Do You Really Need an SUV?

Do you really need an SUV, or does it just feel like everyone else has one? It's one of the questions we hear most at Sayville Ford in Sayville, and the honest answer depends far more on your typical week than on what's parked in your neighbor's driveway. Here's how we'd walk a friend through it, starting with the basics and ending with the one tip that saves people from buyer's remorse.

What does an SUV actually do better than a car?

Let's start with the basics. An SUV sits higher, so you step in instead of dropping down, and you can see farther over traffic. That alone wins over a lot of people with sore knees or a toddler to buckle in.

Inside, the big advantage is flexible space. A tall, square cargo area swallows strollers, coolers and hockey bags that would never fit through a sedan's trunk opening, and folding rear seats turn it into a small moving van for the weekend. Larger models add a third row, which matters if you're the one driving the carpool.

Most SUVs also offer all-wheel or four-wheel drive, and many are built to pull a boat or small camper. Those are real strengths, but only if you use them. Paying for capability you never touch is like buying a pickup just to carry groceries.

The tradeoff is size and weight. A bigger vehicle usually burns more fuel, can cost more to insure and put tires on, and takes more patience to park at a crowded beach lot in July.

When does something smaller make more sense?

If most of your miles are a solo commute along Sunrise Highway and back, you may be hauling around space you don't need. Smaller vehicles slip into tight spots more easily, usually go easier on fuel, and are often less expensive to buy and maintain.

Ask yourself a few honest questions:

• How often do you carry more than two passengers?
• What's the bulkiest thing you move in a typical month?
• Do you tow anything, ever?
• Where do you park most days, and how tight is it?

If your answers sound like 'rarely,' 'a gym bag,' 'no' and 'a narrow driveway,' a compact crossover gives you much of the SUV feel, with the higher seat and the hatchback, in a smaller footprint. It's a popular middle ground for good reason.

Budget plays a part too. A gently used sedan or hatchback can be a smart pick for a new driver or a second car, and browsing our used car selection is an easy way to compare sizes side by side. Rent something bigger for that one annual vacation and you'll likely still come out ahead.

Do you need all-wheel drive for Long Island winters?

This one shows up in our inbox every November. All-wheel drive helps you get moving on snow and slush because power goes to the wheels that have grip. It doesn't help you stop or steer any better, and that's where most winter trouble starts.

Tires matter more than you think

Your tires are the only thing touching the road. A front-wheel-drive car on good winter tires will often feel more sure-footed than an all-wheel-drive SUV on worn all-seasons. Check your tread before the first storm, and if you drive early mornings or on untreated side streets, consider a dedicated set of winter tires.

When all-wheel drive earns its keep

It's worth having if you live on a hill, deal with an unplowed driveway, or regularly drive on sand. Four-wheel drive with low-range gearing is a different tool again, meant for trails and slippery boat ramps. Whatever you choose, keeping the drivetrain maintained keeps it ready. You can book service online, and with maintenance pickup and mobile service, you don't have to give up a morning to do it.

What's the best way to know if an SUV fits your life before you buy?

Here's the tip I give regulars who ask: test-drive your life, not just the vehicle. A quick spin around the block tells you how it accelerates, but not whether it fits your routine.

Bring the real stuff along:

• Your car seats, installed, ideally with a kid buckled in
• The stroller, golf bags or dog crate you carry most often
• A tape measure for your garage opening and parking space

Then drive it where you actually go: your street, your driveway, that grocery store lot that's always packed. Back it in. Try folding the seats with one hand while holding a bag in the other. Small annoyances on day one turn into big ones by year three.

Doing this at home is easier than you might think. Sayville Ford offers video walkarounds, at-home test drives, home delivery and online purchasing, so you can put an SUV and a smaller option in your own driveway and see which one truly fits. Start by lining up a couple of choices from our new Ford inventory, and bring your checklist.