The 2009 Green SUV Buyer's Guide

By Martha Hindes

For years it was the "must have" set of wheels: a bright, shiny new sport utility vehicle (the infamous SUV); life was good in the heavy duty lane. But that was before gas prices had risen to unimaginable heights and wild weather throughout the country raised the spectre that greenhouse gases really were creating global warming. Those heady years faded with the speed of an ice cube melting under a hot summer sun.

Almost as if someone had flipped a switch, auto makers heeding the distress of their customers pushed forward plans for fleets of fuel stingy vehicles as quickly as development demands would allow.

While some big SUVs and pickups remain on the road thanks to advances in hybrid, flex fuel, clean diesel and improved gasoline engine technologies, we look at their smaller siblings that offer the best bang for the fuel efficient buck. And with even more on the horizon as auto makers scramble to introduce their new green trucks, we think 2009 is turning out to be a very progressive year.

So what are you waiting for? Check out RTM's 2009 Green SUV Buyer's Guide.