Should You Buy a Truck or an SUV? What You Need to Know
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SUVs and pickups occupy a similar place in the hearts and minds of many drivers. They’re big, tough, utilitarian vehicles with the power to move whole families (or homes!) over rocks, through rivers, and up the side of mountains.
We see those ads for new, tough-mudder-style vehicles and are overcome with a sense of adventure and outdoorsy athleticism. And while trucks and SUVs offer many of the same benefits, when you scrutinize the details, the two classes of vehicle can come out looking like apples and oranges.
Each has its own unique list of pros and cons that make it the ideal choice, depending on your particular needs. So if you’re in the market for a large, practical vehicle, you’re probably wondering: should you buy a truck or SUV? In this article, we’ll do our best to help you find your answer.
Should You Buy a Truck or SUV?
Pickup trucks and sports utility vehicles tick many of the same boxes. However one or the other may be better suited to your lifestyle. Let’s take a look at some of the factors you should look at to find out should you buy a truck or SUV.
- Family size. Trucks just can’t compete with SUVs as far as seating goes. Sure, some of the larger pickups on the market can seat six, but it’s going to feel pretty cramped if you’re at capacity and on a long road trip.
Three-row SUVs can seat up to 9 passengers, and most allow ample legroom for your growing-up-so-fast passengers, their friends, your animals, and all the cargo you could want. If you have a family of 5 plus, you should buy an SUV. 2. Work needs. A good rule of thumb if you’re looking into getting a pickup is to think about whether or not you will be using the bed. If the answer is a resounding yes, then go for it. Many truck owners purchase pickups because they need them for work.
Gardeners, farmers, contractors, construction workers, and so on truly need a flatbed vehicle to make a living, and really needing one is an excellent reason to buy a truck. And while you could theoretically get away with hauling wood, hay, tools, or fertilizer in the back of an SUV, trucks are purpose-built to be easy to clean after hauling messy items. 3. Towing needs. Do you regularly haul trailers for work? Do you live in a mobile home? Are you spending your retirement travelling cross-country with an RV stuck on your tow hitch? Whatever towing needs you have, both SUVs and pickups will serve you well.
However, trucks were designed to haul, and it shows. The best SUVs for towing still have a lower hauling capacity than their flat-bed cousins: a Jeep Grand Cherokee is rated for 7,200 pounds, while the Chevy Colorado can get away with 7,700, and a Silverado can tow up to 13,400. If you need a vehicle that’s great at hauling, buy a truck.
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- Passenger age. Taller vehicles are great for families who regularly carry both elderly and very young passengers. But trucks, depending on height and cabin size, can be just as difficult to get into as a low-rider, and might not have enough space for a car seat or two.
SUVs are generally easy to enter and exit for elderly passengers, and are roomy and comfortable on the interior. Plus, SUVs have ample space for bulky car seats, diaper bags, and other care-taking accessories. 5. Environmental concerns. It can be uncomfortable for ultra-eco-conscious drivers to make the switch to a larger vehicle, even if they really need one. If you’re looking for a vehicle that will fit your big family, act as an impromptu moving van, and still leave an acceptable footprint on the planet, look into getting an SUV.
There are plenty of options on the market today that get great gas mileage while sacrificing none of the power and size. And if you really want to go eco-friendly, you can invest in a hybrid SUV such as the Honda CR-V or Toyota Venza.
THE BEST USED SUVS UNDER $10,000
We looked into price, reliability, features, and more to create this list of the best used SUVs under $10k on the market today. Take a look - some of the best used SUVs have gone mostly overlooked or forgotten.
- Safety concerns. SUVs come out on top in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s list of Top Safety Picks. While the list has representatives from both teams, (the Ram 1500 is the safest truck of 2021) SUVs far outnumber trucks, and are the most represented type of vehicle across all sizes of 2020.
And not only are SUVs safer to drive, but they’re also less dangerous than trucks to other vehicles. Motorbiscuit says: “…in a car-SUV collision, the car passengers are only 28% more likely to die than if they hit another car. But in a car-truck collision, that jumps to 158%.” If safety is at the top of your checklist, get an SUV. 7. Financial concerns. If you’re operating on a budget, a truck will be your best bet. Trucks are utilitarian vehicles at heart, and it’s still possible to find pickups that prioritize practicality and leave out many of the options that make contemporary cars so attractive.
In general, new and used trucks will be far more affordable that the average SUV. One estimate states that the mean cost of a new full-sized pickup sits at around $46,000, whereas a full-sized SUV from a similar brand will go for closer to $60,000. 8. Driveability. Like we’ve said before, most trucks are designed for work and practicality. And this means that a smooth ride isn’t necessarily at the top of every designers list of priorities. Springy suspension designed to carry hefty payloads makes a truck’s ride a little bouncy when empty.
Of course, it can be smoothed out when hauling or with a load in the back. But if you want a car that’s comfortable and pleasant to drive no matter how much cargo you have in the back, we recommend an SUV.
THE BEST USED LUXURY CARS ON THE MARKET
Buying a used or CPO luxury car is one of the smartest buys you can make - you can get a lot of car for not much money. You can pick up a three-year-old luxury car for about half of what you’d pay new. Check out this list of the best used luxury cars on the market to find the best deals.
- Your personal taste. Don’t let logic get in the way of you getting a vehicle that you will absolutely love. While you should consider the practical aspects of owning an SUV or truck, the most important thing is that you’re happy with the vehicle you’re driving. So should you buy a truck or SUV? It’s completely up to you.
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