2012 Cadillac Escalade.
What a welcome holiday gift: gas prices below a dollar a litre. Thanks, Santa. We haven't seen these prices in years. But consumers aren't satisfied with just saving money at the pumps; there will be the inevitable rush of people trading in their thrifty Priuses for larger, fuel-thirsty trucks and SUVs, thinking they can afford the luxury of a larger vehicle. It's almost Pavlovian.
But some people need a mammoth vehicle, no matter the price of fuel or the environmental point of view. Maybe you have a family of six or seven, maybe you need power to tow a large trailer and the space for cargo and equipment; likely it's a combination of all three. But buying a new, large SUV may not make sense for both the astronomical price and the amount you will use it, so the used market is best. Thirty-grand is at least half the price of a new, truck-based SUV, yet will buy a decent behemoth up to around 2011 and leave some money for the barrels of gasoline it will need.
Sensible
General Motors has a good supply of large SUVs, with the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, GMC Yukon and the high-end Cadillac Escalade.
The Suburban can't be beat in this class for cargo room. But for more luxury, power and towing, get the Escalade – it has the largest engine with a 403-horsepower V-8 and a tow rating of 3,674 kilograms. All three SUVs suffer from poor fuel economy (even in this class) and a third row of seats on the small side that can be either folded forward or removed entirely, but not folded flat. You can find the stretched Escalade ESV version and even a hybrid, though they are rare. As for recalls, there were a few that deal with a failing rear axle, a loss of power steering and a potential under-hood fire.
Ford has the Expedition and its luxury variant, the Lincoln Navigator. Both are strong, capable haulers, but are also heavy, which results in abysmal acceleration and poor fuel economy. Towing rates are good, though, and both offer a third-row seat suitable for adults that also folds flat into the floor. No major recalls for either.
Nissan's Armada might be the size of a flotilla of boats, but it is another worthy heavy hauler. The 4,082-kilogram towing capability for its top model is second in class, while it also offers above-average handling for a vehicle this size.
Again, however, its fuel economy is terrible at around 24 litres/100 km. Depending on the year, there were recalls dealing with the lower control arms failing and problems with the rear seats.
Indispensable
For room, reliability, towing, practicality and off-road capability, look at the Toyota Sequoia first. With a 4,128-kilogram tow rating and a solid rear axle, moving mountains becomes an option.
Inside is more than spacious enough for the biggest of lumberjacks, even in the power-operated, foldable third row. And its 5.7-litre V-8 coupled with a six-speed transmission can give you a fuel economy of around 18 litres/100 km; still painful, but good compared with its competition.
And though it has recalls for its heated seats and air bags, it has proven reliable enough to earn a "good bet" rating by Consumer Reports.
Questionable
You want your giant SUV to be capable off-road, and what could be tougher than a Hummer? Not much, but don't you want it to be practical, too? Weighing more than 2,900 kilograms, the H2 will cost you dearly at the pumps, no matter the price of gas, with a fuel economy of more than 25 litres/100 km. Despite its size, the interior is relatively cramped for rear passengers and cargo alike, with limited visibility from its vault-like design. With its intimidating, road-hogging presence, you'd be buying a statement, a rather unflattering one.
Like us on Facebook
Add us to your circles
Sign up for our weekly newsletter