The Shrinking SUV

With safety under scrutiny, a fleet of cool crossovers is winning converts

As if higher crude-oil and gasoline prices weren't enough bad news for SUVs, the latest accident data out of Washington provide more reason to think carefully before buying one. According to the Department of Transportation, SUV occupants are nearly 11% more likely to die in a crash than are folks in passenger cars. But the government's recently released rollover test results for the 2004 model year show that SUVs vary widely in their tippiness, giving buyers more incentive to shop around. Such statistics may well accelerate the popularity of crossovers, the new breed of bulked-up station wagons flooding the market that...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!