Take a ride down the stretch of highway past your local auto dealers and you’re bound to see rows of unwanted new and used SUVs clogging the lots. Yesterday’s darlings of automotive indulgence are today’s pariah. But could they be tomorrow’s hotly sought after collectibles?
Dealers are slashing prices to move SUV inventory, and there’s been an unprecedented drop in value. While a good number of Americans still love their big SUVs, the sheer cost of filling the tank has eroded the enthusiasm of many.
For some folks, however, the drop in SUV prices has created a buying opportunity. For those with financial resources, the cost of gasoline is a minor expense and the current fire sale represents a once-in-a-lifetime event.
The compact Chevrolet S10 pickup truck premiered as a 1982 model and was replaced by the Colorado after the 2004 model year. When equipped with the most fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine and manual transmission, the S10’s gas mileage ratings floated in the high twenty mile per gallon (MPG) highway range for much of its run. For a time in the 1980s, the S10 could be ordered with a 2.2 liter four-cylinder diesel engine. Continue reading →
It comes as no surprise that gas mileage has never been one of the Cadillac Escalade’s strong suits. Over the years, the Escalade’s gas mileage has never exceeded 20 miles per gallon (MPG) on the highway, while its city mileage has dwelt in the low teens. Get ready for a magic makeover for one of America’s most indulgent gas hogs. All that changes with the brand new 2009 Escalade Hybrid, which promises a whopping fifty percent improvement in city mileage.
The 2009 Escalade Hybrid’s 2-Mode Hybrid system mates a special transmission and battery pack to the big 6.0 liter V-8 to deliver 20 city and 21 highway MPG. At low speeds, the Escalade Hybrid can be propelled solely under electric power. At higher speeds, the gasoline engine and electric motor work in tandem. When you really put your foot in it, the gasoline engine takes over. Active Fuel Management shuts down half of the V-8’s cylinders under light loads to achive better gas mileage while cruising at highway speeds. Auto engine shut off turns the gasoline engine off when the Escalade Hybrid is stopped, saving additional fuel. Continue reading →
The Toyota Highlander Hybrid is a seven seat SUV that plays a trump card in the sport utility market, by delivering the best gas mileage in its class.
Equipped with Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy drive system and a 3.3 liter V6 engine, the Highlander Hybrid produces a total of 209 horsepower and 212 foot pounds of torque.
The official gas mileage estimates for the four wheel drive Highlander Hybrid Limited are 27 city / 25 highway miles per gallon (MPG). (Overall, the Highlander Hybrid’s numbers represent a significant step above the conventional Highlander’s 18/24 rating.) Continue reading →
Whether you need to haul people, pets, gear, or any combination of the three, SUV hybrids work hard to contain fuel costs, while providing more versatility than typical hybrid sedans.
Part and parcel to our role as the Internet’s leading independent authority on gas mileage, we’re committed to the task of documenting each and every hybrid SUV currently on the road by the end of 2008. As of August 2008, we’ve reviewed the following vehicles:
Each one of these SUV hybrids is an excellent vehicle in its own right. Each takes a different approach.
The Escape Hybrid is a more traditional SUV with the best overall mileage in its class, while the RX400h is a roomy and comfortable living room on wheels. These two play opposite ends of the utility and luxury scale.
The Vue Green Line has European roots and flair, with unique styling, segment-topping highway gas mileage, and a more car-like ride.
The roomy and versatile Toyota Highlander Hybrid delivers the best overall gas mileage for a seven passenger SUV.
