Smaller SUVs, hybrid or not, are of course going to be greener and get better fuel economy but in some cases there is a need for a larger SUV. Many SUV drivers need a large SUV for hauling purposes, whether that is people or a boat! But just because you have to have a big SUV doesn’t mean you can’t still be eco-friendly and save a little on your fuel bills. Here is a comparison chart for the top 5 larger hybrid SUVs of 2009 that presents the most useful information: gas mileage, power, and price, and towing capacity.
2009 HybridSUV
Fuel EconomyCity/Highway
Gas/Electric Power
Price (MSRP)
Towing Capacity
Chevy Tahoe hybrid
21/22
Full hybrid ( 2-mode system) Electric up to 25mph
$52,000
Up to 6,000 lbs
GMC Yukon Denali hybrid
21/22
Electric mode only up to 27 mph
$58,235
Up to 6,200 lbs
Dodge Durango hybrid*
18/22
2-mode system & HEMI V8
$45,000
Around 6,000 lbs
Chrysler Aspen hybrid*
18/19
2-mode system & HEMI V8
$45,000
Around 6,000 lbs
Cadillac Escalade hybrid
20/21
Full hybrid up to 25 mph/ V8
$75,000 limited availability
Up to 5,800
* The Dodge Durango hybrid and the Chrysler Aspen hybrid are now discontinued but still available while supplies last.
Each of these larger hybrid SUVs do not seem so green when looking at the stats but in comparison to the same SUVs in a non-hybrid model, they are actually much better on fuel economy and often times way better for the environment. A mid-size SUV is going to get better gas mileage by far if there is not a need for a full-size SUV. Check out the 2009 Hybrid Comparison chart for mid-size SUVs below.
If 2009 is the year for you to drive away with a hybrid SUV then you better hurry, only a little over a month left! Sure, you’ve been reading online reviews and listening to what other SUV drivers have to say but it’s a lot of information and can be difficult to remember all the stats. Maybe you need a little bit of help sorting through all those facts. Here is a comparison chart for the top 5 small to mid-size hybrid SUVs of 2009 that presents the most useful information: gas mileage, power, and price.
2009 HybridSUV
Fuel EconomyCity/Highway
Gas/Electric Power
Price (MSRP)
Ford Escape hybrid
34/32
All electric mode (up to 40mph on electric engine)
$29,645
Mercury Mariner hybrid
34/31
Electric mode only up to 44mph
$30,090
Toyota Highlander hybrid
27/25
270 horsepower combined gas/electric
$34,700
Saturn VUE hybrid
25/32
Full hybrid – 2-mode system
$28,905
Mazda Tribute hybrid
34/31
Full hybrid up to 25 mph
$29,175
With all the 2010 models piling up on the lots, now may be the time to negotiate with your local SUV dealer on an ’09 model of your choice. Each of these five mid-size hybrid SUVs are a great, eco-friendly choice. Now all you have to do is find the right fit for your needs!
Check back here at SUVLUV for a comparison of the top full-size SUVs.
Right now could be the best time to buy a used or even a new SUV. With the economy down, auto-makers are still producing more vehicles then they are selling, forcing dealerships to slash prices. In addition to a rough economy, November and December are great months to buy a vehicle. Many consumers are more focused on Christmas shopping and wrapping up the end of the year, not on adding an extra car payment.
Even though the auto industry is fully aware of our economical situation, it is difficult to slow down production on cars/SUVs quickly. It seems that for 2009, auto producers were still creating more vehicles with less demand. Good news for those looking to buy an SUV this year! U.S. News & World Report stated that American auto shopping is down. It could turn out to be a 40% decrease in auto sales from just two years before. The Cash for Clunkers program did help get rid of some of the auto over-supply but there are still many SUVs waiting to be driven home.
After speaking with some local used and new auto dealerships, the winter months leading up to Christmas is their slowest selling time. People aren’t cruising the lots for a variety of reasons. Many are trying to pay for Christmas or holding on to their beat up vehicle until next year. The cold weather also prevents people from getting out and walking the lot. But, whatever the reason, it may be beneficial to bundle up and check out all the deals on that SUV you’ve been waiting for.
Check out the national deals that are on right now:
Ford /Mercury– Year End Sales Event (0% APR, $1000 Cash Back)
Honda CR-V – $239 for 36 months
Toyota – 2.9% APR in most areas
GMC – 0% APR or Cash Back
Mazda- Drive-Off Event (0 down, 0 1st month payment, 0 due at lease signing)
Many of these deals expire soon, so get going and drive an eco-friendly SUV today!
Make way for another alternative to the minivan. The 2010 Chevy Traverse was introduced last year and goes unchanged for 2010. The Traverse is an 8-passenger crossover SUV that receives a green sticker for getting better gas mileage than many of the other larger SUVs and minivans. The 2010 Traverse also ranks #1 out of 30 for US News & World Report’s affordable midsize SUV list.
The Traverse claims to have the most cargo room in its class. We know it has plenty of passenger room but it also has more room behind the front row than most comparable, larger SUVs. The Traverse also has folding 2nd and 3rd row seating for extra cargo space. Chevy claims that there is plenty of storage space even if all seating is intact, stating that there is more room than the Honda Pilot or the Toyota Highlander.
The 2010 Chevy Traverse tows around 5,200 lbs and gets its power from a 3.6-liter V6 engine that is teamed up with a 6-speed automatic transmission. This engine produces horsepower in the 280’s. Even with all the power behind the Traverse it still shines a green light for fuel economy. The 2010 Traverse gets an average 17 mpg in the city but gets an astounding 24 mpg on the highway (for FWD model). This kind of mileage is pretty good for such a large crossover.
The Traverse also stays competitive with optional features such as navigation, DVD system, leather upholstery, rearview camera, rear obstacle detection, and remote start. The 2010 model starts at $29,224 and has the Chevy 60-day Satisfaction Guarantee. If you’re looking to carry a large family, tons of friends, all your tools, and tow a boat behind you, then the Chevy Traverse may be the SUV for you!
In the world of SUVs crossovers seem to be the most popular but some drivers and their families need a bit more room than a crossover but want an alternative to the minivan. The 2010 GMC Acadia may be an affordable and roomy choice for those in the market for a larger SUV.
Unchanged from previous model years, the 2010 Acadia continues to be more car-like than other larger SUVs in its class. It is not meant for off-road driving but offers more seating space and storage for people in need of more room. The Acadia holds 8 passengers and the standard 3rd row seating still allows for 20 cubic feet of storage space behind it. In the case of even more storage need, the 2nd and 3rd row seats fold down to allow up to 115 cubic feet of storage. Not only is the interior spacious but has practicality as well. All models come standard with cruise control, front and rear air, and power accessories. Some trims include heated seats, power seats and liftgate, GPS, sunroof, blue tooth capability, DVD system, and much more.
Even though larger SUVs tend to be less eco-friendly than some of the crossover models, the 2010 GMC Acadia gets good fuel economy for an 8 passenger SUV. The Acadia has a 3.6-liter V6 engine pulling 288 horsepower. The FWD model gets 17 mpg in the city and 24 on the highway. Subtract mpg by one for the AWD model. The Acadia has the best fuel economy in comparison to other 8 passenger SUVs of its size.
The 2010 GMC Acadia starts at $31,740 and comes with GMC’s 60-day satisfaction guarantee. After 30 days if you don’t love your new Acadia you have 30 more days to bring it back to your local dealer and GMC will refund your purchase price. This may give you a chance to see if the Acadia will suit your family’s needs.
If you’re looking for an affordable crossover vehicle there is no shortage. Every automaker has one, now it’s time to find the right one for your needs. The 2010 Nissan Rogue is a compact SUV that is affordable and has the fuel economy for a modest budget. Some critics say it’s lacking in power but it has some other pros that may be to your liking.
The Nissan Rogue was introduced in 2008 and ranks 12 out of 26 for affordable compact SUVs for U.S. News & World Report. The Rogue is a 5-passenger SUV that boasts about its roomy interior. It has an available folding passenger seat and a 60/40 split back seat for extra cargo room. The driver and front passenger sit on bucket seats. Reviewers claim that the interior is comfortable and spacious for all passengers.
The 2010 Rogue exterior looks the same as previous models except for the new 360-Degree optional package. This package includes a chrome grille, rear spoiler, privacy glass, aluminum alloy wheels, and a rear-view camera. This optional package helps to give the Rogue a bit more style.
The Rogue continues to be criticized for not having a V6 option. Instead it carries a 170 horsepower, 2.5 liter, 4-cylinder engine under the hood. It is fairly fuel efficient at 22 mpg in the city and 27 on the highway. It is more affordable that some of the other more powerful crossovers, starting at just $20,340. Since there are few changes to the 2010 model buying a 2009 may be a more economical choice. Fuel efficiency is the same for both model years so the older model could save you more green in more ways than one.
The Los Angeles County Lifeguard Service has been using 2009 Ford Escape hybrids for over a year now and they continue to save lives and the environment. Los Angeles County lifeguards patrol around 70 miles of coastline and more than 58 million beach visitors check out the surf every year. That many beach guests keep the lifeguards on their toes for possible danger.
To aid in keeping beach life safe for guests the L.A. County lifeguards use a convoy of 45 Ford Escape hybrids. As of July 2009, Ford reported that these hybrids helped in more than 9,000 rescues and one million rescue preventions. These rescues range from injured surfers and lost children to actually rescuing two injured men in a single engine plane crash back in October of 2008. Not only do the Escape hybrids help to tow water vehicles such as wave runners but also they keep all the lifeguard safety and rescue gear stored inside, out of the weather elements. The Escape hybrids used have been modified by Ford to help store the lifeguard’s necessary equipment. Ford engineers took out some of the rear seating and replaced it with aluminum boxes that house safety and medical devices the lifeguards need in emergency situations.
Using the Ford Escape hybrids for this kind of rescue team is genius. Not only are the Escape’s useful in design and towing abilities but they save the L.A. County Lifeguard Service 5,000 gallons of gasoline overall. The Escape hybrid can run in electric mode up to 40 miles per hour. This is a great benefit to the lifeguards who generally travel around 25 mph on the beach. Ford has also reported that the hybrids have reduced the lifeguard service’s carbon emission by 97,500 lbs. It looks like the L.A. lifeguards are one of the greenest rescue teams in the country!
Honda drivers are one of the most loyal car owners out there. And many of those drivers have been patiently awaiting some kind of announcement about Honda introducing a hybrid SUV but they just keep on waiting. As many of the other auto makers have been releasing electric and hybrid SUVs, Honda keeps all their eco-friendly news to their sedans such as the 2010 Civic Hybrid or the 2010 Insight Hybrid.
As for green Honda SUVs the 2010 CRV is leading the way with 28 mpg highway and its ultra- low-emissions vehicle (ULEV) status. But there is another Honda out there that deserves a little bit of credit. It’s the 2009 Honda Element. This SUV is considered car-like for the fact that is only seats four and maintains a boxy exterior. Its popularity comes from its versatility. The Element has 64 seating configurations, rear suicide doors, and a clamshell tailgate. It may not haul very many passengers but it can certainly be helpful in hauling other things.
The interior is cargo ready as well. The ’09 Element has urethane flooring for easy clean-up of sand or other particles. Anyone up for a beach trip? The rear seats can be folded or removed entirely for perfect surfboard storage.
The Element is also up to date on its interior technology. The EX or the sporty SC models also have optional voice-activated navigation, rear-camera, and USB digital media connectivity.
The 2009 Honda Element features an iVTEC 16-valve DOHC engine which provides reduced emissions and higher fuel economy. The Element gets around 20 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway for the 2WD model. Of course, turning the Element into a hybrid could greatly increase these stats but no such news from Honda at this point.
The ’09 Element starts around $20,275 coming in at #7 for ‘affordable compact SUVs’ on the U.S. News & World Report rankings.
When the first car and SUV hybrids came out everyone was so excited about these green vehicles. Some people bought and drove hybrids right away and felt pretty good about themselves. But in these bad economic times, most Americans really have to take a look at their spending more than ever, especially on big purchases such as vehicles. This drove people to start questioning if some of these hybrid versions are really worth the extra cash up front.
As consumers we usually compare vehicles but here at SUV LUV we are going to compare SUVs to themselves.
2009 Mazda Tribute VS 2009 Mazda Tribute HEV
Engines: The ’09 Mazda Tribute has a choice of a 2.5 liter engine with 171 horsepower or a 3.0 liter, V6 with 240 horsepower. The Tribute hybrid has an electric engine under the hood that can go up to 25 mph on its own, plus a 2.5 liter gas engine that kicks in when the extra power is needed. Zoom, Zoom!
Fuel Economy: The non-hybrid Tribute is available in 2WD or 4WD and in various trims. But, the 2WD with the 2.5 liter engine gets the best fuel economy over all the various models. It comes in at 22 mpg city and 28 mpg highway. Obviously, 4WD and a bigger engine cause the fuel economy to decrease by quite a bit. The Tribute HEV FWD model gets 34 mpg in the city and 31 mpg highway. The 4WD hybrid gets an astounding 29 mpg city and 27 mpg highway.
Price: The 2009 Mazda Tribute starts at $20,480 while the 2009 Mazda Tribute hybrid starts around $29,175.
Both vehicles have the same sporty exterior and comfortable interior carrying 5 passengers. Of course the HEV has a hybrid symbol on the exterior. The Tribute HEV and the regular Tribute 2WD are US EPA SmartWay Certified vehicles.
It seems that for a highway driver, the extra money may not make the most sense and a non-hybrid Tribute will still give you that green feeling. On the other hand if you’re a city driver the HEV blows the non-hybrid Tribute out of the water and you may want to consider paying a little more a month to balance out your out-of-pocket gas money.
The short answer for this question is the new 2010 Land Rover LR4. This new Land Rover was the old LR3 and is supposed to be on the market by October of this year. Land Rover’s website states that it has “new levels of power and economy”. The power part may be true but the economy part is a big disappointment. It is especially a let-down since there is a diesel version out overseas that actually does get great fuel economy and could make it onto the list of green SUVs.
The big change for the LR4 is not just the name but the engine. The 2010 Land Rover comes with a direct-injection 5.0 liter V8 engine which has horsepower at 375. Not only can this SUV pull over 7,700 lbs but it now can seat up to seven passengers. Most drivers enjoy the Land Rover for its off-road capabilities which now has an updated Terrain Response system to include a Sand Launch program. Not sure what a sand launch program is for, but apparently if you’re into sand launching you now can have the best of the best.
So the increase in power for the 2010 LR4 is true but not so much about the better economy. The 2010 Land Rover is still maintaining a measly 12 mph in the city and 17 mph on the highway. That seems to be what the LR3 was getting so not sure why some review sites are stating that there is a fuel efficiency improvement. But, there may be some hope left. The Euro-market has been introduced to a 3.0 TDI V6 version of the Land Rover. This diesel version of the LR4 has been getting 30 mpg plus on the British test cycle. Maybe Americans aren’t ready to lose a little engine power to get the green?
In any case, the choice Americans have now is the LR4 with the V8. For its lack of green, it certainly does cost a lot of green. The starting price will be around $45,000.
