Hybrid SUVs aren’t cheap.  And, because used hybrids hold their resale value better than their less fuel-efficient counterparts, used hybrid versions aren’t cheap either.  So, raise your hand if you’d like to see a more affordable hybrid suv option.  I’m not talking about a full-size luxury suv, or one with lots of bells and whistles.  Heck, I don’t even need it to be an all wheel drive model; just one that competes with several other new sport utility vehicles in terms of price, options, reliability, etc.

For starters, let’s examine a few of the more affordable (non-hybrid) options for those of us in the market for a new suv in 2008 (based on data from Motor Trend).  Read more...

With crude oil for January (’08) delivery closing at $87.50 last week, the lowest price in 6 weeks (and down from an all time high of over $99 a barrel on 11/21), searches and visitor traffic at hybridsuv.com often mirror fuel costs.  Obviously, people buy gallons of gas…not barrels of oil, but it’s interesting to watch the correlation between what people are paying at the pump, and how many people are looking for hybrid cars and suvs.

A similar search pattern was recently noted in a press release regarding the Cars.com Consumer Search Index, which stated “With gas prices again topping $3 a gallon…  Read more...

Just five months after announcing a joint effort to better understand electric automobiles, Ford Motor Company and Southern California Edison (SCE) introduced the first demo version of the all new, Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid vehicle (PHEV) today.  The plug-in Escape SUV is a research vehicle that uses high voltage, lithium-ion batteries which can be charged using standard 120 volt household current.

When the batteries are fully charged, a process that takes about 7 hours, the electrified Escape is capable of achieving 120 miles per gallon during the first 30 miles of travel.  As a bonus, the PHEV doesn’t need to be recharged to continue its journey. Instead, it automatically and seamlessly transitions to operate as a standard hybrid Escape.  Read more...