Hybrid SUV Reviews

The Geneva, Switzerland Auto Show turned 80 this year and as expected, the theme was green. Full details can be found at the official address (here) and with more than 10,000 global media reporters in attendance - you can’t hide from the coverage.

Roughly 100 vehicles are making their world premieres at this show, which is a record in itself. They range from outlandish concept vehicles to unconventional and totally unexpected combinations of brand and drive train. HY-KERS! There is even a ”hybrid Ferrari” that gets nearly 15 mpg (here).

Like the sharing that goes on between the GMC Sierra and the Chevrolet Silverado Hybrids, the 2010 GMC Yukon Hybrid is a virtual replica of the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid underneath the skin.  Of course, to some buyers that metal skin is a very important feature, as styling is often one of the key characteristics that makes someone choose one vehicle over another.

In a recent interview with Reuters, Tomohiko Kawanabe (Honda’s COO of automobile research and development) broke the news that Honda is developing a new hybrid system designed for their larger cars. The announcement came as this “secret hybrid technology” apparently moved out of the research stage and closer to development. And, while no specific timeline was given for bringing the new hybrids to market, Kawanabe hinted that it would be “roughly the same time frame” as it takes to develop a new vehicle - about 3 years.

U.S. sales of hybrid SUVs and other fuel efficient vehicles will prove interesting to watch this year, especially if fuel prices remain relatively low. Expert predictions about where oil and gas prices are headed vary widely. Some expect both to remain steady due to global economic conditions while others point to the return of $3/gallon gas (in the states) fueled mainly by an increase in foreign demand.

Starting at a mere $73,425 the 2010 Cadillac Escalade hybrid takes the same gasoline / electric architecture used to underpin both the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid and GMC Yukon Hybrid and provides it with a full-on luxury spin.  The result is a thoroughly decadent, 8 passenger sport-utility vehicle that doesn’t spoil the environment at nearly the same rate that it spoils its occupants. Only in it’s second year of production, this caddy is already getting some upgrades.

The 2010 Mercury Mariner Hybrid is in most ways a re-skinned version of the successful Ford Escape Hybrid.  Both are front-wheel drive SUV’s that also offer the option of all-wheel drive for drivers who often have to deal with snowy winter roads or slick, wet pavement.  They also each offer very good cargo space for their size, with a 29 cubic foot trunk and 66 cubic feet of total usable space.  Perhaps what is most endearing about the Mariner is that like the Escape it offers real-world combined fuel economy in the neighborhood of 30 miles per gallon.

The 2010 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is a large SUV that makes use of the company’s Hybrid Synergy Drive system in order to return fuel economy numbers that are more often associated with family sedans rather than heavy trucks. The Highlander’s combination of enormous interior room and respectable fuel mileage make it a popular choice amongst families on the go. Unfortunately for Toyota, this eco-friendly sport utility isn’t as popular as it used to be.

It’s January and the 2010 car season is officially in full swing now that the doors have opened at the North American International Auto Show. Manufacturers have long since made their plans for the vehicles we will see this year and they are now testing the waters with several new concepts including hybrids and electrics. Roughly 700 vehicles are on display in Detroit this week, many of which are being seen by the public for the very first time.

The 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid is advertised as the most frugal sport-utility vehicle in America when it comes to fuel consumption.  This is largely due to a concentrated effort from Ford to save weight and improve the capabilities of the SUV’s outstanding gasoline / electric powertrain, allowing them to claim dominance in an area of the market where few other automakers have tread.

A $7,000 discount on a new hybrid vehicle is unheard of, but that’s essentially what you can get if you buy a 2009 Saturn Vue hybrid SUV before January 4, 2010. General Motors announced what could be considered the best hybrid SUV sale of the year (or decade) in an effort to more quickly reduce their dealers’ Saturn and Pontiac inventory.