Mar 31, 2007 04:30 AM
Peter Bleakney
Special to the Star
Hybrids good. SUVs bad.
If you've just dropped in on planet Earth to peruse a few newspapers and watch a bit of TV, you could be forgiven for arriving at that over-simplified assessment of our personal transportation conundrum.
Concern over global warming and carbon dioxide emissions has brought two automotive players to the forefront.
The gas-electric hybrid is seen as somewhat of a saviour, while the sport utility vehicle plays the part of the villain. Just look at the new federal budget's penalty/incentive program.
So what do you get when you combine these apparently divergent concepts? A no-good do-gooder? The automotive equivalent of friendly fire?
Not so fast.
Today we're looking at two SUV hybrids: the $62,250 Lexus RX 400h and the $29,060 Saturn Vue Green Line. Dimensionally, the two vehicles are within an organically grown leek's width of each other, but beyond that (and the hybrid badges) they are very different.
Lexus RX 400h
Price: Base/as tested $62,250/$70,700
Engine: 3.3 L V6 with Hybrid Synergy Drive
Power/torque: 268 hp; 212 lb.-ft.
Fuel consumption: (L/100 km) city 7.7, hwy. 8.3, as tested 9.1
Competition: Ford Escape HEV 4x4, Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Mercedes ML320 CDI
What's best: Have your cake and eat it, too
What's worst: Pricey cake
What's interesting: Enviro hot rod for the well-heeled
Federal rebate: $1,000
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Saturn VUE Green Line
Price: Base/as tested $29,060/$30,580
Engine: Ecotec 2.4 L 4-cyl. with BAS Hybrid Propulsion Equipment
Power/torque: 170 hp/ 162 lb.-ft.
Fuel consumption: (L/100 km) city 8.8, hwy. 6.7, as tested 9.1
Competition: Ford Escape HEV (front-wheel drive)
What's best: Frugal and functional
What's worst: Not much fun to drive
What's interesting: Simple but effective hybrid system
Federal rebate: $1,000
http://www.thestar.com/Wheels/article/197441