Cheap Hybrid SUV: Toyota Highlander, Ford Escape, Lexus RX, Saturn Vue And Mercury Mariner Hybrid Vehicles

Humans are suddenly intensely focused on the natural world because the earth is warming up. A great debate drags on about the impact of human activity on the world's climate, but some people have chosen not to wait to reduce their personal output of carbon emissions. One option for reducing pollution is to switch from that gas guzzling SUV to a cheap hybrid SUV that employs green technology. A hybrid vehicle isn't a new idea. Ancient Greek boats with sails and oars were some of the earliest hybrids man invented. A cheap hybrid SUV is also a composite of two power sources, gasoline and electricity.

A cheap hybrid SUV is cheap on gas, not on quality. A cheap hybrid SUV integrates an efficient gasoline engine supplemented by a battery powered electrical motor. The powerful battery is recharged when the engine is running and also when the vehicle is braking using an innovation termed "regenerative braking". A cheap hybrid SUV provides all the versatility of a standard SUV while nearly doubling fuel economy.

Several automakers make a cheap hybrid SUV including Ford, Toyota and Saturn. The Ford Escape hybrid, also marketed as the Mercury Mariner hybrid, has a base price of about $25k and gets 34 mpg on the highway. This cheap SUV hybrid is available in front wheel drive (FWD), or four wheel drive (4WD) for about $2k more. The Ford Escape hybrid and Mercury Mariner hybrid feature a four cylinder 2.3l engine supplemented by an electric motor and a 330v batter pack. This cheap hybrid SUV shuts the engine down when braking or when stopped to reduce fuel consumption.

The Saturn Vue hybrid is another cheap hybrid SUV that boasts 32 mpg on the highway and a base price of under $23k. The Saturn Vue hybrid has a 2.4l gasoline engine and an electric motor assist. This cheap SUV hybrid also features regenerative braking and includes an aerodynamic body design and low resistance tires to increase fuel economy.

The Toyota Highlander hybrid is another cheap hybrid SUV that is also marketed as the luxury Lexus RX hybrid. This cheap hybrid SUV comes equipped with a V6 3.3l engine in either all wheel drive or front wheel drive models. The Toyota Highlander hybrid delivers excellent fuel efficiency with the AWD model providing 31 mpg and higher with the FWD model. The Lexus RX hybrid AWD retails for about $42.5k; the Toyota Highlander hybrid costs around $35k. This cheap SUV hybrid offers a higher standard of luxury and a more powerful standard engine.

A cheap hybrid SUV may be the answer to every soccer Mom's desire to drive green. Options are available from basic to luxurious and all provide exponential increases in fuel economy. The rising price of gasoline and increasing global temperatures are combining to fuel drivers' desire to lower consumption and decrease their carbon footprint on Mother Earth, so buying a cheap hybrid SUV makes sense.


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