LA Times says the Saturn Vue Green Line hybrid is really more chartreuse
When is a hybrid not really a hybrid? When it's a "mild" hybrid, with a battery pack that can slightly improve fuel economy, but cannot drive the car on its own. The Saturn Vue Green Line is one of these mild hybrids, and the LA Times' Dan Neil was certainly unimpressed with it. He calls the Vue "as conventional as Victorian sex", a great phrase to describe this unexciting SUV. In fact, Neil's full of clever wordings that express his dislike of this vehicle. After doing a lot of comparisons of fuel savings and hybrid premium cost, he busts out this: "As much fun as playing with a calculator is, let's stow it for now and answer the question: What's the Vue GL like from behind the wheel? Well, all things considered, I think I'd rather be under the wheels." Ouch. You can read the whole article here, and see that in the end he has more for the Vue hybrid than pure scorn, he just wishes it could be more.
Related:
[Source: LA Times/Dan Neil, hat tip to starlightmica]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jimmy 11:46PM (10/26/2006)
The article is wrong on many points.
Mileage:
So EPA combined mileage is 45% highway and 55% city.
VUE 4-cyl auto: (22*.55)+(27*.45) = 24.25 mpg
VUE mild hybrid: (27*.55)+(32*.45) = 29.25 mpg
24.25*1.2062=29.250350
So, the VUE mild hybrid is indeed a 20% improvement of the standard 4-cyl auto and Mr. Neil can't do math.
Cost:
VUE 4-cyl auto MSRP: $19,145
VUE greenline MSRP: $22,370
So, the greenline costs $3,225 more.. BUT that includes items which are optional on the regular VUE:
$400 alloy wheels
$600 ABS and traction control
$353 rear spoiler
$170 chrome skid plates
$ 80 floor mats
The 2.2L (ECOTEC) and 2.4 (ECOTEC VVT) engines are widely used by GM. The 2.4 is a newer, more advanced engine and based on other models represents a $595 premium.
So, if we do the math:
$3225-($400+$353+$80+$170+$600+$595) = $1027
So the mild hybrid powertrain represents $1027 in addition cost and returns a 20% improvement in mileage (based on EPA of course, as always YMMV).
As far as his "advanced-chemistry battery" statement, the VUE greenline uses the same NiMH technology as every other hybrid.
Chasis:
The current Saturn VUE chasis is rather old and clunky, the author is correct in that regard. However, the all-new 2008 Saturn VUE will be unveiled at the LA Auto Show next month. The 2008 VUE will be on sale in 2007 and is based on the new Opel Antara.
Reply
Driver's Notebook 3:06AM (10/27/2006)
Many would sure be disappointed as by just basing from the exterior, you'd expect a full-fledged hybrid vehicle. Well sad to say, it seems that the Vue Green Line is not that green after all.
Reply
roar 7:22AM (10/27/2006)
Popular Mechanics just stated that the Hybrid System used in this vehicle has a number of advantages over other systems and voted the Vue Hybrid the best overall system for energy efficiency. Who to believe. I just did read that Saturn is the 4th most green auto producer in the world, considering all enviormental factors. I have driven the product, it works quite well. Decide for yourself. roar
Reply
Glenn 8:19AM (10/27/2006)
When Toyota cut the premium for their full hybrid system in half (in the works, to be on the road in a couple of years), then any reason for light hybrids to exist will entirely evaporate.
Call me nuts, but my opinion is that IF you are going to go to the expense of placing traction batteries in a car (i.e. make it a hybrid) in order to recapture the otherwise entirely wasted kinetic energy, why not build the car around the system instead of "converting" a "conventional car"?
A 20% improvement in MPG is nice, the price premium is about 1/2 of Toyota's right now - but my Prius obtains 100% improvement over my conventional mid-sized V6 car with virtually the same functionality (in fact, the hatchback Prius can do many things my wife's sedan cannot - like haul at 27" HDTV in the box, and a Honda snowblower in the car - obviously not at the same time...)
My opinion is that car companies not fully embracing hybrid tech will not be around in 5 years. GM included, DCX included and Ford included (since they had a good start but now have back-pedalled). Possibly even Nissan included.
When (not if) gas prices spike to UK levels in the US (i.e. $9 a US gallon), NOTHING "conventional" will sell. We're maybe 4-5 years away from that.
How come I can say that? Because, it's quite simple. There's only so much refinery capacity and oil available, the Chinese and Indians are increasing their standards of living as are the Russians, the Chinese and Russians particularly are grabbing all the oil capacity they can, and I've gone to college and studied Economics 101, plus have a brain and can figure out "the signs of the times" which are right in front of us for anyone to see.
Light hybrid systems are simply a waste of space, time and batteries.
Reply
ksmith 8:35AM (10/27/2006)
Dan Neil is a pompous ass who has no business reviewing automobiles. And you, Sebastian, should do more to cover up your blatant biases.
Reply
roar 10:02AM (10/27/2006)
#4. Your comments are worthwhile. Who exactly is ignoring Hybrid's? GM? Ford? DCX? Saturn sold a all electric vehicle in the early 90's, it had a long way to go before it became a main stream vehicle but stopped because it's acceptance by the public was very low. If gas had not gone up like it had, the Prius would be a niche vehicle, nothing else. Hybrid has a purpose and needs to be in every automakers line up, but long term other alternatives have to be developed, cars will not be the big winner in this game, houses, offices, etc will make the most difference. Also, the current energy companies have a huge incentive to keep fuel reasonably priced, if not alternatives will make economic sense and become viable. The price of fuel is driven by taxes in Europe, the rest of the costs are the same. roar
Reply
Flashdaddy 10:10AM (10/27/2006)
I'll admit that the Toyota and Honda hybrid systems are more exciting than light hybrids, but a 20% improvement is significant, even if it doesn't meet all the requirements to be a trendy pick. The engineering reality is that GM could implement this strategy in 100% of it's vehicles before Honda and Toyota could with their systems, and do so with little price penalty. A 20% improvement in GMs fleet would have quite an impact. Clearly it isn't a miracle pill, and isn't a multi-decade solution, but it's a step in the right direction and shouldn't be ignored just because it doesn't plug-in or move under electric power only. Now if GM Performance would offer a kit to retrofit existing cars to light hybrids, that would be revolutionary and something the lower middle class could embrace.
Reply
thomas 8:53PM (10/28/2006)
The Greenline gets better mileage than the highlander "full" hybrid. What's this guy's problem?
Reply
MikeW 3:03PM (10/30/2006)
The highlander/rx400 use the crappy old 3.3 V6 engine.
Toyota could/should have used a transverse mounted 3gr-fse engine. Way better.
This a pure front driver. The escape has the haldex coupling and a driveshaft. The RX/Highlander have a rear mounted electric motor [optional]
Highlander 32/27 & 31/27. VUE 27/32
The 2.4 I4 in the VUE is a premium fuel engine, says GM, and so is the 3.3 V6-only 208hp though, due to shorter duration camshafts and commensurately lower redline 5600 versus 5800.
He is wrong about Honda, they don't have a 'strong' hybrid. The new civic can only go about 5mph on electric power alone.
Reply