Site RSS Feed2008 Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid
Hybrid VUE delivers space and economy
Mon, Jun 30th 2008
| VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS | |
|---|---|
| type | 5 door, suv - mid, 2wd |
| msrp | $25,645 |
| trans | automatic |
| gas mi. | 26mpg/32mpg |
| rating |  |
A monster SUV with four-wheel-drive is a great DogCar; problem is, with gas over $4 a gallon and no relief in sight, it's a DogCar few people can afford to operate and fewer still want to use for the daily commute.
So what do you do if you need room for your dogs, their gear and yours but want to go easy both on the environment and your gas-guzzling? The new hybrid SUVs and crossovers may be the answer for more and more people.
Fresh out of the box and worthy of consideration: The Saturn VUE Hybrid. It's a versatile SUV with enviable numbers of 26 mpg in the city and 32 on the highway, and a base price starting at a tick over $25,000 (and that includes a year of GM's OnStar service and the first three month of XM satellite radio).
As a DogCar, it's a winner. The seats fold flat, offering more than 56 square feet of cargo space for dogs, crates and gear. The one-piece tailgate is well-balanced for easy flip-up, and although the back deck is higher than those of us with older dogs would like, it's no problem for a young dog to jump in.
On the road, the Vue isn't exactly a muscle car, and it's wimpish on any kind of incline. While it’s fine on the flat, the hybrid drive seems to have a difficult time sometimes deciding which of its systems to engage.
But these technologies are still developing, and even now you can't beat the bottom line: A week of hauling dogs, supplies and gear with no problem and little gas used.
- Gina Spadafori
CARGUY COMMENTS: The 2008 Saturn Vue Green Line hybrid produces 172 horsepower by combining sophisticated controls with an electric motor/generator mated to a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine and a modified four-speed automatic transmission. The system saves fuel by providing an electric power assist during acceleration; shutting off the engine at idle; early fuel cut-off during deceleration and capturing energy through regenerative braking.
-- Keith Turner, The Family Car
Get a good Vue of this hybrid DogCar
Barking Lot Banter: Finally there’s a decent-sized DogCar that handles all the needs of an active canine-loving family, but still is kind to the environment and easy on the bank account.
