by Ann Job

As if there isn't enough debate about gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles already, Saturn adds a new twist in summer 2006 when its first hybrid debuts. The 2007 Saturn Vue Green Line sport utility vehicle offers improved fuel economy over gas-only Vues via a less complicated hybrid system than the one used in Toyota's popular Prius and Ford's Escape Hybrid.

The Vue Green Line also promises to arrive in showrooms with a hybrid price premium of only $1,500 or so over the price of a comparable four-cylinder, gas-only Vue. This could put the starting manufacturer's suggested retail price under $23,000, which is some $4,000 less than the current lowest-priced hybrid SUV, the 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid.

"The Vue Green Line is expected to be the lowest-cost hybrid-powered SUV in the market," said Mark LaNeve, vice president of vehicle sales, service and marketing for Saturn's parent company, General Motors Corp. "Its lower price allows us to offer the fuel-saving benefits of hybrids to a wider group of customers."

With production planned to start in July, Saturn officials won't announce final pricing until the summer. But they are talking up the benefits of the Vue's hybrid system, estimating fuel savings at some 20 percent over a gas-only Vue. Specifically, Saturn General Manager Jill Lajdziak estimated fuel economy of the Vue Green Line at 27 miles a gallon in city driving and 32 mpg on the highway, which compares with 22/27 mpg in a gas-only, four-cylinder-powered, two-wheel-drive Vue with automatic transmission.

Pleasant ride
Consumers won't notice much difference between regular Saturn Vues and the hybrid on the outside. Basically, the Green Line retains the Vue styling, which is neither brutish nor wimpy for a compact SUV. There are some subtle, new openings in the grille for air flow, and new tires that are designed for low rolling resistance. There's also hybrid badging on the side and back.

Remember that all Vues wear dent-resistant, plastic, body side panels. This continues into the hybrid Vue. These body panels can withstand a grocery cart banging into them and dings from adjacent car doors - all without any lasting evidence of damage. Still, because these plastic panels need room to expand in the heat of a sunny summer day, the gaps between some Vue body panels are larger and not as attractive as those found on other vehicles, such as Toyotas and Hondas.

Underneath and inside, the hybrid Vue has most components of the regular Vue, and the Green Line rides about the same as do other Vues. There are mild vibrations over bumps and body sway in high-speed curves. But there's no truckish bounciness.

Driver and passengers have good views over traffic around them because of the Vue's higher ride height. Note, though, that the Vue doesn't sit so high off the pavement that adults have to hoist themselves up to get inside.

Inside, the Vue Green Line has modern-looking audio and ventilation controls, and standard equipment includes remote keyless entry, cruise control and power windows, door locks and outside mirrors. (CONTINUE...)