We know the rap: SUVs are evildoers. They’re gas guzzling, shameless wastes of space.

And yes, some sports utility vehicles like Hummers and Ford Explorers leave giant carbon footprints. For example, this past summer when gas prices jumped past $4 a gallon, drivers of these hunks of metal racked up more than $100 a month at the pump.

But if you have kids, like to go camping, run a delivery business or like to buy in bulk from Costco and Wal-mart on the weekends, and happen to be in the market for a new car, it may make sense to add some SUVs to your consideration list. After all, not all SUVs are identically hazardous to the environment and your wallet. Some, depending on your transportation needs, lifestyle and budget, may offer great value in terms of safety, convenience, mileage and now, more than ever, price.

Now’s a great time to bargain hunt for nearly any vehicle, but the surge in gas prices this summer coupled with the growing stigma of owning an SUV has left a more sizeable glut of SUVs on sales floors across the country. “You can find good deals across the board…whether you’re looking for a luxury or entry-level SUV,” says Jessica Caldwell, manager of pricing and industry analysis at Edmunds.com, an online car-buying guide. “Automakers are anxious to get rid of their 2008 model vehicles.” Unless you’re ordering something special or buying a limited edition vehicle, you can negotiate anything that’s on the sales floor, says Jon Linkov, managing auto editor at Consumer Reports. “It’s definitely a good time to shop,” he says.

Negotiating Tips.
Bargain up from the invoice price, says Linkov, who recently scored a deal paying just 2.5% above the invoice price for an SUV. Finance as little of the vehicle as possible. Putting down at least 15% to 20% raises your bargaining power. If you don’t like all the back-and-forth face-to-face time, another method of negotiating is to haggle over email. Visit the sales section of the dealership web site to find the “contact us” email address. Get in touch with three different dealers and ask them for their best price on a particular make and model. “Tell them you have cash…be very straightforward. Tell them that you’re buying this week,” says Linkov, who uses this tactic when anonymously buying cars for Consumer Reports.

Getting Bang For Your Buck.
The biggest SUVs offer some of the steepest discounts, but that’s not always the smartest purchase, since those are the vehicles that get the worst mileage. So if that deep-discounted Jeep Grand Cherokee or Ford Explorer V8 is calling out your name, think twice, since you’ll be paying more for it at the pump. Plus, says Linkov, “they don’t have good owner satisfaction, or reliability and fuel economy is not good.” For the best value start your search by first looking at the Department of Energy’s web site fueleconomy.gov to compare mileage on different SUVs. Keep in mind that 19 miles per gallon for a midsize SUV is one of the highest ratings, says Linkov. After that take an assessment of what you need in the vehicle. Obviously you want the most reliable, safest car in your price range. The good news there is that most SUVs come standard with stability control, antilock brakes, rollover censors and airbags. Beyond that, do you need three rows or two rows of seating? Do you want an SUV that’s car-based or truck-based? How much cargo space do you need? How often and far will you drive the car? The Nissan Murano, a midsized SUV scored pretty high on Consumer Reports’ latest SUV survey. It gets about 19 miles to the gallon and eighty-three percent of surveyed owners said they would buy the car again. In general, 2008 SUV models will be easiest to bid down than 2009 versions. “There are plenty of very good late-model SUVs with powerful 6 cylinder engines,” says Linkov.

Nix the Add-Ons.
With the steep discounts they may be offering you, dealers may try to push on extras to help make up the difference. For example, some dealers may encourage you to buy a navigation system, but that may be cheaper to purchase on your own. Instead, ask to get it for free or much less than buying it from Best Buy or Costco.

Still Feel Guilty? Drive Smart.
You love the mileage and stroller space in the Toyota Rav 4, but your conscience still tells you buying an SUV is unethical. Don’t forget there are hybrid SUVs. But also, maybe haps you don’t need to drive the SUV every day. Maybe you use it only during weekends and big trips, when the whole family will be buckled up inside. During the week you stick to using your more compact car or taking public transportation. Or if you do need to the SUV every day, commit to carpooling at least a few days a week. SUV drivers – concerned about gas prices – are gradually making these kinds of changes, says Caldwell. “It’s not mainstream yet, but it is happening.”