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Saturn
Aura Hybrid Versus the Toyota Prius: Nonsense
Tuesday,
March 20, 2007
GM's
first hybrid sedan
Hybrid
cars have become incredibly important buzz generators
in the automotive world. Thus, I use the term hybrid
vehicle very lightly when describing mild hybrids, such as
the Saturn
Vue hybrid or the upcoming Saturn
Aura hybrid.
It's not that I hate these hybrid
vehicles. In fact, if GM offered both mild hybrid and full
hybrid versions of these vehicles - letting consumers
choose their hybrid package - I'd be incredibly supportive
of mild hybrid technology. Since this choice does not
exist, I see GM's mild hybrids more as a PR effort, rather
than a technology effort.
For example, regarding the Aura hybrid Saturn's General
Manager Jill
Lajdziak states, "It makes true hybrid fuel
savings available to more people than ever before."
Please! Why? Just because the Aura hybrid will cost
$100.00 less than the Toyota
Prius? Spin. Spin. Spin.
According to GM's fuel economy predictions, the Aura
hybrid is significantly less fuel efficient than the
Prius. Is that the "true hybrid fuel savings"
you achieve by spending a whopping $100.00 less?
If Toyota still qualified for its full clean vehicle tax
credit, it wouldn't make economical sense - by any stretch
of the imagination - to compare the Aura hybrid to the
Prius. Obviously, this is the reason GM has taken so long
to launch the Aura hybrid - they had to wait until
Toyota's hybrid tax credits had been reduced. Otherwise,
any comparison between these two hybrids was simply
laughable.
Still, even without a tax credit, the Prius is more
cost-effective than the Aura in the long term because of
its significantly better fuel economy.
The Aura hybrid might make some sense for purely highway
drivers loyal to GM, but the Aura hybrid is certainly no
Prius buster. Until GM puts some full hybrid cars on the
road, GM's hybrid efforts will continue to be seen as,
well, mild.
Comments
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This Article is another example of Toyota PR people paying off people again.
To prove…
First of all Mild Hybrid technology is a great solution as it saves money, is not as complex and will be in the long term more reliable.
Second, you are comparing a compact to a mid size car. Compair the Aura to the Camery Hybrid. Get your facts right guy!
Third, Honda makes a Mild hybrid why are you not poking at them. Why are you coming down on GM a company that employees American workers? You have 4 Japanese cars to pay off what one American car.
Fourth, Toyota has always lied and paid off people and they people I know who own the Prius only get 39 MPG or less.
39 mpg or less?
You are full of it. Claiming such nonsense, despite the evidence of independent testing from groups, such Edmunds, Consumer Reports, etc., etc, proves your ignorance and bias.
BTW, smart guy, that was the comparison made in the article I referenced.
In addition, I have been harsh on Honda technology if you had done some research, though Honda's second generation hybrid drive is far less mild than that on the Aura hybrid.
So, get your facts right, guy.