Update: Porsche Cayenne Hybrid

The Porsche Cayenne hybrid has been rumored for a couple of years now and it’s finally going to happen. The auto company will be putting out a hybrid version of the Cayenne which will be available this fall. The non-hybrid 2011 Cayenne will also get a few upgrades and be released around the same time.

The Cayenne has been a powerful SUV and Porsche doesn’t want to disappoint with the hybrid model. Even though this SUV has a lot of weight to carry around, it is still expected to get around 380 horsepower. The power will be coming from a 3.0-liter V6 gas engine combined with its electric engine. This hybrid SUV can go from 0 to 60 in about 6.5 seconds and tops out around 150 miles per hour. The electric engine can run alone up to 40 miles per hour and will kick on once the SUV has reached a cruising speed. At a cruising speed, the gas engine will turn off, saving even more fuel than ever.

The expected fuel economy is 23 miles per gallon in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. Porsche went to great lengths to drop some of the original weight the Cayenne was carrying. They replaced several heavy, metal parts of the SUV’s frame with aluminum. Porsche also put in an all-wheel-drive system that was much lighter. Overall, the Cayenne hybrid lost around 400 lbs, allowing it to get decent gas mileage.

The 2011 Porsche Cayenne hybrid will be on the market for $67,700 later this year. Its non-hybrid base brother will have a V6 engine and 300 horsepower for the bargain price of $46,700. The hybrid model is the greenest but if being eco-friendly is not your number one concern; the Cayenne Turbo V8 will be going for $104,800.

2009 Hybrid SUV Comparison (Full-Size)

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.