Where do we go from here? If you read the article last week about 2010 hybrid sport utility vehicle prices, you know that your total number of hybrid SUV options has decreased over the past two years. We lost green versions of the Durango, Aspen, and Vue - the Tribute might as well be gone, and rumors are now circulating that Ford may kill their Mercury brand, meaning the hybrid Mariner could also soon be history. With all these hybrids being discontinued, readers may be wondering what the future holds for hybrid crossovers and SUVs.
While manufacturers have applied the brakes to their once rapid introduction of hybrid SUV models, a few new luxury crossover hybrids have at least kept the industry moving forward. Lexus gave us the 450h last year and dealers now have the BMW X6 ActiveHybrid and Mercedes-Benz ML450 in their showrooms. Essentially, more expensive hybrid SUVs have taken the place of the affordable models we have lost - and this could continue for a while. Up next should be the Audi Q5 hybrid, the Porsche Cayenne S hybrid, and the Volkswagen Touareg BlueMotion hybrid…none of which we expect so see priced under $50,000 and all of which will likely be sold in very limited quantities.
More conducive to the advancement of a greener SUV & crossover industry would be a hybrid CR-V, Rav4, Edge and Equinox. Fortunately, several of these and similar sport utes (possibly including a Prius SUV) could materialize.
In the bigger picture, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and pure electric autos are all the buzz right now - so are the current hybrid electric cars and their technology soon to become obsolete? We’re guessing not, for several reasons. The types of hybrid-electrics we are driving today have been around for roughly 10 years, and many could lose the “hybrid” badge without most of us even noticing the difference. They drive like other cars (with a few minor exceptions) and they don’t require any compromises (unless you enjoy more frequent gas station visits). Quite simply…they work.
News has generally remained positive for hybrid and electric technologies alike. Recent headlines such as Ford Investing $135 Million for hybrid-electric manufacturing in Michigan (here) point to a bright future. Let’s not forget that Toyota is about to double their hybrid vehicle production, Hyundai and Honda have new hybrids coming out later this year, and Nissan and Chevrolet will bring the Leaf and Volt to market in only a few months. More amazing is the fact that all of this is happening while gas prices are less than $3 per gallon in the United States.
It is anyone’s guess what the hybrid SUV market will look like in 5 years, but it seems the lateral movement is about to trend upwards again.
My experience with the 1998 Honda CR-V has been the satisfaction of owning the most reliable car I have even owned (I am 73). People are telling me that buying a hybrid is not a good idea,because of the cost and that gasoline will never go to $10, or if it does, I sill won’t come out ahead, but I am pressing on, hoping that 2011 will bring a Honda CR-V hybrid or Toyota Rav-4 hybrid vs. buying the Ford Esacape hybrid. This is probably the last car I will buy, if it is as reliable as my Honda CR-V, which my grandson hopes I will give him at year’s end, once I buy my hybrid SUV. I do not want to pay the prices asked for a Lexus or other large hybrid SUV or even the $50,000 priced tag for the large Toyota Highlander.
Do we have any inknilg as to whether or not Honda and Toyota will produce the smaller CR-V or RAV 4 for 2011????? Thasnks for your thoughts.
Warner
P.S.- I do not think Mazda ever came out with a 2010 Tribute. If so, they are few and far between.
I find the hybrid suv reviews you’ve posted quite interesting. Yes, you are right, the future of hybrid suv’s is indeed interesting.
I have been waiting for two years to buy a new hybrid SUV or other vehicle with a significant increase in fuel efficiency but that also seats 5 comfortably. I think the fuel efficiency of the highlander Hybrid is not significant enough when compare with the price/MPG of the 4 cyl version. The VW jettawagon is a clean diesel with 30/42 MPG, however the interior is smaller that what I’m looking for. But if my current vehicle died today and I had to walk into a dealer to get a car, most likely I’d be driving the VW. I can not understand why Honda and Toyota have been so slow to launch these vehicles where there is clearly a need and interest in the market. If I was Honda that would be where my effort was instead of that funky looking crossover that they launched this year.