What to weigh before you pick a utility

Utilities cover a wide range of jobs, and two vehicles that look similar in the lot can behave very differently once the gear goes in the back and the weather turns. A few things worth sorting out before price enters the conversation.

Cargo room

Think about the load you actually carry most weeks — strollers, hockey bags, tools, a dog crate — rather than the maximum figure on a spec sheet. Load height and the shape of the opening matter as much as the space behind the seats.

Seating rows

A third row is worth having only if it is usable for the people who will sit there, and if you can live with what it leaves behind it. Fold a row down and load your own stuff during the test drive.

All-wheel drive

Midwest winters are the reason most of our customers ask for it. Pair it with proper tires — the drivetrain helps you get moving, the tires are what stop you.

Towing

If you pull a trailer, boat or camper, bring the weight and tongue numbers with you. Capability varies by drivetrain and equipment, and the right factory tow package has to be on the vehicle from the start.