What Type of Vehicle Is Right for You

You have many options to choose from when shopping for your next vehicle in Pueblo, Colorado — especially when you visit Southwest Motors. Our dealership has a wide variety of used cars for whatever your life needs. We’re here to help you find the make, model, condition, price, and type of vehicle that fits your current lifestyle. Here’s our guide on choosing the body style

Should you drive an economy sedan?

Sedans used to be the go-to vehicle type for most drivers for many decades. In fact, they composed the majority of vehicles in production throughout the 20th century. Economy sedans provide stable handling with their low center of gravity, ration their fuel consumption, and are comfortable to ride in.

While the majority of automakers have drastically reduced their sedan production in recent years, you can still find many new and used sedans for sale from automakers like Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, Subaru, and Volkswagen.

Compact sedans like the Honda Civic are ideal for single adults or young couples in Pueblo who want a fuel-efficient, cheap car for commuting to work or college. Full-size sedans like the Nissan Maxima offer spacious back seats for new parents of an infant riding in a baby seat.

Should you drive a luxury sedan?

Top-quality sedans are still popular among luxury brands that produce four-door cars as premium executive vehicles for successful business leaders and white-collar salespeople. You can still find many high-end sedans in production by BMW, Lexus, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, or Audi.

If you want to make a great impression on potential clients and show off your status of financial success, drive a luxury sedan. It’s filled with elite treatments like chrome accents, leather seats, wood inlays, and the best sound systems. Plus, they offer better performance than cheaper economy sedans, carrying more powerful engines and offering all-wheel drive more often.

Should you drive a sports car or coupe?

Another way to impress your friends and coworkers is a sports car. These models are more athletic than elegant, opting for a roaring engine, rear-wheel drive, sport seats, and track-ready upgrades. Models like the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger, Porsche 911, Toyota Supra, and Mazda Miata favor sleek, muscular speed over sophistication.

Some luxury or sports cars come in two-door coupe configurations. Their wide doors make it easier for front-row passengers to slide in and out, but rear-row passengers have to climb over to reach their seats. That’s why coupes are better for singles or couples without children.

Should you drive a hatchback? 

A major limitation of compact sedans is the narrow, shallow trunk. Sedans are simply not designed for carrying cargo — especially large items. That’s why many drivers opt for SUVs now. But, if you don’t want to drive a large SUV, a hatchback could provide the improved cargo accommodation that you need.

Hatchbacks replace the small decklid and enclosed trunk with a fifth-door hatch and wider cargo area that opens directly into the passenger area — like a small wagon. The squared rear end can accommodate objects that are taller and wider.

Popular hatchback models include the Volkswagen Golf, Subaru Impreza, Mitsubishi Mirage, Mazda3 Hatchback, Honda Civic Hatchback, and Toyota Prius.

Should you drive a crossover?

A crossover is often confused for an SUV, but it’s actually halfway between a sedan and an SUV. That’s because a crossover looks like an SUV but is built on the same unibody platform as a sedan. Thus, it has the fuel-efficient construction and ride comfort of a sedan with the spacious body of an SUV.

Crossovers are great for tall passengers who need more headroom, senior drivers who want a higher ride height in traffic, and families with 1-2 children who need more luggage space than sedans offer. Crossovers are convenient for running errands around town and frequently come in hybrid or electric versions. Popular crossovers include the Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson, and Chevrolet Equinox.

Should you drive an SUV?

A true sport utility vehicle has the underpinnings of a pickup truck but with an enclosed box used for extra seating. Its body-on-frame design can handle off-roading better than a unibody vehicle can, as this lets it endure strenuous torsion on bumpy terrain. Plus, they have big V6 or V8 engines that can tow as much as a small truck can.

SUVs come in two-row or three-row sizes, offering seating for as many as eight people. Popular large SUVs include the Cadillac Escalade, Jeep Wagoneer, Nissan Armada, Toyota Sequoia, Chevrolet Suburban, and GMC Yukon.

Should you drive a minivan?

If you want the spacious seating of a three-row SUV but don’t need the truck-like strength and high price, a minivan is a practical compromise. Yes, minivans are stereotypical family vehicles, but that’s because they’re designed to be the ideal people-mover.

Minivans aren’t made to be trendy, expensive, or sporty; they transport large families to their designation — and they do that well. They focus on comfort, efficiency, and ease of boarding and unloading. Well-known examples are the Honda Odyssey, Chrysler Pacifica, Toyota Sienna, and Kia Carnival.

Should you drive a pickup truck? 

Most shoppers associate pickup trucks with work tasks and outdoorsy hobbies like off-roading. Pickup trucks have rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive for the best traction as they haul supplies in the bed, tow a trailer, or crawl through mud and streams. They come in a range of sizes — from a compact Hyundai Santa Cruz or Jeep Gladiator to a massive heavy-duty dually like a Ram 3500 or Ford Super Duty.

While a pickup truck is an obvious choice if you’re a handyman or outdoor hobbyist in Pueblo, it can also be an unexpectedly practical family vehicle. Trucks with four-door crew cabs shorten the bed to offer enough legroom for four adults across two rows. A small pickup like the Chevy Colorado could be a great compromise if your family needs a vehicle for messy utility and daily commutes.