In the full size version of these vehicles, they say they get about 25% better miliage. On one of these that only gets 14mpg for example (which is about on the high average), thats an additional 3.5 mpg.
So you get 17.5 mpg. Is that worth it? When you compare the additional cost of a hybrid engine vs. a regular gas one, is it just a bit laughable (which I am sure many will use that excuse to not buy the hybrid version)? We probably could get that savings in just slowing down & maintaining our cars properly.
Dont get me wrong, I am not a SUV hater. I like them! But it just seems like they could try harder than that. One article I read says it could make those on the fence about SUVs, come on over b/c they are making them better with less guilt.
Yes, 25% is still 25%, but if it didnt come with the much higher cost (probably about 25%), it could be reasonable that something is being done for the environment. It almost seems like a deterent.
=-^-=
thats what I said. I am refering to full sized ones (Suburban, Tahoe, Blazer, Escalde), not the small/crossover type.
Noone N: I never told anyone what to do! I am asking opinions. Drive what you want.
mystikreaper: good point. I saw Consumers Report earlier this year & they say the small difference in the hybrid version vs. the gas version of the same model (not comparing Prius to Excursion), it is not cost effective due to the cost difference. Not saying its not more fuel efficient–just not cost effiecient–meaning how much you save to recoupe the difference in price.
benzcruiser:gold star for your homework! But I will have to differ on why we make them. They do offer an alternative (as limited as it is) to what there is. Its a start.
Ilovegm:excelent. As I said 25 is 25 & is better than none.
Larger vehicles are harder to make efficient. Could you imagine a jumbo jet improving efficiency by 25%? Boeing has poured their heart and soul into the redesigned 747, and it’s only about 13% more efficient than the models designed 20 years ago.
Also a 25% gain in fuel economy is far more significant in an SUV than a car. Say one car uses 10 gallons a month, and another uses 100. If you improved the fuel economy by 50% on both, you would only save 5 gallons in car one, while in car 2 you would save 50 gallons.
By the way the GM full size hybrids get better than 17 MPG. The Tahoe / Yukon get about 17 with the stand alone gas engine (which is best in class). So these Hybrids should get around 22 MPG. And I believe edmunds had a chance to test one, and that’s about what they got. That’s significant. The much smaller Toyota Camry only does about 2 MPG better.