We’ve just spent a week’s time with a 2009 Chevy Tahoe Hybrid. When the big SUV crept out of the driveway for the last time earlier today, I was still trying to get my head around the target market. While the Tahoe Hybrid delivers significantly improved fuel economy over the conventional version, it does so at a price. At today’s lower gas prices, it would seem that the added cost of the hybrid drive train presents a roadblock to sales. But just hours after giving up the keys to our blue granite metallic test unit, I saw my first Tahoe Hybrid in the wild – and in our town, no less – while performing after-school family taxi duties.
A quick trip to eBay is an indicator of the current level of discounting. At least one dealer was slashing seven thousand dollars off the Tahoe Hybrid’s MSRP. Buyers can also expect another $2,200 off for the federal hybrid tax credit.
It can take a while to get accustomed to driving the Tahoe Hybrid. Stomping on the accelerator pedal from a standing start is an interesting experience, to say the least. In this video, the system is in Auto Stop mode, with the engine off, as it launches.
While the hybrid SUV phenomena can’t match the combination of peanut butter and chocolate for pure popularity, the blending of truck-based people-mover and electric propulsion technology has produced a notable oxymoron.
Justly or not, SUVs are frequently cast as the poster boy for conspicuous consumption. You won’t find the conventional press or hordes of lemmings (any similarities are purely coincidental) praising the vast majority of SUVs for their fuel-stinginess. Yet the Ford Escape Hybrid SUV achieves quite remarkable gas mileage in city settings. (We were able to hit the magic 40 MPG mark in-town in our Escape Hybrid review.) This unique quality has led the Escape Hybrid to sell out its production runs, year-after-year.
Earlier this week, Ford announced a notable milestone: the 100,000th Escape Hybrid has rolled off the line at the Kansas City Assembly Plant. With production constraints due to battery availability, 100,000 vehicles in a relatively short time frame is significant. It’s clear that many Americans aren’t keen on giving up their SUVs and the Escape Hybrid fills an important niche.
The economic climate and drop in the price of gasoline have not been kind to the market, and there’s little to trumpet on this front on the other side of town. With Chrysler putting a hold on production of the Chrysler Aspen Hybrid and Dodge Durango Hybrid late last year, the twins have earned the distinction of being the first hybrid SUVs to be put on hold … two canaries in the coal mine. The market has further delayed the introduction of GM’s next-generation Saturn VUE Two-Mode Hybrid.
Nevertheless, there are seven hybrid SUVs available in America today. Over the last twelve months, we’ve had the good fortune to have opportunity to review four of the hybrid SUVs currently on sale:
MPG-o-Matic Mitsubishi Outlander XLS Review Summary:. The 2009 Mitsubishi Outlander XLS is among the most sporting of the mid-size Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV), with a rally-inspired design that provides real four-wheel-drive, magnesium paddle shifters, and an optional 650-watt Rockford Fosgate audio system.
All 2009 Mitsubishi Outlander ES and SE models are equipped with a 2.0 liter 4-cylinder engine, producing 168 horsepower (HP) and 167 foot-pounds of torque. The more sporting Outlander XLS is equipped with a 3.0-liter V6, producing 220 HP and 204 foot-pounds of torque. The 2.0-liter is fitted with a CVT, while the 3.0-liter V6 earns a well-suited six-speed automatic transmission.
There’s no question that the Honda CR-V is one of the most popular small SUVs on the road today. Watch a handful of CR-V reviews and you’ll understand why. Although it’s not the fastest or most sporty AWD out there, the CR-V hits its marks when it comes to the all-important categories of comfort, driveability, reliability, and resale value.
Our MPGomaticHonda CR-V review was one of our earliest efforts. Over a week-long early spring test drive, our AWD 2008 CR-V EX-L lived up to its billing, delivering a comfortable car-like ride unlike any CR-V we’d driven before, with plenty of creature comforts. While some CR-V owners might gripe about the mileage, we found that careful use of the center-dash real-time MPG monitor will enable you to squeak past the official estimates.
It’s no secret that the Subaru Forester has just gone through a stunning redesign. While most 2009 Subaru Forester reviews are favorable, not every review tells the full story. It’s not just that the Forester has left dowdy design behind. For many folks, it seems like the Forester jumped to the top of the shortlist out of nowhere. But the reasons are clear. This is a roomy, comfortable, competent AWD that falls somewhere between tall wagon and crossover, while rarely falling short.
Our MPGomaticSubaru Forester review shows why the Forester became an immediate sales success. In its naturally-aspirated 2.5X trim, the 2009 Forester is enjoyable to drive and delivers solid gas mileage for a five-seat AWD, as it flirts with the 30 mile per gallon mark on the highway when driven carefully. (Although we haven’t had the chance to test the turbocharged XT version, we look forward to the opportunity.)
MPG-o-Matic Mitsubishi Outlander XLS Review Summary: . The 2009 Mitsubishi Outlander XLS is among the most sporting of the mid-size Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV), with a rally-inspired design that provides real four-wheel-drive, magnesium paddle shifters, and an optional 650-watt Rockford Fosgate audio system.
