Hybrid Savings: Winners and Losers

Cost: $26,920
Fuel economy (CR test): 28 mpg
Total 5-year savings: $4,550

The Saturn Vue Green Line comes out on top when looking at five-year total cost savings, according to Consumer Reports.

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Cost: $28,460
Fuel economy (CR test): 34 mpg
Total 5-year savings: $4,250

Consumer Reports compared the Toyota Camry Hybrid, with its relatively luxurious appointments, with the upscale Toyota Camry XLE with a four-cylinder engine. Given that, the added cost of the Camry's hybrid system was only about $1,700.

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Cost: $30,750
Fuel economy (CR test): 27 mpg
Total 5-year savings: $2,970

Consumer Reports looked at costs for the four-wheel-drive Escape and its four-wheel-drive non-hybrid twin.

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Cost: $25,545
Fuel economy (CR test): 27 mpg
Total 5-year savings: $1,800

The Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid uses the same "mild hybrid" system as the Saturn Vue Green Line SUV, but in the Malibu it doesn't offer quite as much benefit. Consumer Reports saw a four-mile-per-gallon gain.

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Cost: $26,020
Fuel economy (CR test): 27 mpg
Total 5-year savings: $1,050

The Saturn Aura Green Line is built on the same fundamental engineering platform as the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid.

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Cost: $43,835
Fuel economy (CR test): 24 mpg
Total 5-year savings: -$1,250 (loss)

Because of its high cost, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid would take more than eight years to pay for itself, compared with the non-hybrid Highlander, according to Consumer Reports.

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Cost: $60,425
Fuel economy (CR test): 23 mpg
Total 5-year savings: -$5,500 (loss)

The GS 450h's hybrid drive system is tuned more for performance than for ultimate fuel savings. Since it gets just three more miles per gallon than the non-hybrid car, the 450h is the biggest cost-effectiveness loser in this bunch, according to Consumer Reports.

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