(Photo by Anthony Kendall on Flickr)
The dire state of the American auto industry and general economic woes have driven consumers away from local dealerships. For those hearty souls who can still afford new cars and SUVs, the obvious choices in hybrids come from Toyota and Honda. While Ford, GM and Chrysler struggle mightily to stay open, consumers can still find a limited number of hybrids made by American automakers. Saturn, Mercury and Chevrolet have produced 2009 hybrids creating the slightest glimmer of hope for the future of North America’s auto industry.
Saturn has two 2009 hybrid models that build off the brand’s popularity among entry-level drivers. The Saturn Aura hybrid is a four-door sedan with a 164 horsepower, 16 valve DOHC hybrid engine that improves drastically the fuel mileage of the traditional Aura. The Aura’s hybrid engine allows drivers to get 34 MPG during highway driving and 26 MPG in the city. The $26,685 base price is competitive with the Toyota Prius and the Honda Accord hybrids but the performance is still underwhelming.
The Saturn VUE is available with two drivetrains: the Red Line, which is a fuel-efficient but traditional combustion engine, and the Green Line propulsion system using an ECOTEC hybrid engine. The Green Line version of the VUE runs upwards of $30,625 and gets about 32 MPG on the highway. While the base price seems costly, Saturn is appealing to eco-conscious SUV drivers who are accustomed to spending upwards of $28,000 for SUVs without getting good mileage.
The 2009 Chevrolet Malibu hybrid is another in the “light” hybrid class created by American automakers. The Malibu uses an ECOTEC 2.4-liter hybrid engine with variable valve timing to achieve about 34 MPG on the highway. Malibu hybrids start at $26,225, creating a difficult choice for consumers who want to buy American while getting a green car.
Mercury’s Mariner hybrid SUV epitomizes the half-hearted approach of American automakers to stay competitive in the hybrid vehicle market. The Mariner SUV has all of the elements of a good hybrid vehicle including regenerative braking, NiMH battery packs and the ability to run up to 25 MPH on the electric motor. While the Mariner SUV gets 34 MPG in the city and costs less than the Saturn VUE, Ford Motor Company did not produce enough Mariner hybrids to make much of a mark.
This list of 2009 hybrid models by American automakers shows a clear path to success in the future of the Big Three if they survive the current mess. Since General Motors owns Chevrolet and Saturn and Ford owns Mercury, they have the technology to push foreign competitors in terms of hybrid products. This oversimplification of the current situation does not take into account labor costs, liquidity, consumer confidence in the Big Three and a general stubborness by auto executives; if any or all of these companies survive, they should hold onto hybrid vehicles for dear life to avoid repeating history.
