Station wagons get better gas mileage than SUVs and are easier to operate, making them better for the environment in general. However, automakers are constantly revamping their cars and trucks to make them fuel efficient to lessen global warming effects.
Small station wagons, such as the Honda FIT, can get 36 miles per gallon, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The Toyota Prius v hybrid station wagon can get 42 miles per gallon. The Kia Soul Electric small station wagon nearly triples those figures in gas mileage.
Improvements on some sports utility vehicles have brought them close to the advantage of station wagons, which still have better fuel efficiency. The Lexus NX 300h hybrid, a small SUV, gets 33 miles per gallon. The Toyota Highlander Hybrid 4WD, a standard size, gets 28 miles per gallon.
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Station wagons are generally easier to operate and drive than SUVs. People might buy SUVs for the large cargo capacity and allowing more passengers, and this can contribute to the difficulty in driving an SUV. The smaller size of a station wagon gives it better maneuverability than larger SUVs during everyday driving.
Better driving can have a positive environmental impact for station wagons. Although automakers continue to improve safety features for all cars, a large, bulky SUV tends to get in more serious accidents than other vehicles. Traffic accidents can contribute to environmental problems because of damage to roadways. Accidents can add up over time across the country to accumulate negative effects on the environment.
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Because of the smaller size of station wagons, they are usually cheaper to maintain than SUVs. The parts that need replacement are less expensive for station wagons. Smaller tires are not only cheaper, but could contribute to less damage to the environment over time.
The better gas mileage is probably the best feature about choosing a station wagon over an SUV for environmental purposes and to lessen the effects of global warming. However, automakers are producing more crossover vehicles that satisfy more consumers. Smaller SUVs are close in size to large station wagons, and larger station wagons are almost as big as small SUVs.
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As customers demand better fuel efficiency, SUV manufacturers produce some models that have smaller bodies and reworked suspension to look more like station wagons. So the environmental advantages of station wagons may not be all that different in some cases.