If you’ve been weighing up buying a new SUV, below we consider its impact on the environment and your pocket.
There’s a massive range of SUVs which include the Audi Allroad, BMW X3, Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac SRX, Citroen C-Crossover, Daihatsu Terios, Dodge Nitro, Honda CR-V, Honda HR-V, Hyundai Terracan, Hyundai Tuscon, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Commander, Jeep Compass, Jeep Patriot, Jeep Wrangler, Kia Sportage, Land Rover Defender, Land Rover Discovery, Nissan X-Trail, Porsche Cayenne, Ssangyong Kyron, Ssangyong Rexton, Suzuki Jimny, Suzuki Grand Vitara, Subaru Forester, Toyota Land Cruiser, Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon, Toyota Rav4, Volkswagen Touareg, Volvo XC70, The Chevrolet Captiva is a middle-weight contender.
The Captiva is not a gigantic SUV like the Audi Q7, BMW X5, Shogun, Range Rover, Merc GL and Patrol. These monsters can completely fill a UK parking space with no room to open the doors. And some say they’re far too large for UK roads.
The Chevrolet Captiva is around the same size as the Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorrento, Jeep Cherokee, Land Rover Freelander, Lexus RX, Mercedes-Benz M-Class, Mitsubishi Outlander, Nissan Pathfinder, and Volvo XC90.
The models in the chart below are the above medium size SUVs with the smallest diesel engine option and manual transmission. This excludes the Outlander, M-Class and RX.
Make |
Model |
Engine |
CO2 |
Mpg |
£ per 12k |
|
Hyundai |
Santa Fe |
2188 |
190 |
39.2 |
1573 |
|
Kia |
Sorrento |
2497 |
209 |
35.8 |
1722 |
|
Jeep |
Cherokee 08MY |
2776 |
228 |
32.8 |
1879 |
|
Land Rover |
Freelander |
2179 |
194 |
37.7 |
1635 |
|
Nissan |
Pathfinder |
2488 |
264 |
28.8 |
2140 |
|
Volvo |
XC90 |
2400 |
219 |
34.0 |
1813 |
|
Chevrolet |
Captiva LS |
1991 |
195 |
38.7 |
1593 |
SUVs with CO2 emissions 186-225g/km are Band F and pay £210 for 12 months vehicle excise duty. 226g/km and above are Band G and pay £400.00 for their road fund licence.
The fuel cost of driving 12,000 miles was calculated by the VCA using the combined fuel consumption figure and an average fuel price of 113p/litre for diesel. Currently prices are some 20% higher with diesel costing 136p/litre increasing your fuel cost of driving 12,000 miles by the same percentage.
The data above was copied from tables compiled by the VCA www.vca.gov.uk Also see www.dft.gov.uk/ActOnCO2/ . Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy. The VCA and I cannot accept liability for its accuracy. Users who rely entirely on the information do so at their own risk. Importantly, wheel size and the number of driven wheels will make a difference to the above figures.
There’s not a massive difference in the above figures. Ignoring the cheapest and most expensive SUVs, there’s only about £300 difference over 12,000 miles. There’s a big difference in their cost new, levels of equipment and having a 7-seat option.
The Chevrolet Captiva has the huge advantage of fixed-price servicing for a one-off payment of £299 for 3 years/30,000 miles servicing.
What this chart highlights is the hype about car running costs. You saw yesterday –
|
Ford |
Ka |
1299 |
141 |
47.9 |
1207 |
|
VW |
Fox |
1198 |
144 |
46.3 |
1249 |
Just imagine buying a small car and discovering it didn’t suit your lifestyle and you were forced to change it. The cost of depreciation would cover fuel costs for years. A car must first suit your lifestyle. Then it must be affordable. Next it should be safe. Economy isn’t the big deal it’s made out to be. Let’s check it out again -
|
Chevrolet |
Captiva LS |
1991 |
195 |
38.7 |
1593 |
Even if we compare the Chevrolet Captiva with a Chevrolet Matiz, the fuel cost is not so great given the size difference, space and versatility, not to mention performance, comfort, style, and safety –
|
Chevrolet |
Matiz S 5dr |
796 |
119 |
54.3 |
1065 |
So if you want a SUV why not get one?
Regards
Ralph
