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Old 05-16-2008, 04:07 PM
BigTuna BigTuna is offline
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Posts: 162
Default Re: Hybrid SUV? What's the point?

Quote:
Originally Posted by briansabeans View Post
I'm sure I'm just asking to get flamed, but this is a legitimate topic. For me, if you are going to "go hybrid" and get a fuel efficient car, why would you get a much less fuel efficient car just because it has a hybrid engine?
You won't get flamed too bad here, almost everyone here thinks a lot like you do.

That said there are great reasons to have hybrid SUVs/pickups. A hybrid SUV will actually save just as much gas as a hybrid car. Here is the math:


Quote:
A regular Civic (29 mpg EPA combined) would use 414 gallons a year (12, 000 miles).

A hybrid Civic (42 mpg EPA combined) would use 286 gallons a year.

Total savings 128 gallons per year.



A Tahoe (17 mpg EPA combined) would use 706 gallons a year.

The Tahoe 2 mode (21 mpg estimated) would use 571 gallons a year.

Total savings 135 gallons per year.
Certainly not everyone with a SUV "needs" one but some people do and some people are going to buy one anyway so in those cases a hybrid provides a higher mileage alternative.

You are not going to pull a boat or a big landscape trailer behind a Prius.....