How much are they paying at the pump? We read that gasoline prices have jumped by twenty cents over the last month, with a nationwide average of $1.66 for self-serve regular (
CNN), and in California people are paying - in some cases - up to $2.30 a gallon. It's
expected to get worse: "The Lundberg Survey, an independent market researcher in California, predicted last month that retail gasoline prices will range from $1.71 to $1.96 per gallon by April." Those are
nationwide prices, so you can be sure it will be even higher in certain areas. Now, how often have you wondered how much it costs to fill-up one of those SUVs? We did a little research, and here are some selected models, their weight, fuel capacity, and the price for a full fill-up at three different gasoline prices.
| Model - all for 2004 | | Weight | Fuel capacity
(gallons) | Fill-up
@ $1.70/g | Fill-up
@ $2.25/g | Fill-up
@ $2.40/g |
| Sedans | | | | | | |
| Toyota Prius (hybrid) |  | 2855 | 11.9 | $ 19.64 | $ 26.78 | $ 28.56 |
| Toyota Corolla CE (base model) |  | 2568 | 13.2 | $ 21.78 | $ 29.70 | $ 31.68 |
| Ford TaurusLX Sedan (base model) |  | 3306 | 18.0 | $ 29.70 | $ 40.50 | $ 43.20 |
| SUVs | | | | | | |
| Ford Explorer 4X2 XLS 4.0L (base model) |  | 4302 | 22.5 | $ 37.13 | $ 50.63 | $ 54.00 |
| Ford Expedition XLT 4x4 5.4L |  | 5671 | 28.0 | $ 46.20 | $ 63.00 | $ 67.20 |
| Ford Excursion 4x2 XLS 5.4L (base model) |  | 6650 | 44.0 | $ 72.60 | $ 99.00 | $ 105.60 |
| Lincoln Navigator 4x2 Ultimate |  | 5714 | 28.0 | $ 46.20 | $ 63.00 | $ 67.20 |
| Cadillac Escalade 2WD |  | 5367 | 26.0 | $ 42.90 | $ 58.50 | $ 62.40 |
| Cadillac Escalade EXT Sport Utility Truck |  | 5879 | 30.9 | $ 50.99 | $ 69.53 | $ 74.16 |
| Trucks | | | | | | |
| Toyota Truck Tundra 4X4 SR5 Regular Cab V8 |  | 4490 | 26.4 | $ 43.56 | $ 59.40 | $ 63.36 |
| Nissan Truck Titan LE King Cab 4X4 |  | 5287 | 28.0 | $ 46.20 | $ 63.00 | $ 67.20 |
| Other | | | | | | |
| HUMMER H1 Wagon 4 Door |  | 7558 | 42.0 | $ 69.30 | $ 94.50 | $ 100.80 |
| HUMMER H2 Sport Utility |  | 6400 | 32.0 | $ 52.80 | $ 72.00 | $ 76.80 |
For further commentary about heavy, gas guzzling SUVs, check out Easterblog (he
hates 'em). And on a related note, this New York Times
Op-Ed critical of new fuel standards proposed by Bush - written by both (!) the executive director of the Sierra Club and the president of the U.A.W.
posted by Quiddity at 2/18/2004 07:42:00 AM 
