Top 7 Passenger SUVs For 2011

What Are 7 Passenger SUVs?

SUV is an acronym for Sport Utility Vehicle. A 7 passenger SUV will seat 7 passengers, which includes the driver. Originally, the Sport Utility Vehicle was developed as a means of transportation that combined passenger and storage capacity with the ability to haul or tow a load similar to that of a full-size pickup truck. However, the 7 or 8 passenger SUV has become a consumer standard in many households and driven as a family passenger vehicle. Because of this change in consumer usage, the typical SUV 7 passenger vehicle on the market today focuses more on fuel efficiency and comfort, rather than load hauling capacity. You can even find 7 passenger hybrid SUVs, but many families will tell you that the best 7 passenger SUV is the one that takes you to the soccer game, can bring a handful of friends home with you, and stow all your gear. So, the Sport Utility Vehicle still serves as a hauler of both passengers and cargo.

Manufacturers Of 7 Passenger SUV

Sport utility vehicles are designed to hold 7 or 8 passengers, although some of the earlier models were only designed to hold 5 passengers. So, in general, if the sport utility vehicle is on the market, it will seat at least 5 people, so make sure it is a 7 or 8 passenger SUV if that’s what you really need. Although some sports utility vehicles can transport more passengers, none are designed to transport less than 5 passengers. So, that’s one area you don’t have to worry about. You can look at the SUV 7 passenger offerings from any of the major manufacturer websites such as Toyota, GMC, and Ford and find SUV 7 passenger vehicles without much trouble.

Toyota 7 Passenger SUV

You can view information on SUV 7 passenger models from Toyota at http://www.toyota.com. Some of the sports utility vehicles you may enjoy from Toyota are the Rav4, FJCruiser, and Highlander. Additional models include the 4Runner, Sequoia, and Land Cruiser. However, some people who drive SUVs would consider the Toyota Sienna to be the best 7 passenger SUV.

GMC 7 Passenger SUV

At http://www.gm.com/vehicles/, you can click on the box for SUV to go to the latest offerings from GMC for 7 passenger SUV options. Some of the models that are popular include the Cadillac Escalade, the Chevy Tahoe, and the GMC Yukon. GMC has more than two dozen different SUV models to choose from.

Ford 7 Passenger SUV

You can locate many different models of SUV from Ford at http://www.fordvehicles.com/. The Expedition is the best 7 passenger SUV Ford has to offer. Other sport utility vehicles from Ford include the Escape, Sport Trac, Explorer, and Escape hybrid. However, only the Explorer can accommodate 7 passengers to be considered a 7 passenger SUV.

What To Look For In A 7 Passenger SUV

Fuel Economy in 7 Passenger SUVs

Most 7 passenger SUV models are not great on fuel economy. When you are comparing several 7 or 8 passenger SUV manufacturers you will want to make sure you are able to get the best fuel economy and miles per gallon available. 7 passenger SUVs are big vehicles and will necessitate a lot of gas if you use them as your everyday vehicle. So, it’s a great idea to check this out as a first step. You will be paying a decent price for a sport utility vehicle so you may as well make sure you can afford the gas to run it. With modern technology, you may want to consider 7 passenger hybrid SUVs to help economize on fuel costs.

7 Passenger SUV Safety Ratings

It is also important to compare safety ratings for 7 passenger SUVs. If you will be transporting your family and friends, you want to ensure that they will be safe under as many conditions as possible. While many SUV 7 passenger vehicle sales websites will share safety ratings, a good source is the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety. You can access detailed information on safety ratings and performance issues for 7 or 8 passenger SUV models at http://www.iihs.org/ratings/default.aspx. Knowing how a 7 passenger SUV performs under varying conditions will help you choose the best 7 passenger SUV for your situation.

SUV 7 Passenger Vehicle Reviews

Two of the best sources for reviews of 7 passenger SUV models are Edmunds.com and Consumer Affairs.

Edmunds.com

At http://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews.html, you will need to enter the make and model of the 7 passenger SUV you are interested in to locate the reviews. Edmunds.com reviews are well respected in the industry and offer comprehensive information on vehicle features, specifications, and availability. Edmunds.com is good about sharing safety concerns, the average mpg for both city and highway driving, and other important factors that can help you decide on the best 7 passenger SUV.

Consumer Affairs

Consumer Affairs is a wealth of information for people looking into purchasing a 7 passenger SUV. You can enter in the make and model of the 7 or 8 passenger SUV you are considering and get instant access to lots of information. Some of the information available, depending on the sports utility vehicle, includes information on lemon laws and recalls. However, news and reviews on Consumer Affairs also tell you how the 7 or 8 passenger SUV performed on safety trials, as well as different types of terrain. You can find out information on fuel economy and what the experts are saying about the SUV 7 passenger vehicles you are interested in. You can access Consumer Affairs 7 passenger SUV information at http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/.

Insurance Institute For Highway Safety

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety was mentioned earlier and can be accessed at http://www.iihs.org/ratings/default.aspx. However, this important resource bears repeating because the website helps you determine crashworthiness of your 7 passenger SUV. One area of the website that is particularly helpful when you go to the homepage is the section that tells users the top safety pick. You can easily find which 7or 8 passenger SUVs have performed well.

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