2008 Detroit Auto Show: 2009 Saturn Vue Green Line 2 Mode Hybrid

• Competes with: Ford Escape Hybrid, Mazda Tribute Hybrid, Mercury Mariner Hybrid, Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V
• Looks like: The regular Vue and other Vue Green Line, with a few tweaks
• Drivetrain: 3.6-liter direct-injection V-6 with four-speed automatic, two 55-kilowatt electric motors and a 300-volt nickel-metal-hydride battery
• Hits dealerships: Late 2008

In addition to having one of the longest model names you'll find, Saturn's 2009 Vue Green Line 2 Mode Hybrid also has the second application of GM’s two-mode "full" hybrid system, which first appeared on the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon and has since spread to other full-size GM SUVs and pickups. This makes it the first instance of 2 Mode in a front-wheel-drive model, too.

Saturn boasts that this car is the world's most efficient V-6 SUV, which is a fudge, because the only other hybrid V-6 SUVs are larger: the Toyota Highlander Hybrid and its Lexus sister, the RX 400h. More impressive is the claimed 50% improvement in mileage over the gas-only Vue. Less impressive, however, is the fact that they're comparing it to the gas-only Vue XR V-6 — which has exhibited disappointing fuel economy to start with — not the four-cylinder Vue or the other Vue Green Line. 

Wait? There's another Vue Green Line? Yes, Saturn will continue to sell the existing Green Line, a "mild" hybrid that improves efficiency by roughly 10% by turning off the engine at stoplights and some other basic hybrid tricks. The original Green Line uses a four-cylinder gas engine. The new 2 Mode version uses a direct-injection 3.6-liter V-6.

Of the 50% combined-mileage increase, Saturn says the greater benefit is in city driving, where it says drivers will see an improvement between 55 and 75%; the highway mileage boost is 15 to 25%. Certified EPA mileage figures haven’t been given yet, but these percentages would turn the Vue XR FWD's 16/23 mpg city/highway and 19 mpg combined ratings to roughly 25 to 28 mpg city and between 26.5 and 28.75 mpg highway, with a combined rating of almost 29 mpg.

For comparison, the four-cylinder Vue rates 19/26 and 22 mpg combined. The current Vue Green Line is rated 25/32 and 28 mpg combined. So why pay what’s sure to be a considerable premium for the 2 Mode when the simpler Green Line's combined mileage is so close? Saturn says the point is that the 2 Mode delivers this mileage with no sacrifice in acceleration (0-60 mph in 7.3 seconds) or towing (3,500 pounds). More photos below. 

Comments

[J]

4 speed? AGAIN?!

[Amuro Ray]

Building a hybrid for performance and towing reasons, rather than actual fuel savings?

Hello, Honda Accord Hybrid + Lexus RX Hybrids Lesson V2.0? Apparently, Saturn didn't study history very well...

[LM]

Blame GM. Also, how much more confusing can they make it? Oh, isn't there a third hybrid system they're concocting?

[opps Dan the Man]

I guess we can go to the other small CUV offering thats affordable...

...oh wait, nobody makes one!

[LM]

Escape, Sportage, Tuscon, CRV, RAV4, Forrester, Nitro, Grand Vitara, Rogue, oh my the list is long.

Get a clue
http://research.cars.com/go/crp/buyingGuides/Story.jsp?year=New§ion=SUV&subject=SUV&story=compact

[Dan the Man]

we're talking about HYBRIDS! After all, its a post for the HYBRID Saturn VUE...

so when I ask about other CUV's I mean HYBRIDS!

I think someone needs to pay attention to the flow of the conversation, dumbass.

Thanks

Dan the Man

[Dan the Man]

the ford escape may be a hybrid, but it's so far behind the market that its not a competitor to the saturn vue.

[Dave T.]

It would just be the Ford Escape Hybrid DTM.

[Amuro Ray]

Guys, obviously DTM has a limited education level; he doesn't understand what people are telling him, as he can only see the "surface" of a sentence and not the next level.

What he doesn't understand is that, for the price paid on this Hybrid, there are plenty of CUVs out there that offer
(1) Close to this Hybrid's fuel economy;
(2) Cost less;
(3) Less maintenance cost in future;
(4) Reliability concern (after all, this is BRAND NEW).

Thus, there's really NO NEED to compare this hybrid with another hybrid, when this hybrid itself doesn't provide much advantage on fuel economy (which is what hybrid is really for). If this hybrid can produce fuel economy way better than, say, a Ford Escape Hybrid, then THAT'S impressive...

See, that's why getting proper education is crucial to our society :)

[J]

Who is the dumbass?
Isn't the Escape Hybrid (plus the Mariner Hybrid) a compact CUV?

[Jim F.]

I really can't understand GM's emphasis on performance over fuel economy. I wish they had offered two engine options on the Vue two mode hybrid - a V6 for the folks who desire performance and a Ecotech 4 for those desiring fuel economy.

[Jim F.]

I really can't understand GM's emphasis on performance over fuel economy. I wish they had offered two engine options on the Vue two mode hybrid - a V6 for the folks who desire performance and a Ecotech 4 for those desiring fuel economy.

[Dan the Man]

J,

Didn't I say that earlier? It's right up there! If you would read the comments, you would have picked up on that.

The dumbass is still you.

[Amuro Ray]

DTM said, "I guess we can go to the other small CUV offering thats affordable...

...oh wait, nobody makes one!"

Response: Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner/(2008) Mazda Tribute Hybrids.

Dumbass: Dan = 1; All others = 0.

DTM then realized his 1st dumbass mistake and modify his original statement, "the ford escape may be a hybrid, but it's so far behind the market that its not a competitor to the saturn vue."

Response: Ford Escape/Mecury Mariners sales: approx 200000 units. Saturn Vue 84767 units.

* Note: Neither Ford nor GM releases specific Hybrid sales. The total number has to be used. As a result, an assumption that the same % of hybrids have been sold by both Ford & Saturn needs to be made.

Ford outsold Saturn by more than 2 times. Ford is WAY AHEAD in terms of the sales.

Dumbass: Dan = 2; All others = 0 (still)

Result: Dumbass = Dan

[J]

Dan,
Of course I read it.
Sales is not the topic of interest that we were discussing about. We were discussing about what compact hybrid CUV is in the market. If you can't even understand what we were discussing, I guess you don't even have the right to tell me to read your comment.

[cody]

performance with this setup should be exceptional. the 3.6L Direct Injection V6 makes over 300hp in Cadillac applications. I wonder how much this CUV will weigh though. The base Vue is already a little on the chubby side.

By the way, the reason it's a 4sp auto is because that's what GM (and BMW and Daimler Chrysler) started out with when they began developing this technology. Will you guys bitch about the 4sp when it's in a BMW too?

[king]

My ideal vehicle would have a moderate amount of towing capability, have enough power to be confident at highway speeds and get good gas mileage. so far the only models I have liked are the rav4 and the highlander hybrid (bit $$ for me though). we'll see what the final specs are but I am excited about this vue version.