I'm torn between buying a sedan or an SUV to get around the city. I work downtown and drive a lot in traffic, but I also like to travel on weekends. Which one would be more cost-effective considering gas, parking, and maintenance?
How much space do you actually need on those weekend trips? Because honestly, a sedan is going to cost you way less on gas and maintenance with everyday city driving, plus parking is cheaper and you'll find a spot easier. If your trips are occasional and you don't need to haul a lot of stuff, the sedan is hands down the more cost-effective option. An SUV is going to guzzle more gas and insurance is pricier too, so unless you really need the extra space and height, you're better off going with the sedan.
Don't just look at trunk size without first figuring out how often you actually need that extra space - most people overestimate how much stuff they really carry on normal trips. What people don't talk about as much is the cost of insurance and maintenance: an SUV typically costs more on both fronts, and in the city that adds up month to month. A sedan saves you fuel in traffic (less weight, lower revs) and fits in any parking spot without a hassle, so if your weekend trips are occasional and you don't need to haul much, you'll probably come out ahead in the long run.
What nobody tells you is that in the city, a sedan kills you in another way: fuel consumption depends a lot on how you drive in traffic. If you're accelerating and braking all day, stopping every couple of blocks, even a decent sedan is going to burn more gas than you expected. A compact SUV isn't that different in that respect, honestly. The real difference is parking: downtown, a sedan fits in spaces where an SUV won't. That's actually concrete.
For weekend trips, the question is whether you really need that extra space every time or just occasionally. If you travel alone or with one person, a sedan is more than enough. But if you're bringing family or camping gear or something like that, the SUV gives you more peace of mind. Maintenance is pretty similar between both, it depends on the brand and how well you take care of the car.
What's worth checking is whether you can go with a smaller SUV or a bigger sedan. Compact SUVs these days use about as much gas as a sedan and give you that space you sometimes need. And here's the thing that matters: calculate how many trips a month you actually need that huge trunk. If it's two or three, rent a car when you need it - it's way cheaper than paying all week for space you don't use.
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