Before Saturn was forced to fold its tent in the aftermath of GM's 2009 bankruptcy ordeal, one of its more interesting offerings was the second-generation Saturn Vue Hybrid. This compact crossover SUV wasn't much of a hybrid in terms of the technology used. Its wimpy electric motor could only power the vehicle up to speeds of about 3 mph, which is about human walking speed (a Toyota hybrid can typically achieve 30 mph on electricity alone). The Vue's electric motor was primarily used to restart the gas engine after it automatically shut down at a stop. In a world of Priuses and then-future Chevy Volts, this was dinosaur stuff.
Nonetheless, the Vue Hybrid got better gas mileage than its primary non-hybrid competitors (not to mention the regular four-cylinder Vue), and it cost less as well, thanks to Uncle Sam's tax credits on hybrid vehicles. Note that this praise is directed solely toward the second-generation Vue Hybrid, as the first-generation Vue Green Line (made only for 2007) was based on an aging design and was saddled with a crummy interior and forgettable driving dynamics.
Given Saturn's demise and the mechanical complexity of hybrid vehicles, we would advise staying away from used examples of even the second-generation the Vue Hybrid. It was a worthwhile vehicle in its day, but there are better ways to assuage your environmental conscience.
Most Recent Saturn Vue Hybrid
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