The first hybrid cars on the road, such as the Prius and Civic, were compact and boasted efficient fuel economy. But to please customers still in love with SUVs and worried about high gas prices, some automakers have offered hybrid petrol-electric models.
Hybrid SUVs are marketed in three main sizes: full-size, medium and compact. The compact ones offer the greatest savings compared to their non-hybrid counterparts.
Full-size models provide not so noticeable savings, but they retain their parameters of carrying capacity, comfort and roominess, which for some motorists remains a fundamental factor. Mid-size models offer a combination of some of the benefits of both small and large SUVs.
Full-size hybrid SUVs offered by General Motors: Cadillac Escalade, GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Tahoe. They all operate on a dual-mode hybrid system developed jointly by GM, BMW and DaimlerChrysler. In the first mode, the car runs only on electricity, only on gas, or a combination of both, for city driving.
The second mode is for highway driving, in which the 6.0-liter V-8 with 332 horsepower does most of the work with an electric motor. The GM system also has the ability to deactivate cylinders, whereby half of the cylinders can be closed when not required, for example in stop-and-go city driving. GM hybrids also have a 300-volt nickel-metal hydride battery.
Toyota and Lexus serve the mid-sized hybrid SUV market. The Toyota Highlander combines an electric motor of up to 209 horsepower with a 3.0-liter V-6 petrol engine. Toyota's luxury division Lexus offers the RX450h as a mid-size hybrid model. Lexus combines a 3.5-liter V-6 with an electric motor that together produces 295 horsepower and 30-32 mpg city and 28 highway mpg.
One of the first hybrid SUVs to hit the market was the compact Ford Escape Hybrid, which came out in 2004. This is an interesting model, both in terms of design and in terms of the combination of properties of economy, safety and reliability.
Overall, when choosing the right hybrid SUV, consider how much you want from the vehicle and how much you can afford to pay. Hybrids are more expensive than their non-hybrid counterparts, and the gas savings won't be enough to offset the vehicle's higher price tag. Regardless, the plus of a hybrid is also that it pollutes the air less and will always be better in terms of environmental protection, although this will not affect your wallet.
