What is the size of the tank as well as the real miles on a tank of gas? I am just tring to see if hybrids are an idea whose time has come since gas prices are on the rise, $3.19-$4.00 a gallon by Thanksgiving.
The Mazda Tribute Hybrid has a 15-gallon gas tank, and it gets about 30 miles to the gallon in normal driving (EPA’s estimate is about 32 miles a gallon). You can get about 450 miles on one full tank.
The Saturn Vue Green Line has an 18.3 gallon tank, and it averages 24 miles to a gallon (EPA’s estimate is 25 MPG combined). It gives you about 430 miles to a tank, but it will cost you about $10 more (3 gallons) to fill it up than the Mazda.
I like the Mazda Tribute Hybrid better– It has a much better drivetrain than the Saturn Vue Green Line. The Mazda uses a Power Split Device transmission, which has just a single gearset– No gear-shifting, no clutch, no torque converter, no CVT belts. This simplicity means the PSD tranny is very tough. The Saturn on the other hand has a complex regular gear-shifting 4-speed automatic transmission with all of the potential problems a regular tranny can develop.
Unlike the Saturn, the Mazda Tribute Hybrid does not have a starter, alternator or timing belt / chain. Less things to wear out.
After the Federal Tax Credit rebates, the two actually cost about the same– The Mazda Tribute Hybrid 2WD has a $3,000 tax credit while the Saturn is eligible only for $650.
After driving a car equipped with a Power Split Device transmission, I’m never going back to a car with a conventional tranny.
Hope this helps.
The Mazda Tribute Hybrid has a 15-gallon gas tank, and it gets about 30 miles to the gallon in normal driving (EPA’s estimate is about 32 miles a gallon). You can get about 450 miles on one full tank.
The Saturn Vue Green Line has an 18.3 gallon tank, and it averages 24 miles to a gallon (EPA’s estimate is 25 MPG combined). It gives you about 430 miles to a tank, but it will cost you about $10 more (3 gallons) to fill it up than the Mazda.
I like the Mazda Tribute Hybrid better– It has a much better drivetrain than the Saturn Vue Green Line. The Mazda uses a Power Split Device transmission, which has just a single gearset– No gear-shifting, no clutch, no torque converter, no CVT belts. This simplicity means the PSD tranny is very tough. The Saturn on the other hand has a complex regular gear-shifting 4-speed automatic transmission with all of the potential problems a regular tranny can develop.
Unlike the Saturn, the Mazda Tribute Hybrid does not have a starter, alternator or timing belt / chain. Less things to wear out.
After the Federal Tax Credit rebates, the two actually cost about the same– The Mazda Tribute Hybrid 2WD has a $3,000 tax credit while the Saturn is eligible only for $650.
After driving a car equipped with a Power Split Device transmission, I’m never going back to a car with a conventional tranny.
Hope this helps.
References :
I own two Power Split Device-equipped vehicles– A Toyota Prius and a Nissan Altima Hybrid.