Hybrid SUV Buying the Right

¶ … Hybrid SUV

Buying the right SUV is a serious decision. The Jones family is looking for a hybrid SUV, because they want to be frugal and protect the environment. As an upper-middle class family they have the money to purchase any hybrid SUV they would like, but thrift is important to them and they are focused on getting a lot of value for the money. Mrs. Jones has a small catering business, so she needs the space and convenience of an SUV. She also takes her three children to after-school activities, so having an efficient vehicle on which she can rely is very important to her.

In order to decide which hybrid SUV the Jones' should buy, three things will be considered - the efficiency, the reliability, and the environmental impact of three different hybrid SUVs. That way, the Jones' can look through the pros and cons of each vehicle. A recommendation for the best hybrid SUV for the Jones' will also be made, based on the criteria that was analyzed and the pros and cons that were discovered during the analysis of the three vehicles.

The Selected Vehicles

Three hybrid SUVs will be analyzed in the following pages. They will be examined based on efficiency, reliability, and their impact on the environment. Before that is done, however, it is important to list the SUV makes, models, and prices, so that anyone studying them would know which hybrid SUVs are being considered for this comparison and recommendation report.

Since the Jones' are looking for a hybrid SUV that meets their needs, only SUVs that are available as hybrids and that belong to the current model year will be addressed. The three SUVs considered here are also from three different manufacturers - Chevrolet, Cadillac, and Toyota - in order to get a good cross-section of features, options, prices, and other issues that the Jones' can look over in making their decision. The following SUVs will be the ones studied and compared in the following pages:

GMC Yukon Hybrid - MSRP: $51,610 to $61,770. MPG: 20 city / 23 hwy.

Toyota Highlander Hybrid - MSRP: $38,140 to $43,795. MPG: 28 city / 28 hwy.

Cadillac Escalade Hybrid - MSRP: $74,135 to $88,435. MPG: 20 city / 23 hwy.

While the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is certainly the least expensive of the group and does get better gas mileage, it is important to consider all other aspects of the vehicle before making a decision. Since the Jones' are an upper middle class family, the price of the SUV is not going to be as significant to them as the efficiency, reliability, and environmental impact of what they choose to drive.

Efficiency

Efficiency refers to more than just the gas mileage. It is also about how easily the vehicle can be used for its intended purposes - in this case, ferrying three children around to various activities and the operation of a small catering business. The GMC Yukon Hybrid will provide significant savings over the standard Yukon model, but the initial cost outlay will be close to $13,000 more (2011 GMC, 2011). However, it will tow heavy loads and seat a large number of people, so it would be a good choice in that respect for the Jones' and their three children. When families have children who go to many activities, other children often end up riding along at various times. That makes the extra room even more important. The Hybrid Yukon also drives the same way as the standard Yukon and has ample power, so it works well for all family needs (2011 GMC, 2011).

The 2011 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is a mid-sized SUV with an all new look for the 2011 model year (2011 Toyota, 2011). Like the GMC Yukon, it gets better gas mileage than the non-hybrid model but it also costs more up front. That would mean the need to drive it for several years just to recoup the extra amount that was spent on it under the guise of getting better gas mileage. For people like the Jones', who put a lot of miles on their SUV, it may be worth the extra money and may recoup that initial outlay more quickly. The four-wheel drive that is part of all Highlander Hybrids means that the driver will have better traction and control on wet or muddy roads (2011 Toyota, 2011). The 2011 model also has more horsepower than the non-hybrid model and more horsepower than was offered in previous model years - making it a good choice for those who need a little extra horsepower for driving or towing something like a boat or travel trailer.

The last of the three hybrid SUVs considered is the 2011 Cadillac Escalade. While the Escalade is more expensive than the other two SUVs on the list, it is also significantly more luxurious. As a large SUV, there is also more space than the Highlander. Gas mileage for this hybrid is better than the standard model Escalade, but it is also much less than many of the other hybrid SUVs offered on the market today (2011 Cadillac, 2011). Being able to carry up to a maximum of seven people is great if it is needed, but for those who do not need that much space or opulence, the Escalade may not be the best choice. Instead, a smaller, light SUV may serve people better. The main complaint with the 2011 Escalade Hybrid is the cost, though, as it comes in considerably higher than the other SUVs considered. Since the Jones' have an upper middle class income and lifestyle, the Escalade would not be out of their reach. What they would need to consider is whether the benefits they would receive from that SUV would be enough to offset the 13 years of estimated driving miles that would be required to offset the initial cost outlay of the hybrid model (2011 Cadillac, 2011).

Reliability

Reliability should always be a factor when choosing a vehicle. That is especially true for a family like the Jones', because they will be shuttling children around frequently and Mrs. Jones will also be using the SUV for her catering business. Even though this is a small business, there is still need for ample room and convenience in any SUV that the Jones' will choose for their family. All three of the hybrid SUVs considered in this report are reliable, and that is a valuable commodity in a vehicle purchase.

The 2011 Yukon is rated as Good in reliability by JD Power (2011 GMC, 2011). This is based on historical information and dependability data for the past three years. The Yukon has a 5-year/100,000 warranty on its powertrain and a bumper-to-bumper warranty for 3 years or 36,000 miles. These warranties are relatively typical of most hybrids, as well as most standard models. Achieving a strong JD Power rating is something that the makers of vehicles generally try to do, and the ratings system can provide a good deal of insight into whether a particular vehicle is a good choice. Of course, JD Power is not the only rating company and there are other factors that the Jones' may want to consider when they are looking into buying a reliable Hybrid SUV.

The 2011 Highlander has a JD Power reliability rating of Very Good (2011 Toyota, 2011). While it has only a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty, historical dependability data show that the Highlander is durable and that the components from which it has been created last for a long time. Both of those are important to consider when making a purchase of any kind of vehicle. An extended warranty is available for those who may be concerned about any potential repairs after the warranty period has expired.

The 2011 Escalade has a JD Power reliability rating of Very Good (2011 Cadillac, 2011). The powertrain warranty is five years/100,000 miles and complementary 24/7 roadside assistance that is provided for that same period of time. That is good news for Cadillac owners, and is also something that the other SUVs do not offer - which is worth taking into consideration when a person is purchasing a vehicle. Since Mrs. Jones is going to be putting a large number of miles on the new SUV, the roadside assistance is a benefit to her if her vehicle happens to break down or if she runs out of gasoline or has a flat tire. It could provide her and Mr. Jones both with peace of mind.

Environmental Impact

The environmental impact of the vehicles is very difficult to compare, because they are all so similar. All hybrids provide less of a carbon footprint than their non-hybrid counterparts. The smaller SUVs - like the Highlander - will also provide fewer emissions than the larger SUVs like the Yukon and Escalade. Environmental impact is clearly important to the Jones' because they want to buy a hybrid, but they are not so committed to environmental issues that the hybrid they buy must absolutely be the most fuel-efficient or the greenest in existence. They are looking for frugality and compromise, all of which they can find in various ways through the SUVs that have been considered here.

Recommendation

Many issues have to be considered when buying a new SUV. Price is important, but it is not the only issue - especially for families such as the Jones'. Because they live an upper middle class existence, they are able to buy any one of the SUVs that have been compared here. However, will they want to spend more for the Cadillac? Should they spend the least and get a smaller, more mid-sized SUV like the Highlander? Would the Yukon be a good compromise between the alternatives? Those are all questions that they will have to answer on their own, but a recommendation as to which hybrid SUV they should buy will still be made here. It will be based on the pros and cons that were considered with all of the SUVs as well as the price, the gas mileage, and the overall package that the Jones' would be receiving for the money they are paying.

All things considered, it appears that the 2011 GMC Yukon Hybrid SUV would be the best choice for the Jones family. It does have a few complaints, but nothing too serious. Drivers generally are unsure about the feel of the brakes, but that is typical of many hybrids and not specific to the Yukon. There is plenty of power, however, and the large size of the SUV means that travel is comfortable, there is adequate towing capacity, and there is plenty of room in the back for children's gear, suitcases, or even cakes and other catering options. The other SUVs are also good choices, but they are not quite up to par with the Yukon and all it has to offer for the price.

The Highlander is smaller and less roomy, and it does not provide adequate cargo space for the needs of the Jones family. Even though it is less expensive and gets better gas mileage, the driver experience is not as good and there have been complaints about not feeling engaged with the vehicle. The brakes are another common area of discomfort, and the merits of the vehicle are not enough to outweigh those issues for many drivers who buy or test drive the Highlander. While it would be hard to turn down the lower price and impressive gas mileage, there are some things that are more important than that. Because of the number of miles that Mrs. Jones will put on the vehicle, it is very important that she have an SUV with which she can connect and feel comfortable.

The Cadillac Escalade is a different kind of hybrid altogether. It is well beyond its competitors in price, and the gas mileage is nothing to write home about - unless it is compared with the non-hybrid version of the Escalade. When compared with other hybrid SUVs, though, gas mileage is not that impressive, especially for the price that individuals are asked to pay for that particular SUV. Price is not the only thing that make the Escalade a poor choice for the Jones family. The level of "bling" on the Cadillac is impressive, and the SUV is truly opulent and luxurious. That does not necessarily mix well with three small children and their friends being shuttled around to various activities several days a week. It may also not be the best choice for a catering business, because those kinds of businesses can occasionally be messy to the inside of a vehicle.