Saturn Hybrid Cars on the Market
Researching your options before you purchase a hybrid vehicle is always a good idea because it gives you the opportunity to see all of your options including the number of Saturn hybrid cars currently available. If you are looking for a new hybrid vehicle, Saturn has three models available for model year 2009. Right now the Aura hybrid and the Vue hybrid are available but the 2-mode version of the Vue is also expected to be released this year. In this article we will take a look at the three Saturn hybrids currently available and will also discuss the options which may be available soon.
Now You See It, Now You Don’t with Saturn Hybrid Cars
There are many critics who claim that hybrid vehicles currently available from Saturn are a mere sleight of hand. When you first look at the Saturn website and navigate to the hybrid page, you see the Aura hybrid and the Vue hybrid listed. However, these vehicles actually utilize stop-start technology and not true hybrid technology.
Saturn will not have a true hybrid on the road until the Vue 2-mode hybrid becomes available in late spring of 2009. Once you understand this, it is easy to see why Saturn is not doing well in the hybrid industry. One of the most important considerations for drivers of hybrids is fuel efficiency and the Vue as well as the Aura are not excelling in this area.
The Vue Hybrid VS the Aura Hybrid
Perhaps comparing the Vue hybrid and the Aura hybrid is not exactly necessary. This exercise is not exactly worthwhile because the Aura is a sporty sedan while the Vue is a smaller sized SUV and these vehicles were clearly not designed to compete with each other.
Although it is apparent that these two models are similar in fuel economy as well as price. The Vue costs around $2,000 more than the Aura and has a highway estimated MPG of 32 in comparison to 34 MPG for the Aura. Both of these vehicles also have a 2.4 liter engine making it clear that drivers deciding to between the two should consider their needs in terms of size as the primary objective.
Preparing for the Vue Plug-in
The one thing that you cannot deny about Saturn is they are making an effort to provide drivers with diversity. Other car manufacturers seem to offer more model variety while Saturn is branching out in terms of the type of technology they are offering in the few models they have available. In addition to the two vehicles they have available which use mild hybrid technology, Saturn is expected to release a true hybrid in the form of the 2-mode Vue.
Saturn is also designing the plug-in version of the Vue for a possible release in 2009. However, it is likely this introduction date may be pushed back another year. With other manufacturers also working on a plug-in design, Saturn is motivated to release this vehicles as soon as possible. They are also motivated by the fact that the advanced lithium-ion battery used in this design will finally give them a vehicle that is fuel efficient enough to be considered seriously.
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