Click the Saturn Vue Hybrid for a high res gallery

The Saturn Vue was the first hybrid model from General Motors and has lived on through an entire model cycle. For 2008, the Vue was completely redesigned, though the mild hybrid system was carried over with few changes. We think that the new model is rather attractive, so it gets points for style. The fact that it uses a lower-tech hybrid system brings it back down, though. There will be a new 2-Mode Vue hybrid available shortly, but it's not out yet, so we're sticking with the mild unit (someday, a plug-in version will be available as well). Still the 5kW motor/generator is able to make a decent improvement in fuel economy. According to the EPA, the non-hybrid Vue manages 19 mpg in the city and 26 on the highway. Total estimated cost for a year's worth of fuel is $2,757. The hybrid version manages 25 in the city and a whopping 32 on the highway, which should result in a savings of about $600 in a year. The Vue gets extra brownie points for coming in at just $25,370. That price makes it the cheapest hybrid SUV on our list. Still, we think there's a better option. This one.

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Two-Mode Vue

Ever since the initial hybrid version of the Saturn Vue, the "different kind of company" chose to go its own way by badging its fuel-saving wares as Green Lines. This designation will be going the way of the Dodo in favor of the much more simple and recognizable designation of simply "hybrid." The reasoning is that the Green Line badge adds unnecessary confusion to Saturn's line of vehicles and is too long for marketing purposes. This becomes especially true as General Motors rolls out new versions of its hybrid technology. Soon, the Saturn Vue will be granted the sophisticated 2-Mode technology as is used on full-size SUVs from GM such as the GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Tahoe and Cadillac Escalade. While the current Vue is well priced considering its decent fuel mileage of 25 mpg in the city and 32 on the highway, the new 2-Mode model will be capable of powering the vehicle on electricity alone and should be available in 2009.

[Source: Kicking Tires]

If it's simple to add the Saturn Vue Green Line to GM's yearly President's Day sale (now extended through Feb. 28), why wasn't it simple to include the hybrid in the first place? Who knows. All GM spokesman John McDonald told the Detroit News in an interview about the extension of GM's 0% financing deal is that the Green Line version in now included for "simplicity's sake." In some cases, dealers didn't have any non-hybrid Vues on the lot, and now they can offer incentives for these, too.

By adding the Vue Green Line to the deal, GM is hoping to boost sales across the board. January sales were down eight percent from 2006 and this month numbers are flat vs. last year.

Related:

• Chicago Auto Show: 2008 Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid unveiled
• In the AutoblogGreen Garage: 2007 Saturn Vue Green Line

[Source: Detroit News via Autoblog]

AutoblogGreen reader Christopher Howell wrote in the other night to say he'd just picked up "the first Vue hybrid in Southern California". Perhaps he'd like to give a quick review of how it drives in the comments below. Until then, here are some earlier posts on Saturn's first hybrid offering and one on how quickly the higher cost of a Vue Green Line will likely pay off against savings at the pump (the estimate from late last month says it'll take about six years).

Related:

• Quick review of new Vue Green Line Hybrid
• Saturn Vue Green Line Revisited
• When owning a hybrid begins to make cents\

[Source: ABG Reader Christopher Howell]