SUVs & Minivans
Published March 3, 2006
Available Now
The first SUV hybrid and the first American hybrid to hit showrooms. The Escape is the most affordable of the hybrid SUVs.
The luxury and speed of the Lexus SUV Hybrid appeals to the more affluent car buyer, who has been hesitant to give up one iota of comfort to go hybrid.
The 2007 Saturn Vue will be available with an optional belt alternator starter (BAS) system. This adds up to a 10 percent improvement in fuel economy, for a few hundred dollars over the base price.
The Highlander is like a Prius on growth hormones: 270 horsepower 80.6 cubic feet of cargo space, and 28 miles to the gallon. Those are impressive numbers.
The Mercury Mariner is an upscale derivative of the Ford Escape. Ford sped up the release of a hybrid version of the Mariner, but is only producing 2,000 units this year.
Coming Soon
Utilizing the GM two-mode hybrid system, the Escalade Hybrid is expected to have fuel savings of up to 50 percent over its gas-powered counterpart.
The Tahoe Hybrid, which promises to give fuel economy 25 percent better than the base Tahoe, will be the first passenger vehicle application of the G.M. two-mode hybrid system.
The Dodge Durango Hybrid and Chrysler Aspen Hybrids will pair up a hybrid gas-electric system—the symbol of automotive virtue—with a powerful Hemi engine, which is best known for winning car races.
The Mercedes ML 450 Hybrid will use the two-mode system co-developed with GM and BMW. The vehicle will combine a 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine, two electric motors and a 288-volt battery pack to produce 321 horsepower. Fuel efficiency is forecast at 30.5 mpg.
Porsche's first hybrid will be available in late 2009 or early 2010. Current vehicle tests show a 30 percent bump in fuel economy—with the Cayenne Hybrid achieving better than 24 miles per gallon compared with less than 18 mpg for the conventional model.
The second hybrid to reach the Japanese market was a hybrid minivan from Toyota, but there's no indication when soccer moms will see one in North America.
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Can you email me these cars in more depth and in comparison to normal non Hybrid SUVs? I am looking into buying a new SUV and am not sure if it is worth it to go for the Hybrid.
Thanks a lot,
Jordan
How soon will the Audi Q7 be available for purchase?
Do you know when the Honda Pilot Hybrid will be available for purchase?
I want a Hybrid MINiVAN that seats 8!!! When will it be in the USA?????
It'd be nice if the auto makers would produce a mid sized SUV/mini van hybrid with about 90 cu ft of cargo space....I currently drive a Suzuki XL7 and it's that big....
If the hybrid had a small diesel engine...say a 2.2 or so, that'd even be better....
The link above which is supposed to go to the Mercedes Benz ML450 erroneously links to the Porsche Cayenne instead.
When will a hybrid mini van be available? We are in the market for one.?
I want a hybrid minivan. I am determined not to by another vehicle until one comes out. When are we going to get one in the usa
I love my Toyota RAV4 and would love it even more if it was a hybrid. Are there any plans for this happening?
When will the US see a hybrid minivan hit our market? I think there's been quite a demand for one that automakers should be thinking about the real consumers (the middle class families).
Why do people post questions here? There's no one to answer.
I agree with Anonymous! No one is providing answers to our questions and I DEMAND that someone answer us! We Americans deserve better! We deserve HYBRIDS and we deserve them NOW!!
soccer moms are not the only ones who want this. Cheap jewish dads like me want one to.
the mercury mariner is available in hybrid and the gas mileage is insanely awesome 35 city baby. But the van does not seat what a ford windstar or sienna would seat. some thing to consider my friend
When will there be a minivan hybrid coming out? I'm in the proces of looking,gas is killing us!!! Any suggestions out there on how to save gas esp. if you're driving 100 miles per day?
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