The Low-Cost Green Option

The 2009 Vue hybrids came out in August but some area dealers still carry less expensive 2008 models, which were the first of the redesigned series. The 2008 models were in short supply over the last year because of a battery problem. The battery was fixed and many dealerships were sent shipments of the corrected 2008 models in July, which ran into the debut of the more expensive 2009 model the following month.

The result is a potentially great deal for Baltimoreans in the market for a low-cost entryway to the so-called car green market.

“For buyers looking to try get into the hybrid market, it’s a great starter vehicle,” said Jason Sponseller, sales manager at Saturn of Ellicott City.

The five passenger Vue “one mode” hybrid shuts off the four-cylinder gasoline engine at traffic stops, gives a boost of power on acceleration through electric motors and uses regenerative braking to channel kinetic energy back to the hybrid battery. But it can’t be driven under battery power alone.

Boasting fuel-mileage ratings of 25 mpg city and 32 mpg highway using 87 octane, the Vue is least expensive in its class of small sport utility vehicles. The 2008 Vue Hybrid sticker price of $26,270 makes it stand out from its closest competitor, the two-mode Ford Escape Hybrid, which is rated 34 mpg highway and 30 mpg city and costs about $28,000 when comparably equipped.

“They come in here looking for fuel economy and affordability and they get it in our hybrid,” Sponseller said, about his customers’ reactions.

In today’s tight economy some customers drawn to the Vue Hybrid’s cost and fuel efficiency advantages have taken the money-saving impulse a step further and opted for the relatively fuel-efficient non-hybrid Vue.

“We’re finding a lot of folks that come in excited about the idea of ‘a hybrid, a hybrid, a hybrid,’ and then when you show them the bottom line they say ‘shoot, it is only four or five mile per gallon difference but it is $6,000 less,” said Tony Privitera, sales manager at Saturn of Owings Mills, about the non-hybrid Vue.

The non-hybrid 2008 Vue starts at $22,150 and has fuel-mileage ratings of 19/26 mpg. However, a Consumer Reports comparison found that five-year owner costs were $3,000 less for the Vue hybrid than they were for the non-hybrid model.

Baltimore area customers who opt for the hybrid Vue tend to focus on its “beefed up” safety features, according to Privitera, including the six air bags that include head curtain bags, active head restraints, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, and Stabilitrak with trailer stability assist.

“This is a vehicle you can buy and be comfortable with because you know it is safe, you know it has a great warranty and you can still feel comfortable having your family in and not worrying about,” Privitera said.

The hybrid components and 36-volt battery pack have warranties for eight years or 100,000 miles.

Editors’ note: Includes information by Mark Maynard published by Creators Syndicate.

2008 Saturn Vue Hybrid