The Vue 2 Mode differs from the Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid in that it pairs a two-mode hybrid powertrain with a V6 engine. It can be considered a strong hybrid because it’s capable of running on the batteries alone, the engine alone or the two together. The regular Green Line can’t do that. It uses its batteries to provide a boost to performance only, but can’t actually run on straight electric.

The 2 Mode system is also different from the Hybrid system you find in the Toyota Prius. Just like the name suggests, it has two modes of hybrid operation. This enables the Vue to get greater fuel economy on the highway than it does in the city, something that can’t be said of the Prius or its kin, which reach peak efficiency at around 45 MPH.

The Vue's new hybrid system pairs two electric continuously variable transmission modes with four fixed mechanical gear ratios. At low speeds and under light loads, the Vue can operate in one of three ways: all-electric, all-engine or a combination of the two. At highway speeds the internal combustion engine is given preference, with the electric motor kicking in to assist it to power up hills or accelerate strongly. This allows the V6 to operate at its point of greatest efficiency most of the time.

Of course, it also turns the engine off while stationary, cuts the fuel during deceleration, employs regenerative braking to recharge the batteries and uses low-rolling-resistance tires, all to further boost fuel efficiency.

By now, you’re probably wondering what kind of mileage it gets. Pre-production estimates put the number at 31 highway, 28 city. Compared to the mild hybrid Vue, that’s 1 MPG worse on the highway and 3 MPG better in the city — a bit of a mixed blessing. On the road, you never lack power. The Vue 2 Mode accelerates confidently even at relatively high speeds.

The 2 Mode will hit 60 in 7.3 seconds and can tow 3,500 pounds. Combined with the decidedly average driving experience, that means buyers get 100% of the Vue experience but with massively improved economy. In fact, aside from the quiet electric operation at low speeds and the somewhat wooden brake pedal, there’s nothing to separate it from the regular V6 Vue aside from the limited lateral grip of the low-rolling-resistance tires.

This is where we get into the reason the Vue 2 Mode wasn't designed for us. By pairing the two-mode hybrid system with the V6 engine, GM has chosen to sacrifice maximum fuel economy for performance. That’s where our expectations for a hybrid differ so greatly from GM’s. If the 2 mode system is able to deliver pretty good fuel economy when paired with a V6, we can’t help but wonder what it would be capable of when paired with a four-cylinder. 40 MPG highway? We don’t know, but we’d like to find out, and preferably in a vehicle that’s smaller, lower and lighter than a Vue for max fuel economy. Hopefully one that’s cheaper too. The Vue 2 Mode Hybrid will retail for “less than $33,000,” which is quite a bit more than the mild hybrid’s $28,265. Still, if you're looking for the same power as the original with better fuel economy and you're willing to pay a premium, this Vue's for you.

Acceleration: ***
You aren't going to win any drag races in the Vue Hybrid, but when the electric assist kicks in, the Vue Hybrid does just fine for normal driving conditions. Even accelerating onto the freeway was without drama; keep your expectations in line with the type of vehicle you're driving, and you'll find the Vue's power perfectly acceptable.

Braking: ***
Braking action in the Vue Hybrid is superb...to the point of irritation. The regenerative charging action, which uses engine braking to recharge the batteries in this case, was powerful enough to pitch passengers forward slightly, even with a minor application of the pedal.

Ride: **
Not surprisingly, the Vue Hybrid makes tradeoffs between ride and handling and fuel efficiency. With low-rolling-resistance tires inflated in the upper 30 PSI range, the ride is harsh and noisy. The Vue follows every undulation in the road, requiring constant steering wheel correction at highway speeds. It's by no means sports-car firm, but it's not smooth and comfortable either. At least all that road noise will constantly remind you of how much you're helping the environment.

Handling: *
Without question, the Saturn Vue Hybrid has the worst steering of any current production vehicle I've ever driven. Not just numb and overassisted, but the electric rack-and-pinion seems to make up ratios as it goes along, particularly in low speed parking maneuvers. More than once I overshot a parking space, and even my driveway, because the Vue just didn't do what was expected. Also, the high-pressure low-resistance tires provide very little grip, and I was able to make all four tires howl in protest during a gradual turn onto a freeway on-ramp...at 25 MPH.

Gearbox: ****
The Vue's autobox did its job without complaint and, more importantly, without intrusion. It's just a four-speed automatic, so there wasn't a whole lot of technology to cause problems here. The shifts were perfectly matched to the hybrid's characteristics.

Audio: ***
The Vue Hybrid comes with GM's standard-issue audio system, which with an easy-to-use interface, is actually quite good. Everything you need is present: Sirius XM satellite radio, an aux jack and a CD player, along with redundant controls on the steering wheel. Sound quality is excellent, but you'll need to turn it up loud to overcome the roar of the tires and wind.

Toys: ***
With its auto-stop and electric assist, the Vue Green Line Hybrid can be "fun to drive," just not how you'd traditionally use that term. More like a Game Boy equipped with a new game called "let's see how low my fuel economy can go." Sure, it's fun for the driver, but it's irritating as hell to the guy in the car behind you. But who cares about them — we're trying to save humanity here, people! Other than the hybrid system, the Vue has all the basics. A nice stereo, trip computer, special hybrid air-conditioning mode that allows engine stops even on hot days (up to a point), and just enough power goodies to satisfy.

Value: ****
The Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid isn't as sophisticated as other competition in the gas/electric SUV arena. Fortunately, it's also several thousand dollars less, even at MSRP. It's an even better deal if you manage to snag one during the Employee Pricing For Everyone deal (yes, the 2008 Vue Hybrid is included). If you can live with its shortcomings, the Vue may be the best hybrid deal on the market.

Overall: ***
The Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid takes a good compact SUV, the Vue, and adds about 40% better fuel economy for a 20% price premium — an excellent trade-off. If you're looking strictly at mileage math, the Vue is better than average. But, if you're shopping for a hybrid SUV, the Saturn comes in significantly cheaper than its Ford counterpart while actually returning better highway mileage in a more attractive package inside and out. With some additional refinement to its road manners and handling, the Vue Hybrid would have done even better.

Also See: Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid, Part One

GM makes hybrid vehicles that can run in pure electric mode: The Tahoe and Yukon Hybrids both use the company's Two-Mode Hybrid system. We'll make the logical leap and call the Saturn system the One-Mode Hybrid. Using a combination generator/motor attached to the engine, the Vue Hybrid provides sort of an electric turbo-boost effect when needed to complement the relatively frugal Ecotec four-cylinder under the hood. It also uses regenerative engine braking to charge a small 36-volt battery pack behind the rear seats. The Vue Hybrid cannot cruise on electricity alone, though it does shut down the engine during stops.

So what good is a hybrid if you can't drive on straight electricity? It all depends upon what kind of driving you do most. If you're running errands in stop-and-go situations around town, the Vue Hybrid could provide you with significant fuel cost savings, since the engine will shut off at lights and give you an electric boost when you accelerate away. Similarly, on wide-open freeway driving, the Vue provides an estimated 32 MPG thanks to its electric assist — even better than the more-advanced Escape Hybrid's 31 MPG highway.

If, on the other hand, you tend to creep along in gridlocked interstate traffic, the Vue Hybrid will provide fewer benefits: Since the Vue's engine will remain on while crawling at low speeds, a true two-mode system like that found in the larger Tahoe/Yukon SUVs or the Ford Escape Hybrid would allow you to move at low speeds on pure electric power, saving more fuel. The disadvantage for the Saturn here is easily apparent when you compare the Vue's 25 MPG city rating with the Escape Hybrid's 34 MPG city mileage.

Why would a buyer choose the Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid over an Escape Hybrid, then? While the GM system is less advanced than the Ford hybrid powertrain, it's also significantly less expensive. A Saturn Hybrid starts at about $26,200, more than $3,000 less than the lowest-priced Ford Escape Hybrid. Unfortunately, it's also about $4,000 more than a comparably equipped non-hybrid Vue XE; that money buys you about a 6 MPG improvement both city and highway.

Actually, that money buys you the mileage improvement and a really nice driving experience for a small four-cylinder SUV, with the electric motor assist making up for what would have been a modestly powered ride at best. The system did an excellent job of seamlessly starting the engine after a stop, and I was never able to "beat" the motor, hitting the gas before the engine was running and ready to go.

To be sure, compromises have been made in the quest for economy numbers. The Vue is downright loud on the highway, with tire noise competing with wind noise; blame low rolling-resistance tires at high inflation combined with a lack of weight-adding sound deadening. But apart from the noise, the Vue's cabin is a pleasant place in which to get from place to place, nicer than its competition and in a totally different class from the previous-generation plastic-paneled Vue.

Viewed in light of the Vue lineup itself, which has matured into one of the most attractive small utes on the market today, the Vue Green Line Hybrid makes a compelling case for itself. That is, if you can find one — GM loves to disclaim its hybrid offerings as "limited availability," and that’s truer than ever with the recent rush to economical vehicles. Of course, availability might not be a problem when you consider that the Vue Hybrid's most logical competition may be the straight-gas Vue XE; one-stop shopping, turning customers curious about the Vue Hybrid on to a four-cylinder XE, might be just what GM had in mind.

[Autoblog]

New Saturn Vue Green Line is fuel economy leader § Saturn's re-designed hybrid rated at 32 mpg highway; 585 miles on one tank of fuel § Most affordable hybrid SUV at $24,795

Detroit — Saturn today announced that the all-new 2008 Saturn Vue Green Line hybrid will have a fuel economy rating of 25 miles per gallon in city and 32 miles per gallon on the highway — the best highway mileage of any sport utility vehicle.

Saturn also announced that the Vue Green Line will have a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $24,795, making it the most affordable hybrid SUV on the market.

"You can go green without going broke," said Saturn General Manager Jill Lajdziak, "and with the Vue Green Line, you also don't have to give up utility, safety or comfort."

High mileage, long range
In combined city and highway driving, the Vue hybrid's fuel economy estimate is 27 percent better than the non-hybrid four-cylinder Vue. The fuel economy estimates are calculated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, using the government's new 2008 testing procedure that was revised to better reflect real-world mileage.

The hybrid Vue's 28 mpg combined city/highway rating gives the Saturn line-up a compact utility with significantly better fuel economy than the Honda CRV (22 mpg) or Toyota RAV-4 (23 mpg). The Vue Green Line also provides SUV capability with better fuel economy than that of popular sedans, such as the Toyota Camry (25 mpg) and Honda Accord (24 mpg).

The Vue Green Line's highway fuel economy will allow the vehicle to travel up to 585 highway miles on one tank of gasoline, farther than any competitor's SUV. That is enough range to travel roundtrip from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, from Washington, D.C. to New York City or from Detroit to Chicago. Potential one-way single-tank trips include Atlanta to St. Louis, Denver to Salt Lake City and Milwaukee to Kansas City.

Hybrid technology, features
The Vue Green Line's hybrid system combines sophisticated controls with a precise electric motor/generator mated to the 2.4-liter, 172-horsepower, four-cylinder engine and a modified automatic transmission. The system delivers fuel economy gains through advanced engine control algorithms including early fuel cut-off during deceleration, optimized transmission shift controls and by smoothly stopping the engine at idle. The system also features regenerative braking to capture electrical energy during braking, electric power assist during acceleration, low-rolling resistance tires and improved aerodynamics.

Several displays provide the driver with information regarding the Vue's hybrid system operation, including:
§ Charge/assist gauge - Indicates when the hybrid system is providing propulsion assist or when the hybrid battery is being re-charged.
§ Eco light - Illuminates when the vehicle is meeting or exceeding the federal government's fuel economy rating.
§ Auto stop position on tachometer - Indicates when the engine shuts off at idle.
§ Driver information center - provides instantaneous and average fuel economy information, in addition to other important vehicle data.

In addition to the hybrid system, standard features on the Vue Green Line include 17-inch polished alloy wheels, rear spoiler, painted fascias and single-zone automatic climate control.

All Vues, including the 2008 Green Line, feature a comprehensive array of standard safety equipment that includes six air bags, active front head restraints, a pedal release system for the accelerator and brake, StabiliTrak electronic stability control with trailer sway control, antilock brakes, tire pressure monitors and OnStar.

Quiet, responsive ride and handling comes from front and rear stabilizer bars, MacPherson strut independent front suspension and independent multi-link rear suspension, along with a double-isolated engine cradle.

The non-hybrid 4-cylinder 2008 Vue XE has a suggested retail price of $21,395 and a fuel economy rating of 19 city/26 highway.

In 2008, Saturn will introduce a 2-mode hybrid Vue, which will increase fuel economy by an estimated 45 percent over the comparable non-hybrid model. Saturn also has committed to producing a plug-in hybrid Vue that will get approximately twice the fuel economy of any SUV currently on the market.

Saturn, a division of General Motors Corp., markets vehicles in the U.S. and Canada through a network of about 450 retail facilities, with a focus on providing innovative products with solid value and excellent customer service. In 2006, the brand began a major revitalization of its portfolio with four new vehicles: the Sky roadster, the Aura midsize sedan, the Vue Green Line hybrid and the Outlook crossover. The aggressive pace continued this year with the launch of an all-new Vue compact crossover and the new Astra small car (Fall 2007).

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