I regret not having the time to test drive the Saturn VUE SUV at HybridFest 2006. For that matter, never had the chance to drive any other hybrid.
The reports on the dash were not raving to put if mildly. It looked almost like a conventional dash. While not hybrid per see, I can't think of a respectable hybrid without a dashboard that clearly gives you instant mpg, trip mpg, the charging, the discharging, etc....
Think Steve V started a thread about the video arcade aspect of hybrids. It's like a video game of seeing how good your fuel economy can be. It's addicting and the general public is simply unaware that it's why so many hybrid drivers are going below the pack speed.
I'm suprized that GM did not make a better dash. Getting a typical hybrid dash would have been an extra $100 max. After market, you can go to
www.scangage.com and put down $169 to get your instant mpg and at least 25 other functions.
I hope GM upgrades their dash soon.