Saturn Vue delivers best SUV highway fuel economy
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The Saturn Vue Green Line, due out later this summer, has received an EPA rating of 32 miles per gallon, the highest highway rating ever for an SUV, according to Automobile. In line with its mild hybrid technology, consisting of an integrated belt-driven starter-alternator, the highway efficiency is excellent, but its city driving efficiency of 27 mpg is lower than the comparable Ford Escape Hybrid, which is rated at 36 mpg in the city. The improved highway efficiency for the Vue can be attributed improved aerodynamics and an ECU that allows for fuel shut off on deceleration. Where the Vue Green Line really shines is the price department, undercutting the Ford Escape Hybrid by $4,000. Instead of a shift light street racers crave, the eco crowd gets an "eco" light in the Vue, warning the driver when the current fuel economy is higher than average. [Source: Automobile]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
mj10990 9:46AM (6/01/2006)
Ok, I don't mean to be a naysayer here, I am all for improved mpgs, but at what cost? I am not willing to sacrifice safety, a secure ride, for 6 or 7 miles per gallon.
I drive a 2006 Volvo XC90 T5, and get 20-21+ miles per gallon in a ULEV, 4700lb, roomy, comfortable, plenty powerful and safe vehicle.
I haven't driven the VUE Hybrid, but I doubt it is much improved over the HORRIFIC VUE I rented for a week last month while on a business trip. That vehicle was an excellent example of why GM is suffering. It barely got 22mpg, had dangerous handling, rattled and shook like it was having convulsions, and generally convinced me that I would never ever put anyone I cared about in a vehicle like that. I picked it with high hopes that it might be an affordable and practical alternative for me to consider. Very sad.
So do I need such a big vehicle as the Volvo? Well we traded in an 04 Tribute (Escape) due to reliability issues-and that vehicle, fully 1000lbs lighter, got 19-21mpgs. The CRV, RAV, and Forrester only give realistically a 5mpg savings for much less space and comfort and safety.
So the next time these idiotic anti-suv goofballs complain about the big SUVs, perhaps they should educate themselves.
For me, who drives over two ski mountains to get to work, who carries dogs and hardware and maybe even some family members and needs a big, safe vehicle, I (happening to be a liberal Democrat) say to the Anti-SUV crownd, BUZZ OFF.
The Saturn VUE Hybrid and Ford Escape Hybrids are a great idea. I am very glad they are making them-but it is ultimately an impractical vehicle because the mpg savings is nominal, and because it is based upon the disappointing and dangerous gas powered-VUE or the unreliable Escape.
Sorry folks-this Hybrid stuff really seems like smoke and mirrors to me. The plug ins are even worse, because these morons don't address the fact that the power plants generating the power for your plug are massive polluters.
Try learning how to drive. Europeans drive cars with smaller, more efficient engines, at higher speeds, more safely than do Americans.
Learn how to control a vehicle with smaller engine/hp, that you don't need 250lbs of torque to make it up a hill, that you don't have to jam on the brakes, stomp on the gas, etc, etc.
Sorry for the rant but this is ridiculous that all of a sudden we are going to make a big hoopla over GM producing a vehicle that gets 32mogs.
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Lithous 10:56AM (6/01/2006)
"I haven't driven the VUE Hybrid, but I doubt it is much improved over the HORRIFIC VUE I rented for a week last month while on a business trip."
What year was it? I see Honda Accord owners (as their other car) who also bought the 2006 VUE and really, really like it.
"That vehicle was an excellent example of why GM is suffering."
Except for the fact that, IIRC, it is outselling the Equinox last I heard. The 2006 model has many imporovements. From personal experience I have gotten 30 MPG highway driving the VUE ecotec automatic. Did you have the Honda engine or were you driving the VUE with no regards of obtaining good fuel economy?
And dangerous handling? Are you talking about Prius-like dangerous handling as described in the autoblog post as "a potentially faulty steering system component"? You better call Ralph Nader, he needs to know how dangerous the handling is on the VUE, more writing and more millions for him. Maybe because it was a rental car that the thing was abused. Could that be possible?
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Michael Karesh 11:50AM (6/01/2006)
$4,000 is merely the difference in base prices. It does not account for the following facts:
1. This is comparing the base price of the 2007 VUE with that of the 2006 Escape. The 2007 Escape's base price is about $800 lower than the 2006's.
2. The tax credit on the Escape is $1,300 larger than estimated for the VUE.
3. The Escape comes with a slightly higher level of standard equipment.
3. Saturn dealers don't discount, while Ford dealers do.
Adjust for these factors, and the gap between the two is about $1,000, not $4,000.
The site I created to facilitate accurate price comparisons:
http://www.truedelta.com
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Lithous 12:04PM (6/01/2006)
Yeah but if people are financing $4K more then interest is on $4K more also. Whether or not it is a tax break. AND, when you get a tax break you don't get $1300 back from the gov't you get to make your income $1300 less, correct? That makes for a different in-pocket monetary difference.
"The Escape comes with a slightly higher level of standard equipment."
The VUE comes with OnStar (I assume the hybrid does as all other 2006 VUEs do) which, IMO (and Lexus' and Acura's too apparently since they both have used it), is awesome. Though GM should be sharing the new Tahoe Nav with the VUE. It looks like it is in the Outlook from the pics I've seen.
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Atul 5:01PM (6/01/2006)
21 mpg on your AWD station wagon is not that efficient, less so than some car-based SUVs. (Your vehicle is more like 3,400 lbs). Compared to your Volvo, the VUE is more efficient and perhaps doesn't handle as well because it's taller, but it's by no means dangerous. It handles very well for a car-based SUV. I don't get the point of hybrid SUV's either, would not buy an SUV regardless of powertrain. But, an SUV that gets 32 mpg is better than the hundreds of thousands that get 16 mpg. Any fuel saved helps.
Many Americans (like myself) drive more efficient conventionally powered (non-hybrid) vehicles so it's not right to criticize all of us. My Saab 9-3 SportCombi weighs only 3,400 lbs, gets 22 mpg city 31 mpg highway out of a 2.0 liter turbo 4 cylinder engine and it has 221 lb-ft of torque. With mixed driving,I average 27 mpg.
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