Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green
Some hybrids not all that fuel frugal
Those who know cars, know that the term "hybrid" does not necessarily mean fuel-efficient. But did you know the Chevrolet Silverado Classic Hybrid, the most fuel-thirsty hybrid currently being built, gets 16 mpg? That's only 1 mpg better than a non-hybrid 5.3 liter Silverado. So why is it we're supposed to pay extra for the hybrid badge? Must be for extra weight and replacement cost of those batteries. (In fairness, the Silverado Hybrid's selling point was never fuel economy, but rather its ability to be used as a work-site generator with four electrical outlets.)
Forbes goes through several hybrids that aren't exactly Greenpeace members, but the magazine sometimes is a bit off base. On the list is also the ever-popular Toyota Highlander Hybrid as an example of a vehicle with a lighter shade of green. That said, the 4WD version has an average of 26 mpg, 7 mpg better than the non-hybrid version. No, not a spectacular difference as seen in something like the Honda Civic's 29 mpg and its hybrid sister's 42 mpg.
But then the Highlander keeps its 3.3 liter V6 in both versions, has 4wd and carries bunches of stuff. The Civic hybrid, on the other hand, gets those sky-high numbers with a smaller engine than the conventional Civic and has a CVT transmission.
The lesson to be learned here is that if you just want to look green, the options are numerous. But if you're serious about burning less gas, you'll need to make some sacrifices.
[Source: Forbes]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Avinash machado 8:00AM (9/20/2007)
Many buyers of hybrids do not buy them for better MPG. Rather they buy them for wanting to appear green. It is another matter that they live in huge not so energy efficient mansions and go globe trotting in jet planes.
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AlfaMike 11:12PM (9/22/2007)
Um in all fairness the writer would have pointed out that it is General Motors that is grasping at the coattails of Toyota and using these "hybrid" badges to claim to be fuel efficient and environmentally aware, which they clearly are not. GM and their underhanded marketing ploy is the culprit here.
Colin Smith 8:13AM (9/20/2007)
A decent modern Diesel betters any of those figures, without all the batteries and complication.
There's a Citroen prototype with a diesel hybrid that gives nearly 100mpg (Imp), with good performance. This would make the batteries and complication worthwhile, but not a measily 50mpg, which I get already with my four year old Diesel.
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Richard 8:40AM (9/20/2007)
Ride bicycles!
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diesel 8:42AM (9/20/2007)
Hello from Ireland,
Just a note from yopu figures it would seem that the hybrid civic is 44.8% more efficent then the standard car, and the Highlander is 42% more efficent that seems like a pretty similar diffrence to me. If your mpg figures are anything like ours hybrids and petrols never come close to what the claims are, but diesels get a lot closer.The reality is to get your hybrid to get anyway near them figures you will have to drive like a granny were as the diesels driven in a normal fashion will get much closer.
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5-10 10:47AM (9/20/2007)
This is exactly what I was thinking. The % difference is equivalent between the two models. Not bad for the highlander...
mr.ed 8:57AM (9/20/2007)
The Lexus 470H is another example. The weight is a lot to lug around, as with the Silverado, and it takes a lot of energy to get them going. Also, the emphasis is on more performance, rather than mileage. More than one way to look at the subject.
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MoonRover 9:28AM (9/20/2007)
I just happen to own a new(1month) GMC Sierra extended cab hybrid with the 5.3, I am getting 19.7 average (city and interstate) mpg. I don't know where Forbes drove that truck or how, but I am calling them on this one.
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geo.stewart 9:48AM (9/20/2007)
and just what are all of those batteries going to do for our environment whne they are discarded...
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Barney 8:32PM (9/20/2007)
recycle them?
gary 10:43AM (9/20/2007)
maybe the selling point for this Silverado hybrid is the tax break
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5-10 10:51AM (9/20/2007)
I would still take a light duty diesel over a complicated hybrid drivetrain anyday...
I for one would love to have an efficient diesel in a 4runner...
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MikeW 10:55AM (9/20/2007)
or GM could have put the 6 speed automatic in to the silverado/sierra.
or toyota put the 3gr-fse into the rx/highlander. Which don't have four wheel drive. The electric drive to the rear axle is only for acceleration/deceleration, not steady state.
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Aaron 10:58AM (9/20/2007)
yeah pop off about how great the civic hybrid is as there exists a class action lawsuit about its poor mileage.
Mild hybrids as well seem to be scathed but they tend to hit the wallet much less.
As usual, garbage reporting from forbes, glommed onto by everyone else.
lol.
Hybrids = marketing.
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Joe Cheng 10:59AM (9/20/2007)
Miles per gallon is not actually as interesting IMHO as gallons per mile. For each 100 miles of driving, the Highlander hybrid saves 1.417 gallons over the non-hybrid, while the Civic hybrid saves 1.067 gallons over the non-hybrid.
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PacMan 1:13PM (9/20/2007)
Joe, that is an asinine way of looking at it. The Highlander STILL, NO MATTER HOW YOU SPIN IT will use more gas than the Civic. The highlander is for Green Posers. The Highlander will NOT cost justify itself in any resonable time frame so its a bad move from an economical approach. It uses more gas than viable ALTERNATIVES so its a hypocritical choice for an enviromental minded person. If one wants to use as little fuel as possible and still get utility, a small 4cyl hatch or wagon is a much better choice. But of course no one will know your trendy "Im better than you" world view. The best choice is Diesel for economy and performance. I see little need for Hybrids that have a viable alternative that gets better MPG. The new full size SUVs will be class leading in MPG with no alternative in size or utility, so I guess one could build a case for the GM trucks making some logical sense.
BluTec Diesels from Merc Benz. 45mpg in an S-Class. Look at the forthcomming BluTec Diesels from Merc Benz....45mpg, and high performance from an S-Class size car! Thats what the goal should be. No compromises high MPG in a "normal" looking vehicle.
dan 1:39PM (9/20/2007)
PacMan, are you retarded? "How much gas you actually use is an asinine way of looking at it." ... well if that isn't the point, what is?
PacMan 2:02PM (9/20/2007)
Dan - your a complete douchebag. Did you read my post the ENTIRE thing was about how the hylander uses MORE fuel than the CIVIC (even a non-hybrid one), so saying the Hybrid Hylander is better than the NonHybrid Hylander is stupid because there are MANY vehicles that get better MPG. Now if he had used the gallons per mile camparison honestly he would still see that the Civic is a better option than the PoserLander.
Reg Hylander gets 19mpg or 5.26g per 100 miles.
Poserlander gets 26mpg or 3.85g per 100 miles.
Civic gets 29mpg or 3.45g per 100 miles.
Civic Hybrid gets 43mpg or 2.38g per 100 miles.
Over 10,000 miles the Regular Civic will burn 400 less gallons of fuel than the Hylander AND its a PZEV.
Over 10,000 miles the Hybrid Civic will burn 1,470 less gallons of fuel and its a PZEV wich the Hylander is not!
The truth if the mater is the Hylander is a stupid option, you cant save money and its not the best option from an enviromental standpoint.
Dont give me the "I need an SUV argument". If one considers them self "noble" for helping the earth than they should make some personal sacrifice rather than preach to me about changing MY lifestyle.
Hylander = Poser The Prius is ok b/c the numbers support its mission. It gets high MPG and is a PZEV and its very utilitarian. Its a good choice
Joe Cheng 2:03PM (9/20/2007)
Some people need the three rows of the Highlander to get themselves and their children around.
My point is that if you're going to buy a Highlander, getting the hybrid model does make a significant difference--more of a difference than opting for the Civic hybrid over the Civic. This is in response to this paragraph of the blog post:
"That said, the [Highlander] 4WD version has an average of 26 mpg, 7 mpg better than the non-hybrid version. No, not a spectacular difference as seen in something like the Honda Civic's 29 mpg and its hybrid sister's 42 mpg."
So even though the Civic's 42 vs. 29 seems more "spectacular" it's in fact the Highlander's 26 vs. 19 that makes the more environmental impact, assuming each vehicle would be driven an equal distance per unit time.
Joe Cheng 2:09PM (9/20/2007)
"If one considers them self 'noble' for helping the earth than they should make some personal sacrifice rather than preach to me about changing MY lifestyle."
I know quite a few people who can't fit their families into a Civic. Just having two children under the age of three means your back seat is taken up by two carseats. If you have four kids or three children under the age of three, you need either a three-row SUV (like the Highlander) or a minivan (which isn't much better in terms of gas consumption).
Most rational folks are going to consider environmental impact as just one of the factors when shopping for a car. If minimizing environmental impact was the #1 priority over any lifestyle concerns, then we'd all give up our cars and move to homes within walking distance of work, school, and shopping.