What Is It?
2007 Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid
What's Special About It?
With a starting price less than $23,000, Saturn says its new-for-2007 Vue Green Line Hybrid will be the least expensive hybrid SUV on the market when it goes on sale in mid-2006. Saturn also says its Green Line SUV, which is rated at 27 mpg city and 32 mpg highway, offers an estimated 20-percent increase in fuel economy over the standard Vue despite its additional 27 horsepower.
The Vue Green Line pulls off all the usual hybrid tricks: engine shut-off at idle, fuel cut-off during deceleration, electric power assist during acceleration and the ability to capture electrical energy through regenerative braking. The big trick, however, is doing all this with a powertrain that adds only $2,000 to the cost of the vehicle, making the goal of saving money, as well as natural resources, more realistic for the owner.
A unique powertrain is the key. A 170-hp, 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine with variable valve timing is teamed with an electric motor-generator. Most hybrids use a continuously variable transmission, but not the Vue Green Line. Saturn stuck with its trusty 4T45-E four-speed automatic transmission to keep the price down.
To further improve fuel economy, the Vue has two driver-selectable operating modes. The economy mode improves fuel economy by minimizing the air conditioning's accessory drag on the engine. The second mode allows maximum A/C comfort.
What's Edmunds' Take?
Saturn owners like to be different and the Vue hybrid should make that an easily achievable goal. It should also put within reach the obvious and not always achievable goal of all hybrids: saving money. — Josh Jacquot
2007 Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid
What's Special About It?
With a starting price less than $23,000, Saturn says its new-for-2007 Vue Green Line Hybrid will be the least expensive hybrid SUV on the market when it goes on sale in mid-2006. Saturn also says its Green Line SUV, which is rated at 27 mpg city and 32 mpg highway, offers an estimated 20-percent increase in fuel economy over the standard Vue despite its additional 27 horsepower.
The Vue Green Line pulls off all the usual hybrid tricks: engine shut-off at idle, fuel cut-off during deceleration, electric power assist during acceleration and the ability to capture electrical energy through regenerative braking. The big trick, however, is doing all this with a powertrain that adds only $2,000 to the cost of the vehicle, making the goal of saving money, as well as natural resources, more realistic for the owner.
A unique powertrain is the key. A 170-hp, 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine with variable valve timing is teamed with an electric motor-generator. Most hybrids use a continuously variable transmission, but not the Vue Green Line. Saturn stuck with its trusty 4T45-E four-speed automatic transmission to keep the price down.
To further improve fuel economy, the Vue has two driver-selectable operating modes. The economy mode improves fuel economy by minimizing the air conditioning's accessory drag on the engine. The second mode allows maximum A/C comfort.
What's Edmunds' Take?
Saturn owners like to be different and the Vue hybrid should make that an easily achievable goal. It should also put within reach the obvious and not always achievable goal of all hybrids: saving money. — Josh Jacquot
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