costs. Earlier this month, Ford announced a 34 percent drop in July sales from the same period the year before. But the pièce de résistance in the blue oval's earnings announcement was a dramatic 44.1 percent drop in light-truck and SUV sales from the preceding month.
Compatriots DaimlerChrysler and General Motors fared almost as poorly. Chrysler Group reported a 37 percent drop in overall sales, accompanied by a stinging 40 percent decline in truck sales. General Motors, meanwhile, kept decreases down to a mere 19 percent largely on the strength of new models.
Hybrid hassles
Foreign manufacturers, including Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai, posted gains on broader vehicle portfolios that included revenue-generating fuel-efficient vehicles as well as some larger models. Sales at those companies were up between 6 percent and 12 percent.
A raft of smaller cars and fuel-efficient gas-electric hybrids has emerged as consumers more closely scrutinize the Environmental Protection Agency's figures on new vehicles' window stickers. But both trends have drawbacks. Those interested in hybrids must sometimes come to terms with hefty price premiums and even waiting lists for the most popular models. Small cars, meanwhile, are just that — small — a potentially dissuading factor for consumers with large families.
The top ten vehicles include:
Luxury Sedan-Overall Fuel Economy - Lexus GS300
Luxury Sedan-Most Space - Lincoln Town Car
SUV-Overall Fuel Economy - Chevrolet Trailblazer
SUV-Most Space - Toyota Land Cruiser (pictured)
Minivan-Overall Fuel Economy - Honda Odyssey
Minivan-Most Space - Toyota Sienna
Large Sedan-Overall Fuel Economy - Ford Five Hundred
Large Sedan-Most Space - Ford Crown Victoria
Pickup Truck-Overall Fuel Economy - Toyota Tundra
Pickup Truck-Payload - Chevrolet Silverado
