Drivers of sport utility vehicles in the U.S. are being hit hard in their wallets with the average price for a gallon of gas at $1.42 per gallon, a 56 percent increase from one year ago. With some of the biggest SUVs getting as little as 10 miles to the gallon in the city, the price of a tank of gas can run to $50 or more. At least one gas station owner reports that a few people in SUVs have filled up and driven off without paying in recent weeks. Enviros and other SUV haters are relishing the moment. But the SUV craze shows no signs of slacking. The Ford Explorer is still outselling all other car models, and SUV sales in the U.S. last month were more than 17 percent higher than in February 1999.
