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Features To Look For In A Mid-Size SUV

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If you have a couple of kids and want to haul the family around in style, a mid-size SUV may be the perfect vehicle for your family. With so many options on the market, however, it can be hard to choose the right one. Here are a few features to look for in a new mid-size SUV.

Good Gas Mileage

If you have not shopped for an SUV in a few years, prepare to be surprised. A decade ago, people were urged to steer clear of SUVs if they were looking for fuel-efficient vehicles. There's no need to do this anymore! Today's mid-size SUVs get better gas mileage than a lot of compact cars got in 2010. The Chevrolet Equinox and other new Chevrolet vehicles are good examples. The Equinox gets an average of 32 miles per gallon and up to 38 miles per gallon on the highway. Make sure that whatever SUV you choose gets at least 30 miles per gallon; all the good ones meet or exceed this standard.

Storage Space

Why have a mid-size SUV if there's no space for your items once you have everyone inside? Look for a vehicle that has plenty of room in the hatchback. If the back seats fold down, that's even better; you can then use the vehicle to haul small pieces of furniture. Some SUVs have storage compartments under the floor, too.

WiFi Hotspot Options

You're going to want to keep the kids entertained, especially when you're on a long road trip. The availability of a WiFi hotspot makes this so much simpler. You can use your smartphone to share the connection with any other device in the vehicle. You can even play your preferred music or audiobooks through the car's speakers using the WiFi connection on your phone.

Plenty of Headroom

Some SUVs are shorter and squattier; you barely have more headroom than in a car. There are a few mid-size SUVs with taller ceilings, however. These are a really good choice if you have kids, as it will be easier to crawl in the back and buckle someone in, adjust their hat, clean up the snacks they spilled, and so forth. Your younger kids may be able to stand straight up in the SUV, which is comfortable for them, too.

Keep the features above in mind as you shop for a new SUV. There are more options now than ever before, so it's important to do your homework and shop carefully.


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