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Ladies' choice: CUVs offer space, safety and sass

01:00 AM EST on Wednesday, March 29, 2006

BY CASSANDRA SPRATLING
Detroit Free Press

DETROIT -- Amy and Shannon Smylie of St. Clair Shores, Mich., always had two vehicles, a truck he uses for his work as a carpenter and a Honda Accord she'd had years before they married five years ago.

Then along came their son, Aidan, who's now 2 1/2, and a daughter, Jessica, who's 16 months old.

The couple figured it was time to get a family vehicle.

Shannon, 32, did research online and decided they'd get a Ford Explorer.

Amy, 30, test-drove the Explorer, but at the showroom saw what she wanted in the Ford Freestyle.

"It was still roomy, but lower to the ground, more like what I'm used to with my Honda," said Amy, a stay-at-home mom.

So the 2006 Freestyle, leased after Christmas, became their first family car.

Crossover utility vehicles such as the Freestyle are fast growing in popularity among families, but there's a lot of diversity in the family car market -- from how families select the vehicle to who makes up the family that rides in it, say auto analysts.

IT'S OFTEN THE WOMAN who makes the final choice, analysts say, and that was confirmed in conversations with several Detroit-area families who purchased cars recently.

"He did the research, but I decided on the Freestyle, " Amy said. "But we both agreed we needed room and safety."

Space and safety are two of the features families want. But add to that a third "S" for sass and you get an explanation for the declining popularity of the minivan and the rise of smaller vehicles such as crossovers -- which are built on car platforms and often look like SUVs -- and classy-looking sedans.

"Families want their vehicles to do a variety of things, " said Jack Nerad, executive auto analyst for the Kelley Blue Book, an automotive buying service. "They're toting not only their kids, but other people's kids, and they want space, safety and style. "

Karl Brauer, editor-in-chief of Edmunds.com, an automotive information service, said the shift in the family car market from the minivan to the SUV to the CUV is a clear attempt to blend the best of all three.

"In both L.A. and Detroit, my sense is that the crossover is the single largest introduction this year, "Brauer said, noting that other vehicles that are selling well include what he calls upscale versions of the old family station wagon, such as the Chrysler Pacifica and Dodge Magnum.

"CUVs are roomier than the station wagon, offer better ride quality than the minivan and SUV, and they've got a cool image too, " he said. "So families have the room, the sense of security without the truckist ride quality. "

CUVS OUTSOLD SUVS in the last two quarters of 2005 and will outsell them in 2006, said Paul Taylor, chief economist for the National Automobile Dealers Association. The sale of CUVs has been increasing in double digits since they were introduced almost 10 years ago. In the past year, sales of CUVs rose 13.5 percent, while sales of SUVs fell 13.1 percent, he said.

Minivans, while still popular, have been losing ground among families for a few years. However, recent innovations, such as the fold-flat floor of the Chrysler and Dodge minivans, resulted in a slight sales resurgence, he said.

CUVs were among the concept cars at the Detroit show. Ford and GM are unveiling new CUVs, Taylor said. "This shows that the double-digit growth is likely to continue for at least five years, as these new CUV models come to market," he said.

ANGELA AND FELIX SAWYER, whose three children are 20, 12 and 11, also recently got a Ford Freestyle -- after leasing a Ford Explorer for several years.

"We wanted a more comfortable ride that was still family-friendly, " said Angela Sawyer, 41, a social worker.

Though the Freestyle is smaller than their Explorer, there's still plenty of room to accommodate the family's active lifestyle. It was also important that their vehicle have a DVD player to keep the children occupied during long trips.

"If you have kids and spend a lot of time in a car you want to make sure they have an entertainment system. It is a must, especially for long hauls, " she said.

Not that CUVs are the only vehicles that appeal to families.

Milton and Brenda Campbell of Detroit recently wanted to replace their 2002 Explorer.

Normally, they shop together, doing some of it online and some in showrooms.

But it was their two youngest daughters who chose their newest vehicle.

Milton Campbell, 55, a dentist, visited a showroom with daughters Brittany, 13, and Shani, 12. They also have three adult children and a 19-year-old away in college.

The dad and daughters went to a dealership while mom Brenda Campbell, 47, was at work. They weren't sure what they'd get, although Brenda had asked them to consider the mileage.

The daughters spotted a 2006 Ford 500.

"We liked the way it looked, " Brittany said. "It looks like a luxury car."

Just as important, they liked the way they felt inside. Even though it was smaller than minivans and SUVs they'd had in the past, there was plenty of legroom.

"I also wanted something with four-wheel drive and a good safety record," said Brenda Campbell, a financial coordinator for the Detroit Medical Center. "I'm also a big stickler for a comfortable place to set my coffee cup. And, even though we don't get a lot of sun this time of year, I like sunroofs. That's my little luxury feature. "

The girls also liked the roomy trunk.

"It has a lot of truck space for Dad's golf clubs and our book bags, " Brittany said.

Even cooler?

"It has heated seats and a six-CD changer, " said Brittany, who, like her sister, loves music.

2005 list of 15 best vehicles for families:

Parents Magazine and AAA rate vehicles based on safety and other family-friendly features such as fuel economy, cargo space and comfort.

Here is their list of the best 2005 family vehicles, in no particular order. The 2006 list comes out in April.

Minivans:

Chrysler Town & Country

Honda Odyssey

Toyota Sienna

SUVs: