Plummeting prices at the pump, and a strengthening economy are reigniting Americans appetite for bigger, fancier wheels.

On average, new car buyers spent more than $46,000 on large sports utility vehicles and crossovers in November, up 5% from a year earlier. Amid all of this high demand, shoppers will likely spend even more this year.

"They are determined to buy all the car they want," said Michelle Krebs, a senior analyst at AutoTrader.com. "And they are going to have all the bells and whistles on it."

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From accident avoidance technology to mobile phone connectivity, such premium features can add thousands of dollars to the final bill.

Ford, for example, recently unveiled a new "Platinum" version of its popular Ford Explorer, which will have a sticker price of more than $50,000 when it hits lots this summer.