Despite all the carping about gasoline prices these days, sales of Cadillac's new Escalade and their ilk are boomin' louder than the gigawatt stereos they often house.
So says MSNBC, which points out that despite post-Katrina price shocks and media outlets trumpeting hybrids and new small car offerings, U.S. consumption of unleaded hooch is actually rising. In fact, fully one-in-four new cars sold in America houses a V8 engine under its hood. SUVs outpoint hybrid sales 23-1. The 'King of Bling,' Cadillac's Escalade saw its sales jump a whopping 127 percent last month.
So what gives?
While it appears that MSNBC is basing its assertions about the surprising resiliency of SUVs squarely on the load points of General Motors' massively improved GMT900 trucks, it has a point. For all of the hype surrounding the newer generation of crossover vehicles and more fuel efficient body-on-frame SUVs, conventional cars and wagons with smaller displacement engines remain significantly better when judged by a fuel gauge. And yet a good portion of American consumers won't touch them, despite their inherently superior driving dynamics and often greater cargo capacity.
So... has the death knell of the SUV been prematurely sounded? Is the American motoring lifestyle inextricably linked to large, high horsepower vehicles? Or are GM's revised full-sizers riding a wave soon to reach the shore? Have your say in 'Comments.'
[Sources: MSNBC.com; Skeptically.org]
New KITT Attack Mode revealed at Comic Con
London 2008: Honda OSM concept roadster says, "Cheerio!"
London 2008: Lotus unveils the Evora
2010 Chevy Camaro - Official Details and Images
2010 Chevy Camaro - LIVE from the reveal
In the Autoblog Garage: Aprilia RSV 1000 R
First Drive: Maserati Quattroporte S in Europe
First Drive: 2008 MINI Cooper S JCW
In the Autoblog Garage:2009 Nissan GT-R
North American Exclusive First Drive: Alfa MiTo
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
Matt Keegan @ May 18th 2006 11:44AM
It could be that many consumers are seeing hybrids for what they really are: an overhyped fad. In addition, the safety level of many smaller hybrids is suspect. Finally, the desire of riders to have ample room to move around will mean that SUVs will have a lasting appeal regardless of high fuel prices.
nltankontop @ May 18th 2006 11:44AM
Go ahead America keep it going, in a few years when gas is 6-7 dollars a gallon maybe you will stop buying your huge POS American trucks and SUVs. I am ashamed how everybody else has to pay outrageous amounts for gas because of other's huge demand for it with the castles on wheels that have them in debt up the ass.
Oh by the way, GM should go belly up sometime in the near future and we can finally we a real automaker to lead the way. One that has proven itself with quality, ratings, and low depreciation.
tim @ May 18th 2006 11:51AM
The new Escalade is an awesome SUV! Gas prices are like everything else...so it went up, big deal. How much has Milk gone up over the last 10-20 years? Cereal? electronics? Houses? Gas would have to be well over $5 for me not to buy what I want. Keep your little blender's on wheels. SUV's are the only vehicle's that are roomy enough and safe enough for my family! Thanks GM all of the new Full Size SUV you have are great!
pete24 @ May 18th 2006 11:53AM
I just got a new Escalade. It is the best SUV out there! It is priced way under the Lexus and Range Rover. Every item you can ever want. And 403HP This truck is great.
Matt Keegan @ May 18th 2006 11:53AM
Um,nltankontop take a break from your rant. I drive a RAV 4, a compact SUV. Still, I don't begrudge anyone for driving a larger vehicle. BTW, American SUVs have high quality standards.
Your price assumption is simply hysterical. On what data are you basing your figures?
happykate @ May 18th 2006 11:56AM
I agree, I would not put my kids in anything but a full size suv. I have a Tahoe now and we just ordered a new one. They did a great job on the 2007. Maybe my next one will be the Escalade. I would love that.
P.L. @ May 18th 2006 11:57AM
It doesn't prove much if anything. Many of these consumers can afford three more vehicles with various purposes and capacities. A neighbor who owns an Escalade SUV uses it for short around the village rides but mostly just parked in front of the house. But in the cases where it proves to be true people are taking advantage of major discounts and sales on gas hogs which refuses to move off the dealer's lot. It's a short term gain which will catch up and over take any savings at $150/200 a pop for a full tank. And the cost of gas still rising towards $4.
Nat @ May 18th 2006 11:58AM
Why is this so surprising? It's a brand new model, so people who were waiting to replace older versions are certainly going to do so.
Also let's not forget the heafty tax write-off that can still be had for vehicles ovr 6000 lbs.
We will have to wait until next year to see if things have really cooled.
gotohome @ May 18th 2006 11:59AM
Gas prices are up but that would not stop me from buying the car I want. The new Escalade looks great. I can't believe anyone would even consider a Navigator or Lexus? They both are grossly under powered and look cheap! The Cadillac has style and a great look. Inside and out. Good for GM!
JT78 @ May 18th 2006 12:03PM
Hybrid cars are good for a around town trip or a campus car. But driving one everyday....NO WAY! If you have any need for safety or space you have to get a SUV or Minivan. That new Cadillac Escalade is the hottest truck out there! Wow that is a sweet ride. gas prices or not....that's the truck to buy.
Ryan @ May 18th 2006 12:04PM
#1
"It could be that many consumers are seeing hybrids for what they really are: an overhyped fad. In addition, the safety level of many smaller hybrids is suspect."
-Or mabye there are people that like them more over an SUV, there is nothing wrong with that is there? I personally like the Prius, just because I think it's cool and I like the technology, but that's it, nothing further, but somehow SUV driver throw everything from politics to hippie, to everything else. I don't drive a Prius, but I just like the car, plain and simple. If you like SUV's (which I also like) then thats ok also. Personally even though I do like some SUV's, there just not me, I like small cars, but again if a huge,midsize,or tiny suv is your thing go for it. I won't label you if you won't label me.
Ryan @ May 18th 2006 12:06PM
"I can't believe anyone would even consider a Navigator or Lexus? They both are grossly under powered and look cheap!"
-A Navigator, Lexus, and Caddy all are anything but looking cheap. The last thing I think of is cheap when I see any of those.
Ryan @ May 18th 2006 12:06PM
Personally I think they blanded out the Caddy, I like the sharper lines myself.
EHarper @ May 18th 2006 12:10PM
The sales of the new Escalade is up 127% Wait until the new Navigator comes out. Escalade sales will be up even more! Lincoln has a real bomb with that ugly thing. Go Escalde!!!!!
Matt Keegan @ May 18th 2006 12:21PM
Ryan: I wasn't labeling you...just the type of vehicle. Drive what you want as that is my whole point. I, for one, do not want the government deciding that point for me. That's all.
Eric L. @ May 18th 2006 12:21PM
There will always be haters no matter how rational the reason for an action. I agree that GM did a great job on the new Escalade/Tahoe (ok so fuel economy was not at high as they hyped, but it never is for any manufacturer), and I also understand the rationale for driving these vehicles because of comfort or safety. The haters driving the fuel efficient cars are angry because they feel less safe on the road with 3 tons of SUV behind them - and I can understand that as well. But to express that as "SUVs are stupid and I hate all those who drive them" - what is this, 3rd grade?
Guess what, hybrid driver, people who ride bicycles to work hate you for driving a car, period. Unfair? Yep. Now think about your opinion of SUV drivers...
There will always be double standards. Let people do whatever they want.
GOKARTN @ May 18th 2006 12:23PM
The Escalade is proof that our great country is full of people who aquire money before taste.
John @ May 18th 2006 12:24PM
#15 your friends seem very excited....they do know they bought a 2007 right? Either way.....cool truck
robert @ May 18th 2006 12:37PM
It always amazes me when people trot out the old "SUVs are safer for my kids" baloney lines...
http://www.emagazine.com/view/?3032&src=
Has anyone considered that not even factored into accident staistics are items about "Accident avoidance". A standard passenger car is quite simply easier to manuever out of an accident situation. Where the SUV plows through another vehicle, the lighter, nimbler car may avoid such an accident altogether.
NHTSA says...
"NHTSA seems sobered by the new study. A spokesperson, Rae Tyson, says she hopes families will check safety ratings carefully. "I think there is a segment of the buying public that may be buying them [SUVs] with the false impression that they are buying the safest vehicle they can for their families," she said."
http://enews.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Archive/EETD-SUV-Safety.html
http://enews.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Archive/EETD-SUV-Safety-newWin.html
Say all you want about getting a new SUV. There certainly isn't a problem with it. Personal choices or desires, fine. But don't trot out the tired excuse of "safety of my children" in defense of the SUV. It simply doesn't in any study hold water.
GS @ May 18th 2006 12:37PM
OK,
I'm car guy like everyone else in this forum. I love power, low end grunt and all of the other "sensations" one can derive pleasure from an automobile.
For the love of GOD, you people who are proponents of large, gas sucking, greenhouse emitting steel barges need to admit that you and your brethren are conspiring with other irresponsible industries to destroy the earth?s climate.
Global Warming is not a myth, and just because the science of today cannot answer all the questions about its causes and effects, does not mean that you should blithely pursue the most inefficient vehicles with impunity. There has not been one credible study done by a legitimate scientist/group that has said the GW is a ?myth?, the debate is found in degrees of severity and the timeline. Those of you that site links to contradict me, make sure you find out who funded the publications before your confidence swells.
We have a political and social climate that is based on immediate gratification and ?seeing is believing?. Unfortunately for Joe Citizen, GW is invisible to the naked eye and moves at relatively glacial pace. Because of this, it is politically difficult to get the issue on the agenda with so many other ?visible? problems. I blame several presidents for this but none more than W, who promised to take climate seriously given the most accurate data of the day, but he decided to pull out of Kyoto without a credible alternative. GW could have been given exposure, kids in school could be learning about responsible and incremental conversation. But, they are not. It?s politically more expedient to criminalize fruit pickers and record the phone calls of our kids.
At some point in our past we as a society said that child labor was morally wrong as was the institution of slavery, and the eradication of both changed our country drastically, economically and socially. Ultimately we said that it was worth it to us to pay more for cotton and textiles than to endorse institutions that belie our constitutional integrity. We need the same shift in mindset when it comes to energy and its effect on our planet.
Sure hybrids are not the long term option, nor is ethanol as has been laid out by far brighter posters than me. But these are options boys, attempts to mitigate the dependence on a resource that is despoiling our earth and enriching the most despotic regimes on the planet. Is your Bling worth it?