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A hybrid vehicle has always been associated with a small, oddly shaped car with a horribly underpowered engine and a stratospherically high economy rating. As the technology begins to mature, however, manufacturers are becoming more prone to introducing it to different segments of the market. The upcoming Lexus GS 600h is a prime example of a sedan pushing the limits of conventional and hybrid technology; featuring over 430 horsepower, it will be the most powerful hybrid on the planet, dethroning the venerable Lexus GS 450h.

When it comes to SUVs, however, the hybrid market is just beginning to develop. Ford has released two strong entrants, the Escape and Mariner hybrids, and Saturn has introduced the phenomenal Vue Green Line. Already well established are the Lexus RX 400h and the Toyota Highlander Hybrid.

Economy

All of the major hybrid SUVs we mentioned earlier achieve similar mileage, with the rating hovering right around 29 miles per gallon. The Escape hybrid, in two wheel drive trim, achieves an average rating of 34 miles per gallon. The Mercury Mariner also leads the four wheel drive pack with an average consumption rating of 31 miles per gallon.

Top Pick: Ford Escape Hybrid. In two wheel drive trim, the Escape is capable of achieving a compact-car like 34 miles per gallon. It still achieves 31 miles per gallon in four wheel drive trim.

Versatility

Comparing storage capacity, overall range, towing rating, and power train options, it become difficult for us to determine a clear-cut winner. The vehicles that we felt confident taking off-road were actually subjected to some mild abuse on the trails, and of course, every SUV was loaded up with the wife, kids, and groceries.

After some serious city driving, as well as some dirt roads, we realized that a couple of these SUVs weren’t up to the task of off-roading. The Escape and Mariner fell short, as did the Vue Green Line. The Toyota Highlander and Lexus RX 400h both held up well, having enough power and weight to run with the best of them.

Top Pick: Toyota Highlander and the Lexus RX 400h. Great interior and storage space; lots of power for the trails; capable four wheel drive system.

Overall Value

This is always the hardest segment to judge, as each vehicle brought its own character and traits to the table. The Escape and Mariner hybrids both got great mileage, yet were comfortable to drive and were homey and attractive. The Vue Green Line was the most inexpensive hybrid SUV tested, though you’d never know from its confident road manners and excellent characteristics. The Highlander and RX 400h were both more powerful and luxurious, though at a premium over all of the other SUVs tested.

However, when it comes down to value, we considered much more than the price. We looked at the fit and finish of each vehicle, carefully trying to point out defects of mistakes. We examined the economy and power, as well as the usability of the vehicle on the street.

Top Pick: Saturn Vue Green Line. No matter how you slice it, this hybrid SUV is a shoe-in for this spot. Besides being the least expensive, the Vue Green Line features a surprisingly capable power train and a comfortable interior. The vehicle is well equipped, and even includes an auxiliary input on all trim levels, making connecting your iPod easy.

Overview: So it won’t win any awards, and it won’t blow you away with blistering performance or incredible fuel economy, but it will give you a tremendous bang for your dollar. The Vue Green Line, utilizing a simplified hybrid system, can be had for under $25,000 well equipped. With fuel economy right around 30 miles per gallon, which is right about the industry standard for a hybrid SUV, and a bargain basement price, we think that GM has really turned out a winner.

Driving the Vue Green Line

The Green Line gets the majority of its power from a 170 horsepower four cylinder engine that pumps out 160 pound feet or torque. A bit underpowered, but when you add the electric motor (which adds 115 pound feet of torque) the Vue Green Line becomes capable, and perhaps even a little peppy.

Like many Hybrids, there are a few concessions to make in order to achieve maximum efficiency. When you are stopping, for example, the air conditioning will automatically turn off, as will the engine, unless you specifically specify otherwise. If you are fond of using the air conditioning and the concept of being without it for a few minutes at a stop light bothers you, perhaps opting to disable this feature (via the in dash button) may suit your tastes.

Otherwise, we found the Vue Green Line to be a nice ride to scoot around town in. We even took it on the highway, where it had no problem keeping up with and passing traffic. The drive of the Vue actually reminds us of the Honda CRV, of which we are particularly fond of. We have found the suspension to be soft enough for a comfortable ride, yet firm enough to instill confidence in the corners. For an SUV, that means that it has a lot of versatility.

The interior is pretty standard, with nothing really jumping out at us. The in-dash CD player will also play MP3’s (no WMA’s), and has an auxiliary input across all of the models. The stereo sounds pretty good, though it tends to sound a bit bassy at the factory settings. A few minutes of your time to tune it how you want it, however, and that is easily fixed.

Conclusion

There are no other SUV’s on the market with a hybrid power train for this price. Our first thought was that the vehicle itself would suffer because of it, but we’ve actually found the Vue Green Line to be an enjoyable drive, with plenty of pickup and power. It’s fuel economy may not be stellar (around 30 miles per gallon), but it is considerably higher than your typical non-hybrid SUV.

For someone looking for a SUV that they can actually use every day while saving a bit on gas, the Vue Green Line is a sure thing.