Anyone interested -hybrid Station Wagon?
Created November 8, 2005, at 3:42 pm by Anonymous
Has anyone heard about development of a hybrid station wagon, something on the order of a Ford Taurus or a Subaru Outback?
I need the cargo room of a station wagon to haul a wheelchair and other items along with 3 to 4 passengers plus myself. A mini-van might work, but at extra (unnecessary) cost. I would love a station wagon option.
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The Toyota Highlander and Lexus hybrids are essentially station wagons. They are both built on car chassis and have more in common with cars than with trucks. The Saturn Vue hybrid may be coming out soon as well. It, too, is actually more of a wagon than a truck.
The only problem for many is that these cars were designed to maximize the power capability of the electric rather than the fuel economy capability. They're still get the best gas mileage for the vehicle size that one can get though.
It IS surprising that there doesn't seem to be anything in the works for wagons. It would be nice to see something along the lines of the Mazda5 coming in a hybrid - although it is more of a crossover vehicle.
I have a VW Jetta station-wagon and I love it. I asked if VW was planning to make a hybrid powered station wagon/vehicle and the response was that they are bringing over a deisel engine that is competetive with the fuel economy of the hybrids. I really thought VW would be out in front with a hybrid powered auto. They are such a hip car company. Oh well.
I've been searching the web for anything on this subject. It's really too bad. I don't want a SUV -pseudo or otherwise- but I want more space than a sedan. If there were a hybrid wagon on the market today, I'd probably buy it.
Oh well, I guess I'll have to wait for minivans like the Toota due next year.
Yeah...I know...this weekend my wife and I discovered just how bad of an American family we were. Our jogging stroller didn't fit in our commuter car (Saturn) and we don't have a monster SUV. We've been waiting for a hybrid wagon to come out. As soon as someone does, we're buyin'.
Ever since first buying my own car at age 20, I've been a fool for station wagons. It was only a few years later that car companies (such as the Subaru Outback, followed by Mercades and BMW models) realized as well how stylish they could be. So once again, it will probably be the last mold of car to be recognized for inclusion into the trend, as Hybrids are still a new and fairly risky transition. Yet, it is only a matter of time.
The Toyota Highlander and Saturn Vue are actually classified as "crossover vehicles."
But I have heard that Subaru is working on a hybrid Outback, let's just see what the future has in store.
I love my ford focus station wagon -- but I would really like the fuel efficiency of a hybrid... I hope that someone makes a station wagon hybrid soon.
I agree with you all, I would like to see a wagon hybrid. I must also add, though, that going from a Subaru Legacy wagon to my 2004 Prius was not a very big leap. The Prius holds a surprising amount of stuff and with the fold down seats I have yet to encounter a load that I would have tackled with my Leagcy that the Prius could not handle.
I'd love to get a hybrid wagon too. I'd really like to see a hybrid Ford Tauris/Mercury Sable wagon.
- Janet (Sacramento, California)
I've been dying for a hybrid wagon for as long as hybrids have been around. I just traded in my 98 mercedes benz E320 wagon for a 2002 Mercedes Benz E320 wagon but would happily get rid of this beloved model if ANYONE came out with a hybrid wagon.
"I have a VW Jetta station-wagon and I love it. I asked if VW was planning to make a hybrid powered station wagon/vehicle and the response was that they are bringing over a deisel engine that is competetive with the fuel economy of the hybrids. I really thought VW would be out in front with a hybrid powered auto. They are such a hip car company. Oh well. "
I happen to have the diesel version of that car. I can get 50 mpg on the highway with it (4.6 L/100 km).
Is that not good enough? Mine consistently *averages* well over 45 mpg.
l love my Subaru Legacy wagon and plan to keep it until theres a good hybrid wagon alternative.
I have a Saturn wagon and have been waiting for a hybrid wagon for about 2 years. One good thing is that when I searched "hybrid station wagon" online a year ago, NOTHING came up, and now it looks like there is some buzz. Slow progress!
Just saw "An Inconvenient Truth" and would do anything for a Subaru hybrid station wagon... I love my Legacy as it gives my two golden retrievers plenty of leg room--and lets them hop in easily from the low-to-the-ground back entrance.
In addition to the ongoing challenges of getting around a big city every day, I have a 100 lb dog that I have to SAFELY get places with. I've got a small Volvo wagon right now, and would LOVE to make the switch to a hybrid vehicle, but I'm stuck between tiny subcompacts and oceanliner SUVs. (with apologies to Ford, whose development and support of the Escape has been positively underwhelming)
A few sedans have entered the market, but still no small, practical 5-door vehicles. As long as the only hybrids out there continue to be toy cars or tanks, I can only conclude that manufacturers are treating the market as a fad to be humoured rather than serious customers with actual needs.
I need some options in mid-size wagons or small SUVs before I consider entering the hybrid market. Manufacturers, are you LISTENING?
I've had Audi and Volvo wagons, and would by the very first hybrid wagon of any make. I too want to be able to take the dog along and just don't like the styling and height of SUV's - even the hybrids.
Another vote for a good hybrid wagon. Seems like these auto giants may had had some insight to future needs. Huh?
I need a car now, so it looks like I'm buying the volkswagen passat wagon 2.0.
Although I would of liked to buy American auto again.
gimme
my husband and i have been on the look out for a decent wagon for a long time now. i guess it's worth waing another year or so for a hybrid alternative.
You would think with all these posts of individuals wanting a hybrid wagon that someone is listening...
Until then, my wife and I will have to jam everything into our civic.
Add another "yes please" to the list of responders. We have a 13 month old and another on the way in the new year. I cringe when I think of how little "cargo room" will be left in our prius when we add the second car seat and upgrade to a double stroller.
It's so nice to find others who are looking for a hybrid wagon! I don't want or need an SUV but I do need a 5 door, and the Prius, great car that it is, is just too small. A Corolla wagon or hybrid Outback size vehicle would be great!
Yes, we have been waiting for a hybrid station wagon as well. Our old Accord Wagon is aging and we want a hybid. Everyone at the same time now. "HYBRID WAGON, HYBRID WAGON, HYBRID WAGON!" Is there a way to send these responses to Toyota and Honda?
Hybrid Wagon - I have 2 aging parents and occasionally need to drive them with my 2 boys and husband. I need a hybrid wagon with those ocassional seats in the back - or . . .How about we bring back the bench seat in front - some of the bigger cars still have them. We could shove one more person in there . . .
My favorite car of all time was my 97 Ford Escort Wagon, great little car. I am waiting for a small hybrid station wagon such as a civic, or a toyota corolla or the Ford Focus to come out. I would buy it, love those small station wagons that get good gas mileage.
I spoke with Honda in 2003 requesting a hybrid station wagon, their response was "...we no longer make station wagons since introducing the CRV. We hope to introduce a hybrid CRV soon."
I think our best bet is Toyota or Subaru, though I would love to see the Saturn LW200 or LW300 as a hybrid - environmentally friendly & affordable!
I keep hearing things as far as Subaru and hybrids are concerned. Last I heard is that Subaru is getting hybrid technology from Toyota in exchange for the extra production capacity at Subaru's Lafayette, Ind. plant. I hear Camrys are going to be built there. And the timelines I've heard, (please note this isn't solid information) is that Subaru intends on releasing a diesel powertrain in Europe in 2007 and a hybrid in Japan in 2008. This doesn't help those of us in the U.S. much, but if those work out, I have to imagine it wouldn't be long after that before we saw them releasing those cars here.
I also think it's a matter of a couple of years before we see the hybrid wagons. But I do think there is a backlash against SUV's, hybrid or otherwise, but still a need for more space than a Prius. Families with kids need places for strollers and multiple carseats. I sooo don't want a minivan, or an SUV... so I too am holding out for a hybrid wagon. Don't know how I feel about diesel (referring to VW wagons).
How about an old GM diesel wagon from the 80's? They also have Mercedes-Benz diesel wagons from the same time period.
MBZ no longer imports the diesel wagon into the US, but if we all write them enough letters, they will consider doing so.
This seems like your best hope.
Add another name to the list.
Ford Freestyle, Subaru Outback, anything. We'd be there in an instant!
Yes, a hybrid wagon would be idea and a non-brainer for the car companies. Think of the stereotypical Volvo driver, a lefty green. Perfect market for the hybrid, combine eco with safety. But do they do it? No, they are thinking of diesel, which has carcinogenic emissioins, though better fuel economy. That's not going to reach their market.
Or the stereotypical wagon buyer in general, family, safety, avoid SUV risks but carry a lot. Add prius economy and reduced gasoline benzene emissions, and you have safety all over. Again, the car companies seem to be missing the boat.
I have been putting off selling my 16 year old Acura, waiting for ANY car manufacturer to produce a hybrid station wagon. I live in the city and find that a station wagon can squeeze into parking slots and down narrow city roads that anything that looks like an SUV cannot.
They may classify the Highlander as more like a car -- and hence, a station wagon -- but it sure looks like an SUV to me.
In my neck of the woods, people are getting really flipped out about global warming. I bet that if a car company sold a practical hybrid station wagon, it would fly off the lots. A Subaru Outback or other wagon gone hybrid would be perfect.
The Ford Escape Hybrid (FEH) should do the trick! I bought an '07 FWD FEH last month and just hauled home a bed in a box from IKEA - there was plenty of room.
I also have been getting 33 mpg overall, which is awesome for a small SUV. 13 mpg better than the minivan I traded in on it.
My FEH cost $25K and I will get $2,600 back on my federal income taxes because of the purchase, putting the price really down at $22.5K.
Amen to all of above! I own an 89 toyota corolla wagon and a 93 saturn SW2 wagon.
The only "equivalent carry capacity" (my quote mark) vehicle would be a 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid. It is very big in terms of cargo and passenger space.
It will get you a $2600 Fed Tax Credit if purchased before 10/1/'2006.
We broke down and purchased a 2006 Prius that we love. But it is small.
I can't believe that VW isn't getting into the hybrid market. I expected a hybrid VW wagon (either Jetta or Passat) to be in the works, but it looks like it's not. We already have a Prius, but with a baby on the way, I'd really like a wagon. What is wrong with VW?
Actually for VAg group to be back with a hybrid is just amatte rof relatively short time. In fact already back in 1997, Audi used to build and sell its Audi A4 avant in a diesel-hybrid version. The diesel engine was the same as the one used in the WV jetta in the US. They discontinued the production of that vehicle due to high production costs and little demand. If you visit the Audi site in Germnay you will see that they are working on a hybrids again, forseebaly their big SUV the Q7 will be equipped as such in the nearer future.
I have been emailing Subaru every couple months begging for a Hybrid Outback. Given that Outback owners are traditionally enviro-friendly, I would think Subaru would have jumped on the idea years ago. I think they are missing out on a serious opportunity - if only they acknowledged how big the market would be! There response to my emails to-date has been to send me a link to their 2-seater hybrid - what a shame.
I saw the billboard yesterday for the camry hybrid and nudged my husband. "If it comes in wagon, we can replace this thing," I told him. Our 1988 Civic wagon can haul a fully assembled toddler bed with the back seat folded down and gets 32 MPG. Unfortunately it's nearly 20 years old and starting to rattle itself apart.
We were very disappointed a few years ago when we went shopping for a family car to find worse gas mileage and less space! We refuse to buy an SUV, around here it's the equivalent of wearing a "I'm A Selfish Jerk" t-shirt. Subaru, Honda, Toyota, one of you guys, make a hybrid wagon that can fit two car seats and slightly-squished grandma in the back seat, with a jogging stroller or big-wheel in the trunk.
I don't think I'm asking too much.
I agree with everyone, it would be so nice to have a hybrid station wagon. I have 3 large dogs and tried to get them into my sister's Prius. Even with the seats down it was a tight fit. Also there was no room for stuff.
I'd buy a Subaru Outback hybrid in a minute.
I was hoping for a hybrid wagon too, having driven Subaru wagons for the past 10 years. I considered the Ford Escape hybrid, but I have 3 kids crammed in the back now and the Escape back seat is smaller than the Subaru. Finally my old Subaru gave out and I was thinking of getting a new one, but I ended up with the Mazda5 in a 5-speed. Hey, its cheaper than the Ford Escape even after the tax refund, half the price of other vans, the 5-speed is even slightly more efficient than the automatic, and its very comfy for my family. Maybe by the time this thing dies on me, there will be a hybrid for me.
From the pictures on the web, it looked like the Lexus 400h was a hybrid station wagon, but its also pretty pricey. We've had a Camry wagon for a long time. If they made a hybrid wagon, we'd buy right now.
I don't want a "crossover" vehicle. I want a pure hybrid wagon in four wheel drive. Subaru? Are you listening? Do you know how many Outbacks and Legacys you would sell if you came out with a hybrid version given that most of your customers are environmentally conscious and outdoors people?
I'm about to buy a Forester but can't pull the trigger because I so badly want a hybrid wagon. This is a serious NO BRAINER! It makes absolutely no sense to me that hybrid SUV's are available but no wagons.
count me in as another vote for a hybrid wagon. i love my outback and i guess i'll hang onto it until i can get a hybrid wagon. will NEVER buy an SUV, hybrid or not.
OK. Clearly, I'm dense, because I don't get the whole "I would buy a station wagon, but I would never buy an SUV" train of thought.
What mileage would be acceptable for you for a wagon - given that it would be heavier than a sedan or coupe?
The Escape is an SUV that is actually built on a car chassis, rather than a truck - similar to the Honda CRV. So, it really is the equivalent of a wagon and the 2WD version is gets 34-36 mpg. So, when you say you wouldn't buy an SUV, but you would buy a wagon, why? Do you really think a wagon would get substantially better gas mileage than that? I doubt it, given that the average gas mileage I got on my Outback Limited Wagon was 25 mpg, or worse when I only did city driving.
We're in the same boat. We have three kids (and lots of carpooling w/ other families) and and grown niece who is living with us. Our minivan was totalled last week (it would be just before school begins) so we have to quickly find another, and hopefully environmentally better, option. I loved our van but felt horrible about its fuel economy.
We've been doing tons of research and even if they converted the newer compact wagons (like the Subaru, Ford Focus or Jetta wagon), it wouldn't do it for us because it would still seat only 5. I thought I was doomed to live in MinivanLand in which only gas-guzzlers dwelled. I could merely drool at the colorful, shiny, happy people over at Prius-ville.
We're now seriously considering old diesel wagons (primarily the Mercedes Benz, though Jettas and old Volvos have diesel models) with a 3rd row which allows us to seat 7. I thought of noisy, smelly, yucky, when I thought of diesel, but I'm finding that I can put biodiesel in any diesel engine without any modifications which makes it significantly better for the environment. The going mpg is 25/30 for the MB wagons even with the car full. The only problem is that there's such a demand for these fellows right now. MB mechanics snap them up, refurbish them and sell them--runs great and looks brand-spanking-new.
Apparently, the diesel engines can go 500,000+ miles easily so long as they are maintained, whereas the hybrid engine has a much shorter life-expectancy (usually under 200,000). And then there's the whole battery replacement issue to deal with.
Last but not least, any diesel engine can get converted to run on pure waste vegetable oil (there are even vendors out there in San Fran). Check out Adam Curry's podcast on coverting his MB into a veggie oil car which essentially has no emissions. Now, if we can get the world to start converting to waste veggie oil, we could all be shiny, happy people.
I'm glad I'm not alone. I have always loved station wagons (my first car was a station wagon) and can't stand those big honkin SUVs and minivans. I actually don't like being that far up off the road (call me crazy), and really want to be able to lift a bike or kayak or whatever up onto the roof - or toss a bike into the back without taking off the wheel (my ultimate test). I would kick my (otherwise just fine) Saturn SL2 to the curb and pick up a hybrid station wagon in an instant! Without such an option, I have been contemplating Subarus and Volvos, but I am holding out a little longer...
I currently drive a Toyota Matrix. I love it - BUT, I too, want a hybrid. I was on the Prius waiting list, but realized I needed more room and did not want another SUV (I had a Rav4). I think a Camry wagon or Matrix hybrid would perfect... and you would like with all of Toyota success with the Prius, they would make the more!
Looks like Toyota would have another waiting list if they got on the "wagon."
No url
Why, with so many models of cars being made out there, do we, the sensible, have to wait so long for something for us? Bring us a hybrid wagon and we will buy it.
Is anyone in charge at a car company going to see this list of replies?
We got a hybrid Civic in January and love it. But we'd also love to replace our small SUV in the next year or two with a wagon (like an Outback) or a Honda Element hybrid, if such a thing existed!
I am very interested in a hybrid wagon!
Since it looked like the closest thing in the works was going to be the Toyota Sienna minivan, I had pinned my hopes on that. However, I added a comment many months ago trying to find out where this website gets its information and got no reply. I just don't have a lot of hope on the minivan front either. This is the ONLY website I can find that makes mention of an upcoming hybrid Sienna. Which makes me wonder, since 2007 isn't terribly far off.
Does anyone have any inside info on Toyota, or know where hybridcars.com gets their info?
If a wagon comes out first, I would definitely go test drive it.
oh wow!
i just called my local toyota dealer and they hadn't heard anything about a sienna hybrid. turns out, even this website revised it to 2008. that must have been done REALLY recently. so looks like 2008 is even just a guess.
I live in Paris, France. A taxi driver in a Prius said last week that they are coming out with a Prius wagon this winter. Anyone else heard this rumor? If it's true, I want one!
Elliott Benson, a Sacramento based marketing research firm, is currently conducting interviews with Northern California residents who own hybrid vehicles. Specifically looking for those who own Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Ford Escape, Toyota Highlander or Lexus 400h Hybrid vehicles. Call us at 916.325.1670
News Flash! I am about ready to change the world with this information. A small SUV is a wagon that sits a few inches higher. O.K. you can breathe now.
I have a VW Passat Wagon & love it as a dog & baby carrier but hate the low clearance, bad gas mileage & costly service charges. I test drove a Ford Escape Hybrid but that doesn't seem all that efficient -gas-wise & is rather expensive. I'd love a Subaru Forester Hybrid if they were to make one. What else is there??
I'm also a Subaru (Outback) owner with several Subaru owning neighbors, all of us wishing they would release a hybrid (or that someone else would develop a hybrid wagon with similar storage capacity and some off-road potential).
As for the Wagon/SUV discussion, here's a link to a great NYTimes article from today discussing the fact that many wagons have more usable storage space than SUVs because of the layout.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/25/automobiles/autospecial/25space.html?ref=autospecial
Other reasons to chose a Wagon over an SUV include a reduced likelihood of roll-over and reduced safety impacts on other vehicles.
On the other hand, I don't understand why the domestics, realizing the they're behind the ball on hybrids, are still developing non-hybrid concept cars.
Patrick
I am waiting for Hymotion to go public with there PHEV kit. That would make my Highlander hy get the mpg I want.I am waiting for a 35-40 mpg wagon , like the camry only in a wagon form. The 3 new prius models may have a wagon,the 2008 highlander hy might get better mpg....Just waiting for the perfect hybrid...JOE
I am not sure this has been covered in the thread, but it would be so easy for Honda to bring a hybrid wagon Accord. They sell the Accord Wagon in almost every other market in the World except the USA. I wish they would bring it here, hybrid or not. But bring it, set up a hybrid system with the standard, or slightly de-tuned for power re-tuned for mileage, four cylinder with the hybrid system from the V6 Accord bolted on it and and I would be at the dealer the next day willing to pay $32000 for one.
Hello fellow wagon wanters. Before I discovered this thread, I went ahead and made a web page dedicated to my own yearnings for something between a Prius and a hybrid SUV. HybridCARS.com has put up a thread using the design here:
http://www.hybridcars.com/concept-hybrids/wheres-the-prius-wagon.html
Please also check out the full-size image on my own page:
http://liquidsoapdispenser.com/prius
Let's hope Toyota, Honda, or even Ford figures out how many people are waiting for a wagon!
Sign the Hybrid Wagon Petition if you are interested:
http://start-a-petition.com/showPetition.asp?p=hybridwagon
I'm still waiting for this Honda hybrid station wagon to be sold in the U.S. I am furious that it is available in other countries but not in North America. See the link below -- not only is this a cool commercial it shows what is possible but unavailable in the U.S..
http://www.ebaumsworld.com/flash/honda-ad.html
Wow. You're right, Ray. This is a FABULOUS commercial!
And this wagon is beautiful.
One question - how did you know it is a hybrid? Are there components shown in the commercial that point to it being a hybrid? (Just curious.)
THANKS for sharing this with us!
That is a cool commercial. But I agree - how do you know it's a hybrid?
As for a wagon, if you guys aren't too stuck on hybrids, check this wagon out:
http://www.caranddriver.com/autoshows/12597/2008-volkswagen-jetta-sportwagen.html
Don't miss the bottom... the TDI (diesel) version coming in Jan 08. The TDI's fuel economy should easily beat an Accord hybrid's mpg. Emissions will be 50-state as well. Besides, who knows if American or Japanese car makers will even sell a wagon anytime soon. But the Europeans car makers do.
Further discussion:
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=173195
Another alternative would be something like the Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix. Some people call it a crossover, but I think it's just sportier wagon. I've got a Vibe, and it's a great machine. Typically gets 30+mpg, while not as good as my TDI (~45mpg), it is pretty good for a non-hybrid gasser. Besides, an Accord wagon hybrid probably wouldn't do much better...
Dom
We have had Subaru Loyale, Subaru Legacy, and Volvo XC70 wagons, and love them. I have been hoping for a Volvo hybrid for several years, but no word at all on any plans. Figured, since Ford owns Volvo, and I am entirely underwhelmed by Ford's hybrid efforts.
I would think Volvo has wanted to do something like this, since they have always been both safety and environmentally concious about their car designs, but with big brother Ford pulling the strings, I don't hold out much hope of seeing a hybrid Volvo any time soon.:mad:
Call it whatever you want...SUV, crossover, etc. But my Highlander Hybrid functions like a wagon to me.
Yes! I am interested in a hybrid wagon, and am looking for one. I agree with another post - an Accord hybrid could be a good option (Honda, read our posts!!)
Hello everyone ... add me to the list. I'd be interested in ANY wagon with great gas mileage. We get stiffed on these practical cars in the U.S. because car makers seem to think that we only want SUVs! I'm driving an Escape because there was no stationwagon that size ... I yearn for something environmentally sound, economical, sporty and practical!! I need room in the back to put stuff in, darnit.
There are small wagons and 5 doors all over Europe and Asia - I would even settle for a small gas wagon! My first new car was 1972 Toyota Corolla Wagon and I put over 200k on it. Japan has a hybrid Sienna mini van, why don't we? I also have dogs and need more than a sedan but less than an SUV.
As for those who say crossovers are today's wagons - not for me. I have owned both. I don't like stepping "up" to get into a car. Gets a little tough as you get older - if you are short to begin with.
Functioning like a wagon and being one are two different things. Your Highlander SUV rides higher and is heavier than a true wagon, at the cost of fuel economy.
It also has a V6 engine. Anyone know why the Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix gets 30+ MPG? It's got an "underpowered" 1.8L four banger. However, your HH probably can tow more than a Vibe... I guess it depends on what you need.
I want a wagon. Not a SUV. But I do want something that can handle some basic off road driving. Nothing extreme. If a wagon is too low that won't work. I tried driving my old Saturn sedan off road and it didn't appreciate my efforts.
I now see that I'm not the only one yearning for a hybrid wagon. I'm a member of the sandwich generation, with both an active child and all the attendant kid-gear, and an elderly mom in a wheelchair. The combinaton of hybrid and wagon--- coupled with superior safety ratings--- would definitely be a huge draw for me. But hurry up. My old car isn't going to make it much longer.
I tripped across this site looking for information on Audi Diesel station wagon hybrids. Doesn't look like they exist yet, but I'd buy one.
In fact I'd prefer a VW to the Audi but that's just a trim level and badge difference.
I'm not sure on the hybrid part, but as I posted before, the VW Jetta Wagon with the Diesel engine will be available in Spring 08:
http://www.caranddriver.com/autoshows/12597/2008-volkswagen-jetta-sportwagen.html
However, I have heard that the European car makers are getting ready to release some new models with some hybrid-like options, eg. Engine stop-start, regenerative breaking (without the battery), etc. But will we get them here?? Dunno.
I'm in the boat with those who want a wagon low to the ground and not a big heavy SUV with a hybrid drivetrain. I just noticed that Suburu has a prototype called the B5-TPH and may come out as easrly as 2008. Everything I read aobut VW is that they're hedging their bets on TDI technology which when mixerd with biodiesel does not sound like a bad idea.
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2005/05/subaru_hybrid_p.html
Can anyone tell me why we have yet to see a turbo charged hybrid or even better a TDI hybrid? I may be missing something but except for the extra upfront cost of both a high tech engine and extra hybrid drivetrain they seem like a perfect marriage for even higher MPG figures.
Putting a turbocharger on a hybrid probably wouldn't offer much technical benefit. The electric motors can produce much more torque than any Internal Combustion Engine (ICE). Hybrids work best by using a weak ICE and having the electric motor do the 'heavy lifting' to compensate to give good overall performance.
I'm likely to buy the diesel when it arrives. In tests, the small VW platform diesels have beat Toyota Prius and Honda Civic hybrids for gas mileage, even though they are larger cars. The new clean diesel is supposed to improve mileage, but that remains to be seen.
Wouldn't a Toyota Matrix hybrid be nice? Or a Mazda 3 hatchback? I still think the Prius is pretty good.
Neil
A good write-up on the upcoming Jetta Wagon:
http://www.vwvortex.com/artman/publish/vortex_news/article_1941.shtml
A year ago in March 2006 my wife oKed looking for a hybrid. Our Saab convertible was too hard to get the grandkids in their rear car seats. she didn't like the the Sienna van. We drove a Toyoto Highlander Hybrid. Very expensive $32k for cheapest model. Real gas mileage on internet sites not that much better than Sienna owing to the THH keeping 6 cylinder. Hybrid gages not very exciting. Car no different than van.
After trade in fo 2003 Sienna, we would have paid $20,000. Prius exterior didn't excite my wife and she hated interior. Loved the Honda Civic Hybrid. Gages right in front of driver give all the information to drive at max mileage and have fun coasting at 55-65 mph. Only stopping point was insurance on 3 cars. Got insurance from Erie for the 3 cars for less than State Farm charged on 2. Now we fight to drive the Honda. Use van for long trips that we need to take stuff, convertible short trips in nice weather or when need 2nd car.
I'd like to have a van with 4cylinder and hybrid which could haul $1500lbs. Mercury and Ford are not bad but not big. Sacrifice a lot of mileage compared to Civic.
I would love a hybrid wagon....I would even love any wagon or small SUV which gets 28+ MPG....are there any out there?? If anyone knows of nay, please let me know!!
I have had my Subaru Outback wagon for 4 years now and I love it! I also have a wonderfullly active dog who loves to go for car rides and love the room it provides as well as how it handles on the road (not at all like an SUV!). I just watched 'Who Killed the Electric Car?' and became instantly motivated to buy a hybrid or plug-in for my next vehicle and was unhappy to see that although the demand is there for a hybrid wagon, the car is not. Hoping things change in the next year or so...
I'd love to get a station wagon hybrid. I currently have a Honda Element, great as far as cargo room goes.. but could be much much better on gas.. I promised myself my next car would be a hybrid (the least i could do for this great planet of ours) but cannot find the perfect one. I wish subaru would make an outback hybrid... that would be the perfect station wagon.. quality, reliability, fuel efficiency, saftey and lots of room.. life would be perfect! :D
I have a Ford Focus wagon and would LOVE for our next car to be a hybrid wagon. With a child in a HUGE carseat, hopefully another child in our future and a dog, we need the space! I hate SUVs and see no need for a mini-van as a wagon suits us perfectly. Now we just need someone (anyone!) to actually MAKE a hybrid wagon. =)
Leila
I too am on the hunt for a hybrid station wagon. My top choice would deffinately be an Audi Wagon and I am ready to buy!!!
Actually, my wife really wants one. We're just married and looking to expand the family. The next car has got to be a hybrid or a bike, and since we live in LA I think it's gotta be a hybrid. The wagon issue is tough though. I really DO NOT want a vehicle that is so high that it blocks everyone else's view. ...I hear that GM is coming out with some new stuff.
I have a substantial commute so I am extremely interested in a hybrid. In order to take my golden retriever, kayaks and a tent anywhere on the weekends, I need a wagon! I am shocked that VW isn't creating something. Seems like their followers would by hybrid consumers. Hopefully, if we all keep posting, a hybrid wagon will appear!
The original poster asked about a hybrid wagon, such as a Subaru. Well, they may not be planning a hybrid, but they're set to release their new boxer diesel engine in Europe!
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FirstDrives/articleId=124553...
They mention it that it may come to the US sometime. Looks like a fantastic engine!
I too would like to add myself to the list. I went from an Isuzu Trooper to the Subaru Forrestor I currently have, which I love, but need a hybrid due to a long commute. Not to mention the fact that I am tired of spending so much on gas so often.
A wagon is the perfect solution for me!
You look at the long list of hybrids on the market and not one wagon. What is holding this up?
If there was a hybrid Subaru Outback or Impreza wagon, or a hybrid Toyota RAV4 I would buy it in a heartbeat.
Hello, are you car companies listening?
What's truly amazing is that if you compare these models to their 2001 equivalents, the gas mileage has gone DOWN!!! The Prius is great and everything, but hen Toyota says it want's to go green, that just doesn't jive with how their RAV4 and pickup trucks keep getting bigger every couple of years and the gas mileage keeps going down.
I am joining the ranks in requesting (begging?) for a hybrid wagon. I can deal with 3-5 mpg less to account for the shape of the car. I don't want a hybrid suv. Although it would meet my needs, it doesn't get the gas mileage I want. I have a 40 mile round trip commute, and as gas prices rise, I get more and more frustrated. We already have a Prius and love it to death. Wouldn't trade it for the world. C'mon Toyota, make a hybrid wagon - I'll buy it! I swear!!
I want a hybrid wagon too. Subaru or Toyota or... I don't care. Are you car manufacturers reading these pages??? Listen there is a niche here!
Let me add my voice to this. I need a car that has room inside, but I don't want the overall height of the car to be more than about 65" - I have a small boat I need to put on a roof rack, and the top of an SUV is just too high up - a hybrid station wagon similar to a Subaru Outback or somewhat smaller would be ideal. Even better if it was more American.
I could not agree more! I'd buy a hybrid Outback TOMORROW if I could.
Hope that someone in the car industry is listening, because my husband has a small construction business and we are desperately seeking a hybrid wagon, as he needs the extra space to transport tools and materials and is getting killed financially due to gas prices of over $4.00 per gallon in our home county, Westchester County, NY. My husband says that diesel fuel is expensive and environmmentally worse than gas, so the hybrid is our vehicle of choice -- if only we could find a hybrid wagon or small van.
It looks like people having been asking for a hybrid station wagon for over two years - what's wrong with car industry to not hear us?
I have three children and two large dogs and when we go on vacation...we NEED a large enough vehicle to fit everything! Would love a hybrid, but they only seem to be coming out too small or way too large! I drive a Pontiac Montana extended and allthough the mileage for a van isn,t bad 26/30 approximately...would really like a more enviromentaly friendly and more gas efficient car. I heard even one dealership was doing away with their minivans and suvs and going to only put out the smaller or what they consider sedan size hybrids ( can,t recall the dealership ) If this is true, what do large families do? We,d have to purchase two cars and drive separately if that were the case...and thats not going to happen in our house! Would love to see a good size wagon or minivan come out in a hybrid with really good mpg's Can anyone explain why we only have tiny hybrids and huge hybrids coming out with nothing inbetween? Somebodys really missing the boat here! I predict in a year or two a foreign car company will come out with a hybrid minivan or wagon and our American companies are going to miss the boat again! Why does it seem like our car companies, allways seem to be the last ones to really put out a good vehicle that everyone wants? Would love to see a hybrid Subaru outback!!!
I have a 1993 Toyota Camry station wagon with 250,000 and still going.
I am ready for a Camry station wagon hybrid as it would be functional and durable.
Hey,
Just found this site and feel so good to see that I am not the only one interested in a hybrid wagon.
I am sending these posts via email to my local Honda dealership in hopes that someone will forward this on to the appropriate professional who will design our "near" future hybrid wagon vehicles which are desperately needed.
Being a Honda Civic owner of 8+ years, I now have 3 grandchildren, twins ages 3 and a 3 month old. Cannot take all 3 with me and I cannot buy another vehicle until I find the hybrid wagon I want. I want to stay with the ultimately dependable Honda product, but may have to re-consider if they do not listen to the needs of their customers out there.
I hope this will be forwarded for all of our sakes. Keep on voicing your opinions and we will be heard.
Glad to know I'm not alone...I almost cried when Toyota stopped making the Camry wagon!
I'm ready to buy a hybrid right now, only wish I could get a station wagon. We baby boomers grew up getting hauled around in mom's wagon!
Just read that a Toyota Prius wagon should be out in 2010 or 2011, wish I could wait that long.
We live in a Seattle suburb where luxury SUVs and Suburbans / Tahoes have been king. However, over the last three months it has been dramatic how many new Prius and other small economical cars I have seen appearing on the road. When I got on the freeway the other day, I had a new Prius in front of me and on either side!
I also am a little shocked at how behind the curve the U.S. auto producers in general have been about the need to quickly reorient their production to hybrid vehicles. Everyone that I work with is planning on switching over to high fuel economy cars because they simply cannot afford the gas for their current vehicles. I plan on buying the Prius wagon if it indeed comes out in 2010, however, it would be nice to have other wagon options out there to choose from...wagons are also a really desirable vehicle in the Pacific NW.
I have been waiting for 2 years for a hybrid wagon to come out... I have seriously been waiting with finances ready to buy one tomorrow if it was released. Please, please, please make a station wagon hybrid. PLEASE!!!!
PLEASE!!!!!! Come Outback come.
I would trade in my Passat wagon tomorrow for a real hybrid wagon. The hybrid SUV's just don't do it for me.
I"ve been a station wagon convert for 14 years now having owned both Taurus and Sable wagons.
80% of my driving is dedicated to the daily commute. Hence, I want something with the fuel efficiency of a car and not an SUV or Minivan.
19% of the time my wife and I are taking the kids on trips. This may involve bringing the kid's bikes or bike trailers along with car seats, etc. Other times I need to carry my mother's wheel chair in the back.
1% of the time I need to carry lumber, lawnmowers or other bulky items.
Being able to carry 12ft lumber inside the vehicle and extension ladders on the roof is something I've come to take for granted.
The Taurus has long gone to rustville and the Sable is getting old.
We've rented a Camry hybrid twice now for vacations. Once because the Sable developed a transmission problem 30 minutes into the trip and we had to rent a car in a panic and the hybrid was the only large car available and once becaise we wamted an excuse to try a hybrid again. We loved it. The 2008 Camry has improved over the 2006 model. The trunk, however, was packed to the gills and we had to pack stuff between the kid's car seats and on the floor in the back and still had to leave stuff behind.
We really, REALLY want and need a hybrid wagon, but not the over-sized hatchbacks turned wagon wannabe's like Saturn's excuse for a wagon.
Basically, if I can't carry 10' 2x4's in the back with the door closed then I consider it a hatch-back, no matter what the manufacturer calls it.
My dream car would be a '94 sable wagon body with the polymer side panels of a Saturn and the drive-train/power-train/interior of a Camry hybrid.
Here's hoping.
Amen to all of the above. I love driving my 2001 Subaru Legacy wagon and keep wishing for a magic wand to turn it into a hybrid. Why is Subaru dragging their feet on this? I was ready to buy a hybrid wagon a year ago, if I could have found one, and with gas prices the way they are, I'm more than ready today.
I, too, am anxiously awaiting a hybrid or electric wagon. No SUV's or SUV wanna be's! I had a Corona wagon for many years that I loved. When Toyota didn't have a wagon I bought a Volvo wagon. It's now 10 years old and I am wanting to go with something a bit smaller and more fuel effeicient next time.
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