Not so tall
My son has a Nissan Armada — you know, that big hulking SUV. I want a similar one, because of a business I just started that requires me to tote around a lot of goods every day under cover. But because I do more urban driving and parking (in parking structures) than he does, and he’s already had a height issue in a parking garage, scraping one of those overhead bars, I want a very big SUV that’s not as tall. What do you suggest?
Of the three big honking SUVS that are closest in size to Armada, only one — Chevy Suburban — is not quite as tall (and that’s just by a little over 1 inch, which might not be a helpful reduction).
The other two, Toyota Sequoia and Ford Expedition, are even a bit taller than the Armada (which is 76 inches tall).
If parking garages are going to be a regular concern you’ll probably need to consider a not-quite-so-massive SUV, such as the GMC Acadia, which has excellent cargo space but is 66 inches tall, or the Jeep Grand Cherokee, which is about 68 or 69 inches tall, depending on which version you choose.
We just got back from California where a couple told us they were driving a hydrogenpowered car. But here in Indiana, we’ve never heard of them. Can you give a primer?
Here’s the short version. The Toyota Mirai, Honda Clarity and Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell (which is a lease-only proposition) are powered by hydrogen, which means the chief emission is water. So that’s pretty cool. They’re all referred to as fuel cell vehicles (FCVs).
They ALL run about $50,000, and are eligible for those energy efficiency tax credits. Also, drivers are cleared to ride in the HOV lane.
Certain sections of California are the only place to get your hands on one (except for the Mirai, which is sold in select parts of Hawaii), as the fueling infrastructure is pretty limited right now (mostly around San Francisco/San Jose and Los Angeles).
The expectation is the fueling spots will almost double in number in the next several months, and perhaps that will encourage greater consumer interest.
More excellent detail is available at fueleconomy.gov.
What’s your question? Sharon Peters would like to hear about what’s on your mind when it comes to caring for, driving and repairing your vehicle. Email Sharon@ ctwfeatures.com.