 Suburban
step-down
|  Dear
Terry,
It's time to trade in my 1999 Chevrolet Suburban. I have enjoyed
the car and it served me well, especially when my kids were growing
up. But now I don't need that much space. I'm not ready to downsize
to a small sedan, but I wanted to see what 2007 midsize SUV you
would recommend that offers room for at least five people, yet doesn't
guzzle gas like my Suburban. Thanks,
-- Jason
 Dear
Jason,
A lot has changed since you last went new-car shopping and you've
probably heard that so-called "crossover'' sport utility vehicles
are now in vogue. They look like SUVs but are based on a car chassis.
Many in base form come in front-wheel-drive, with V6 engines and
room for at least five and sometimes come with a third-row bench
seat suitable for children.
For maximum fuel efficiency, the choice would have
to be the Toyota Highlander Hybrid, which gets 32 miles per gallon
in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. But the mid-$30,000 sticker
price is a major drawback.
I'd recommend
you put the new Ford Edge on your shopping list. After having driven one recently
for more than 500 miles, it's surprisingly refined and gets 25 mpg highway and
18 mpg city. It's priced under $30,000, and Ford dealers -- struggling for sales
-- are dealing.
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If you have a question for Terry, e-mail him at Driving
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