Green for the Green

There are plenty of eco-friendly SUV options that sell at a reasonable price but it’s true that many are quite expensive. Many people buy these SUVs to have the greenest luxury around. If you love extravagance, here are three green 2010 SUVs that really take a lot of green to get.

The Lexus RX hybrid10 is a luxury green SUV starting at $42,685. It has a 3.5-liter V6 engine that gets around 295 horsepower. Adding all wheel drive bumps the price another $2,000. Adding features such as a moon roof, and LCD display, and navigation with traffic updates brings the total to over $52,000. There isn’t much this SUV doesn’t have and it gets 28 mpg in the city and 26 mpg highway.

Next on the green luxury list is the 2010 Chevy Tahoe hybrid. Chevy prides itself as this hybrid is a full-size SUV with 332 horsepower and 367 lb-ft of torque. It gets 21 mpg city and 22 mpg highway. The Tahoe hybrid starts at $50,720. To get its extras such as power sunroof, entertainment system, spare wheel, and chrome door handles the price gets closer to 60K.

One of the biggest and most expensive hybrid SUVs is the GMC Yukon Denali hybrid. This upgraded version of the Yukon starts at over $58,000. This hybrid has GM’s Electrically Variable Transmission (EVT) and Energy Storage System in conjunction with a 6.0-liter V-8 gasoline engine. Its fuel economy comes in at 21 mpg city and 22 mpg highway. Adding on sunroof, rear entertainment and navigation, a rearview camera, security system and all the works gets this Yukon priced at over $66,000.

The high price on these hybrids is not only because they are the definition of luxury, but because of their greener hybrid engines without the loss of power. Each of these SUV’s non-hybrid brothers are already costly so why not go for the total package and choose the cleaner model.

Lexus RX10

The most affordable ‘luxury utility vehicle’ made by Lexus is the RX series. It doesn’t lack in luxurious extras but the cost is significantly lower than any other SUVs offered by this stylish auto company. The consumer has two choices, the Lexus RX 350 or the Lexus RX 450 hybrid (RX 450h). For 2010 Lexus’ is referring to these vehicles as the RX10 and the RX hybrid 10. With all the nicknames, letters, and numbers it’s a bit confusing but we really are only discussing two vehicles here.

The base model, the RX 350 is a crossover with a more car-like look than a SUV. It also has been reviewed as handling more like a sedan. Very sleek in design, the 2010 RX 350 comes standard with a 3.5 liter, V6 engine. Test drivers say the 2010 model has a lighter feel and overall handles better than previous years, yet it comes packed with 275 horsepower capability.

The RX 350’s hybrid brother is the RX 450 hybrid. Same standard design, but the 2010 model has a smarter hybrid with better efficiency, lighter in weight, and a water cool system. It also comes with a 3.5 liter, hybrid V6 engine. With hybrid and gas power combined, the RX10 hybrid gets a boasting 295 horsepower. This is quite an increase from previous year models.

The big question for the buyers is whether or not to buy the hybrid or base model. The base model’s fuel economy is around 18 mpg city and 25 mpg highway. The hybrid (RX450) blows the base out of the water with 32 mpg city and 28 mpg highway. Most of the time the price difference is astounding but in this case the base starts at $37,250 and the hybrid starts around $41,660. With not much difference in price but laying out huge numbers in fuel economy, the hybrid takes the cake.

Move Over 2009!

Even though the year 2009 just begun, in the auto world it is already over. The 2009 SUVs are old hash and the 2010 models are now making their debut. The luxury brand Lexus is releasing a new version of their RX 400h, renamed the RX 450h. New for 2010 this hybrid SUV has been given more power, better fuel economy, and a few other new trimmings.

Similar to the added power of the Ford Escape, the Lexus RX 450h has been taken from a 3.3 liter engine to a 3.5 liter, V-6. Lexus claims the 450h has 295 horsepower, 27 more than the old 400h. Just as the previous Lexus hybrid SUV, this newer model has a full hybrid system in addition to the powerful gas engine. The full hybrid still allows for electric-only idling and acceleration. Its nickel-metal hydride battery pack is still in place but has shrunk just a bit and fits easily under the rear seat.

Fuel economy still ranks well. The 450h gets 1 more mpg than the outgoing model bringing the total to 27 mpg for the all-wheel-drive model and 28 for the front-wheel-drive. A few other minor changes include a wider rear suspension, Lexus’ electric steering, (seen in other Lexus vehicles but new to the 450h), and some updated technology to the onscreen console.

Test drivers of the Lexus RX 450h are reporting that they do feel the difference in the upgraded power of the SUV. Lexus is still getting great reviews for its smooth ride, electric engine, and luxurious interior.

Lexus’ hybrid SUV is growing in popularity even though it has a heftier price tag than the Ford or Toyota hybrids. The current Lexus hybrid is around $42,000. This new, powerful RX 450h will hit showroom floors in early Summer 09.

Luxury Can Go Green!

Lexus, a division of Toyota Motor Sales has three elegant and luxurious SUVs on the market but they also have an environment friendly edition to that line. The RX 400 hybrid is considered a “crossover” vehicle that can be purchased as an all wheel drive or front wheel drive.

The Lexus RX 400h is very eco-friendly. It has actually been certified as a super ultra-low emission vehicle. This means that it does not give off as much toxic fumes as the average new vehicle. Lexus claims that it reduces smog-forming emissions by 70%. This SUV estimates 27 mpg in the city and 24 highway for the front wheel drive models. The all wheel drive is just a bit behind with 26 city and 24 highway.

What makes the RX 400h such a big deal is its power. The 2008 model can go zero to 60 in 5.2 seconds. Even though it has a V6 engine, it has the power of a V8 due to the electric-drive motor. With the engine and electric motor combined it has 268 horsepower and can tow up to 3500 lbs.

This powerful, luxurious, environment friendly SUV does not come cheap. The 2008 RX 400h starts around 43,000. Buyers can add a voice activated navigation system and blue tooth technology. With the extra package this brings the grand total to $50,000. It is possible to buy it previously owned. The Rx 400h made its U.S. debut in 2006.