Hybrid SUV Roundup

Published July 10, 2009

Hybrid SUVs combine the interior space and ride quality of an SUV with fuel-saving capabilities of hybrid cars. Some environmentalists have criticized the hybrid SUV as a misapplication of gas-electric technology. It’s true that hybrid SUVs do not reach the level of fuel efficiency of smaller hybrids in terms of miles-per-gallon. Yet, miles-per-gallon is a non-linear and counter-intuitive form of measurement. An apparently small jump in fuel efficiency—for example, from 14 to 16 mpg—saves as much oil as increasing fuel economy from 35 to 50 mpg, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Which are the Best Hybrid SUVs? That Depends on Your Needs.

With more than 10 hybrid SUVs currently on the market—and more in the works— consumers can choose features and pricing for the best hybrid SUVs suited to their specific needs:

Affordability and Maximum Efficiency: Ford Escape Hybrid, Mazda Tribute Hybrid, Mercury Mariner Hybrid
V8 Performance and Towing: Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid, GMC Yukon Hybrid
Seven-Passenger Seating: Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Luxury: Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, Lexus RX 400h

The V8 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid, which achieves the same city fuel economy as a four-cylinder Toyota Camry, can tow up to 6,000 pounds.

The List of Hybrid SUVs

In addition to gas-electric hybrid SUVs, our sortable list also include diesels and conventional small SUV alternatives—as well as plug-in hybrid and hydrogen SUVs in the works.

Name	Combined MPG	Technology	MSRP	Available	Description
Ford Escape Hybrid	32 MPG	Hybrid	$29,300	Now	The overall most fuel efficient SUV.
Mercury Mariner Hybrid	32 MPG	Hybrid	$29,800	Now	Slightly upscale version of the Ford Escape Hybrid.
Mazda Tribute Hybrid	32 MPG	Hybrid	$29,900	Now	The Mazda Tribute Hybrid is basically a re-skinned Ford Escape Hybrid, using the same powertrain and many of the same interior bits.
Toyota Matrix	29 MPG	Small Car	$16,200	Now	A segment buster: part compact car, part sport wagon, and part small crossover utility.
Pontiac Vibe	29 MPG	Small Car	$17,400	Now	One of the premier “compact crossover” vehicles in the new segment.
Lexus RX 450h	28 MPG	Hybrid	$41,700	Now	Updated version of the luxury SUV with green stripes.
Saturn Vue Hybrid	27 MPG	Stop-Start	$24,200	Now	The Vue Green Line is the low-cost low-benefit hybrid SUV.
Toyota Highlander Hybrid	26 MPG	Hybrid	$33,700	Now	More affordable than the Lexus RX400h, more powerful than Ford's hybrid SUVs, and more efficient than GM's full-size SUV hybrids.
Chevrolet Equinox	26 MPG		$23,200	Now	Small gas-powered SUV with the highest highway fuel economy rating.
Lexus RX 400h	25 MPG	Hybrid	$42,000	Now	Everything a luxury SUV buyer seeks—in a greener package.
BMW X5 xDrive35d	23 MPG	Diesel	$52,000	Now	High-performance, luxury SUV. Now more efficient as a diesel.
Mercedes ML 450 Hybrid	22 MPG	Hybrid	n/a	Now	The Mercedes-Benz version of the Two-Mode system combines a 275-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine and two electric motors.
Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD	22 MPG	Diesel	$34,400	Now	Following the success of the diesel version of the Jeep Liberty in 2005, Jeep now offers their newest diesel powertrain mated to the Grand Cherokee.
Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid	21 MPG	Hybrid	$50,500	Now	A new breed of full-size SUV that is significantly greener than its gas-powered counterparts
Mercedes ML 320 Bluetec	21 MPG	Diesel	$48,600	Now	The most popular Mercedes SUV, available in fuel-efficient clean diesel version.
Volkswagen Touareg TDI	21 MPG	Diesel	$42,800	Now	VW ditched V10. Now, the Touareg TDI comes reasonably priced and reasonably powered by a 3.0-liter V6 turbo diesel engine.
GMC Yukon Hybrid	21 MPG	Hybrid	$50,500	Now	The sister vehicle of the Chevy Tahoe Hybrid. Same gas-saving improvements to the XXL platform.
Mercedes R320 Bluetec	21 MPG	Diesel	$49,100	Now	A big and heavy luxury station wagon with a clean diesel engine.
Audi Q7 TDI	21 MPG	Diesel	$50,900	Now	Luxury seven-passenger clean diesel SUV with ultra-low emissions.
Cadillac Escalade Hybrid	20 MPG	Hybrid	$70,000	Now	The first eight-passenger luxury SUV hybrid. An odd mix of self-indulgence and green.
Mercedes GL320 Bluetec	20 MPG	Diesel	$59,200	Now	The biggest, bluntest, and heaviest clean diesel SUV from Mercedes-Benz.
Saturn Vue Green Line Two-Mode	30 MPG	Hybrid	$33,000	2010	The Two-Mode Hybrid version of the Saturn Vue is a solid high-efficiency V6 SUV.
BMW X6 Hybrid	18 MPG	Hybrid	$90,000	2010	An SUV that has crossed over into sports car territory.
Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid	n/a	Hybrid	n/a	2010	The Porsche Cayenne Hybrid achieves better than 24 miles per gallon compared with less than 18 mpg for the conventional model.
GM Plug-in Crossover SUV	n/a	Plug-in Hybrid	n/a	2011	GM's plug-in hybrid SUV was a Saturn, then a Buick, now probably a Chevy.
Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid	n/a	Hybrid		2011	Combines a direct injection engine and hybrid gas-electric system for maximum benefit.
Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid	n/a	Plug-in Hybrid	n/a	2012	The proven fuel-efficient SUV hybrid will come with a plug in 2012.
Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell	43 MPG	Hydrogen	n/a	Concept	A fleet of 100 Chevy Equinoxes running on hydrogen have been tested by more than 3,000 thousand real-world drivers.
Audi Q7 Hybrid	n/a	Hybrid	n/a	Concept	Refined and opulent, and now the hybrid version offers slightly better fuel efficiency.
Cadillac Provoq	n/a	Hydrogen	n/a	Concept	Over-the-top plug-in hydrogen-electric fuel-cell luxury hybrid concept SUV.
Chrysler Aspen Hybrid	19 MPG	Hybrid	$44,700	Discntd.	A hulking 5.7-liter V8 Hemi hybrid.
Dodge Durango Hybrid	19 MPG	Hybrid	$44,500	Discntd.	Chrysler discontinued its hemi hybrid.