Do you have a hybrid SUV? Please share...

[TheLittleRoo]

I'm considering an American made hybrid SUV. I've found the Ford Escape and the Mercury Mariner. Consumer Reports gives the Escape good marks, and it seems like a winner to me. But before we go too much further in considering a hybrid, I'd like to hear from others who've owned one and see what the consensus is.

Do you get really good gas mileage? Does it feel like it has no power (oomph!)? What do you like and/or dislike about your hybrid? Are there any other American made SUV hybrids out there?

Thanks!

 

[myAAbatteries&aTD]

I'm interested in this, too..... I know Chevrolet Suburban was coming out with a hybrid but last I checked they hadn't put a price tag on it yet..... my dh test drove a Prius last week for commuting purposes and the salesman told him it was more for in-town driving than on the highway, which is what we need it for....

 

[savage1]

I actully owe the Saturn Vue Hybrid. It gets btw 28-30mpg. I've never had any problem with power. I have owed a couple of Saturn and have never had any problems with them. Great service. The Saturn Vue "hybrid markup" is considerably less than Ford. Plus check with your state for hybrid rebate. Btw my state and federal rebates, I pretty much took care of the difference. My model year is 2007, but I know they redesigned the 2008, a little smaller.

 

[Jeanne B]

The last time I priced a hybrid Escape (4WD) over a year ago it was significantly more than the standard Escape and there really wasn't a huge improvement in the gas mileage, unlike my parents Honda hybrid which gets as much as 60mpg. I ended up buying a 4WD Toyota Rav that gets 25mpg and I have no regrets about not getting an SUV hybrid but if I was in the market for a front wheel drive car I would definitely consider a hybrid.

 

[TheLittleRoo]

What are the restrictions on the tax deduction? As in, if I'm the second owner buying used, can I take it? Or only the retail purchaser gets to take it when it comes off the lot?

I read online the Tahoe/ Yukon hybrids are coming in this year around $50K. Way too rich for my blood!

I also just learned it's mostly gas saving for in-town. The combustion engine kicks in at speeds over 40mpg. Wow, that's a surprise to me to have better fuel economy at lower speeds!

 

[DisneyDotty]

DH drives an Escape Hybrid. It gets great gas mileage in stop and go traffic--but not so much on the highway. Not sure of actual numbers--I'm thinking he said it was around 26 mpg--better than my VW Beetle.
We like the room the cargo area offers--can fit two kids, two dogs and luggage for a weekend away (yes, we are cozy though!)
He drives highway a lot--no problems whatsoever with power/merging/passing--plenty of pep. Love it when we're slowing down and engine shuts off--so quiet!
The only negative with the Ford is the dealership--service just isn't the same as we receive from our VW dealer. We've found that to be true with our Chevy, as well. American auto dealers we've worked with could learn a lesson from VW (sorry to say.)

 

[harleyquinn]

There is a weath of information out there and so many new technologies coming out in the next year. Try www.edmunds.com they have a whole 'green advisor' site.

I've been reserching this for over a year and I've decided to not buy a hybrid. If money savings is your reason the upfront cost of th hybrid takes forever to recoup. But my main reason was the newer and WAY better technologies that will be available in the next few years. We're going to buy a compact SUV this year and buy some sort of hybrid in 3 or 4 years to replace our second car.

But if you have to go that way this year, I also suggest you look at the Saturn Vue. The mileage difference isn't as large as it is with 'true' hybrids, but the upfront cost difference is so much lower.

Of course the Vue is a small SUV so if you the space, I've heard great things about both vehicles you mentioned. So go to edmunds and do your research!

 

[ceecee]

Our friend has the Saturn Vue and he really likes it and it gets around 28 mpg. It's strange because everything time you stop for a while it sounds like it turns off.

 

[debbi801]

I'm considering an American made hybrid SUV. I've found the Ford Escape and the Mercury Mariner. Consumer Reports gives the Escape good marks, and it seems like a winner to me. But before we go too much further in considering a hybrid, I'd like to hear from others who've owned one and see what the consensus is.

Do you get really good gas mileage? Does it feel like it has no power (oomph!)? What do you like and/or dislike about your hybrid? Are there any other American made SUV hybrids out there?

Thanks!

I have a 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid that I bought new. I absolutely love it. I'd by it again in a second. The 2008's are even nicer IMO.

I have the front wheel drive version (not the 4-wheel drive version). I get 30-33 MPG, depending on how much the a/c is being used, whether it is me or DH doing the driving, etc. I have 3 kids -- DS 15, DD 13, and DS 6 (still in a booster seat) and all 5 of us can fit in it without anyone feeling cramped.

It handles well in the snow (although we don't get a whole lot of it in Maryland). It has always had plenty of oomph for me and even for DH when he drives it. We can fit lots of stuff in the back, too.

HTH!

 

[TheLittleRoo]

I have a 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid that I bought new. I absolutely love it. I'd by it again in a second. The 2008's are even nicer IMO.

I have the front wheel drive version (not the 4-wheel drive version). I get 30-33 MPG, depending on how much the a/c is being used, whether it is me or DH doing the driving, etc. I have 3 kids -- DS 15, DD 13, and DS 6 (still in a booster seat) and all 5 of us can fit in it without anyone feeling cramped.

It handles well in the snow (although we don't get a whole lot of it in Maryland). It has always had plenty of oomph for me and even for DH when he drives it. We can fit lots of stuff in the back, too.

HTH!

You are exactly the person I'd hoped to hear from! We're considering a 2006, which didn't get as good marks from Consumer Reports as the 2005. Not sure why, other than some issues with the brakes and minor drive train. Enough to worry over just a little. That said, it sounds like you haven't had any problems with your 2006? Would you recommend buying a 2006 used or a 2008 new? Did you get to take the tax credit when you bought yours?

Thanks!!

 

[myAAbatteries&aTD]

On the tax credit, I believe they are only giving them up until a certain number are purchased. The more hybrids that are purchased, the lower the tax credit - I do believe that it is specific for each hybrid but I could be misinformed.... just something to check into before purchasing, so you know how much of a break you will get....

 

[dpratt68]

My parents love their escape hybrid. they drove in december from MA to FL and it cost them $130 in gas.

 

[KelNottAt]

I know the OP is interested in American-made. But, I'm wondering if anyone has experience with the hybrid Toyota Highlander.

Thoughts?

 

[luvavacation]

If anyone is interested, I have used this site to help me decide if a hybrid is the way to go for us, as it is a calculator into which you put your car mileage info, price of gas, etc... http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/savemoney.shtml

We have also been looking at hybrids, the 2008 Toyota Highlander specifically. I like and need the room, I like the Toyota hybrid quality, but not the price. However, using the above calculator and current gas prices in our area (3.60+), we will see a savings in under 4 years, and since we keep our cars for 10 years, it may be worthwhile to bite the bullet and pay big in the beginning. After 10 years of my badly built van that gets 10 mpg, and putting in $3,000 to $4,000 worth of work every year for the last 4 years, and now the air conditioning system is broken and needs to be replaced (again!), we are ready to buy something more reliable that will still satisfy our needs. I'd love to buy American, unfortunately the Tahoe is the only American hybrid that is big enough for us, and I just don't trust the system, and the much bigger price tag and not that much better mileage make the decision for us. I hope the calculator can help someone else make their decision easier!

 

[debbi801]

You are exactly the person I'd hoped to hear from! We're considering a 2006, which didn't get as good marks from Consumer Reports as the 2005. Not sure why, other than some issues with the brakes and minor drive train. Enough to worry over just a little. That said, it sounds like you haven't had any problems with your 2006? Would you recommend buying a 2006 used or a 2008 new? Did you get to take the tax credit when you bought yours?

Thanks!!

We bought it new and got the tax credit. I don't know if you can take it if you buy one used.

There are a lot of things I like about the newer version, but I've never done a side-by-side comparison between my 2006 and the 2008 to see if it would really be worth it. I have 2 slight irritations with mine... one I am pretty sure got changed with the 2008, the other I'm not sure about.

Firstly, the front cup holders in the 2006 are in an awkward position and the one interferes with the console in between the 2 seats--only small cups fit there because the console overlaps the cup holder. From what I've seen in pictures, that has changed in 2008.

Secondly, with the 2006, the A/c only runs when the engine is running. (Compared to the PRIUS, in which the a/c runs off the battery power, not engine power). So, if you're in stop and go traffic, the a/c cuts off every time the engine cuts off unless you change it to max-a/c. If it's on max a/c, the engine runs all the time along with the a/c and your mpg goes down accordingly. I don't know if they changed this with the re-vamped 2008, but I would hope so.

My 30-33 mpg is a combo of highway and stop-and-go driving--I spend about 60% of my time driving on the highway. So, it may be better if it was only stop-and-go local traffic.

I have almost 36K miles on it and have had to do nothing to it maintenance-wise other than oil changes and tire rotations.

HTH! Let me know if I can answer any other questions.

 

[TheLittleRoo]

Thanks PP for the insight on your 2006! My DH is trying to back away from hybrids worrying that the only place you could get them repaired would be the local Ford stealerships - - and they always overprice!

He's also worried the smallest repair would be expensive because of the technology. Has anyone had to have repairs to the engine, drivetrain, transmission, etc? Was the bill 3x what a normal internal combustion engine style auto would run?

Thanks!

 

[Golf4food]

FYI on the tax credits - you only receive a tax credit on NEW purchases. USED vehicles are NOT eligible. The credit also is limited to the first 60,000 hybrids sold by each manufacturer. So Toyota has already sold over 60,000 hybrids (Prius mostly) and therefore you don't get a full credit any longer on Toyota hybrids. Ford has not yet sold 60,000 hybrids so you still receive the full credit for your hybrid Ford if you buy it new. Partial credits are available on a phasing out basis once a make reaches 60,000 sold (50% credit, 25% credit, then zero credit).

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/tax_hybrid.shtml

The Saturn Vue Greenline is not a true hybrid and really gets only marginally better mileage than the non-greenline vue. I have seen many people capable of getting over 45 mpg with the Ford Escape hybrid. (On average however, 30-35 mpg is much more likely under normal driving conditions and habits.)

Check out www.greenhybrid.com and their forums for some truly crazy mileage levels. They are called "hypermilers".