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Saturn VUE Green Line - Real World MPG Numbers

84 messages,  Last post on Jan 12, 2009 at 3:47 PM

You are in the Saturn VUE Green Line Hybrid Forum.

What is this discussion about? Saturn VUE, Hybrid Cars, Fuel Efficiency (MPG), SUV

Messages Page 6 of 9

#46 of 84 Tips for Better Gas Mileage on the Saturn Vue Hybrid by hybridvue

Sep 26, 2008 (6:09 am)

Replying to: grumpy21 (Sep 24, 2008 4:13 pm)
First off - I think you purchased a 2008 Saturn Hybrid Vue. The 2009 models which will be a full Hybrid are not out on the market yet.
 
Second - the first tank may not have been filled up to the top and hence your poor mpg numbers. So wipe the slate clean, fill up to the top and then compute the mpg numbers for the next and all future tanks.
 
Third - have you tried any of these Saturn Vue Hybrid specific driving tips that I have put together?
 
- Before you travel - consider your commute. The mild hybrid system is not the best choice for heavy stop-and-go traffic or very short trips.
 
- Don't warm up the Hybrid. Turn on the ignition and go.
 
- When accelerating or coasting - I have gotten the ECO light to turn on between the speeds of 19 - 79 miles per hour. Keeping the RPM's low when accelerating is a big key. The key is to easy off the gas pedal, get the ECO light to turn on and then back on the gas pedal. I think I have gotten the RMP's to 3500 once or twice - when jumping into fast moving traffic.
 
- When breaking - I can get the ECO light to stay all the way on until I am stopped. Just make it a smooth stop and it will even go into Auto Stop.
 
- When driving at a constant speed - if you notice that the Hybrid is neither charging or assisting and the green ECO light is on - press the gas pedal more. You will notice that the additional accerlation will come from the battery and not the gas. The green ECO light will remain on and your battery will give you that added boost.
 
- When driving on a long downhill - let the Hybrid coast to regenerate the battery. You will find that when you press the gas pedal the assist will really kick in. If you drive resting your foot on the gas pedal you are not taking advantage of the regenative featurs of the hybrid battery.
 
- I rarely use the cruise control. I find I can do a much better job smoothing my ride than the cruise control can. The only exception is a completely flat drive.
 
The Key is to get the Saturn Hybrid Vue to do its job by getting the assist/charge function to kick in. By using the above techniques I have been able to have a lifetime average of 32.37mpg over 55,500 miles.
 
As for adding a pluggin system in the Hybrid that is great for some, but it requires an added expense. My numbers for my 2007 Saturn Vue Hybrid have been achieved by driving smart and using the technology already in the Hybrid Vue. And for those that think I am crawling in the left lane - I drive at or +5 mph above the speed limit in mainly the right hand lanes.
 
One last note, while the above techniques may sound like alot of work - they will come naturally once you practice them. Enjoy the Saturn Hybrid Vue - I certainly do.

#47 of 84 Saturn Receives Praise.... by hybridvue

Oct 09, 2008 (12:31 pm)

Seems I am not the only one that thinks the Saturn Hybrid Vue makes financial and eco sense.
 
http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/autos/0810/gallery.hybrid_suvs/2.html
 
Another tip
- When stopped at a light or stopped in traffic - allow about 7-10 feet of space from the car in front of you. The Auto Stop will kick in and last anywhere from a few seconds to 90 seconds. If the Hybrid comes out of Auto Stop, inch a few feet and then press the break. In my experiences it will go back into Auto Stop. This is useful for those really long traffic lights. Like 5 or 6 way intersections.
 
Best wishes.

#48 of 84 Re: Driving the GreenLine Again [chmsomm] by kipk

Nov 07, 2008 (9:21 am)

Replying to: chmsomm (May 16, 2008 5:28 pm)
>"1. This 2007 GreenLine is a mid-size SUV, not a compact car or a small SUV. Compare the mileage to other mid-size SUVs. The 2007 cost us less than the V6 XE model. The 2007 4 cylinder Vue was a weak mover, I test drove one. If you want a small 4 cylinder SUV, go get a Honda CRV. "
 
You are saying, "If you want a small 4 cylinder SUV, go get a Honda CRV"
 
According to Edmunds.
Weight..Vue= 3803 # CRV= 4560#
Length...Vue= 180.1...CRV=177.9
Width....Vue =72.5"....CRV= 71.5
Although the Vue has largest outside dimensions, that can have to do with length of mirrors and bumpers. Notice that the CRV is 757 # heavier than the Vue. Even though the Vue is loaded down with the electric drive train and batteries. This suggest that the CRV is a more substantially built vehicle.
 
Luggage...Vue 29.2 cu.ft...CRV 35.7 cu ft
Max cargo Vue 56 cu ft.....CRV 73 cu ft.
 
The CRV has more internal room and weighs more. That doesn't look to be the small vehicle you allude to.
 
Price wise the 08 CR-V MSRP is from $21,095 to $28785 with Nav, leather, and the whole shooting match. The only Vue offered has an MSRP of $25,645 and nearly $2000 more for the one 09 model.
 
EPA Vue 25-32...CR-V 2027
 
FWIW my wife's 03 CR-V with 4 speed Auto consistently gets 22 with her lead foot. It gets 24-25 with me driving. On the road, she gets 28-29 and I get 30-31
 
According to http://www.fueleconomy.gov/ the mileage for the 17 reported 2007-2008 models is 25.95. The 25 reported 2007 and 2008 CR-V average was 24.55 mpg.
 
In real world the Hybrids simply are not getting the advertised mileage for the average driver. Even in the Vue, which is lighter and smaller than the CR-V..
 
Kip

#49 of 84 Re: Driving the GreenLine Again [kipk] by stevedebi

Nov 07, 2008 (9:58 am)

Replying to: kipk (Nov 07, 2008 9:21 am)
"According to Edmunds.
Weight..Vue= 3803 # CRV= 4560#
Length...Vue= 180.1...CRV=177.9 "
 
I think you must be referring to the Pilot. The CR-V has never weighed that much. According to the Honda website, the CR-V maximum curb weight (no passengers) is 3549 (AWD, EX-L). Minimum weight is 3389 (LX FWD).
 
BTW, it is no wonder GM is going under. Their Saturn site is slick, but provides no usable information - no specifications at all. Dumb.

#50 of 84 Re: Driving the GreenLine Again [stevedebi] by dmathews3

Nov 07, 2008 (10:39 am)

Replying to: stevedebi (Nov 07, 2008 9:58 am)
You didn't look very good as I found specs after clicking on the Vue and I bet the rest does too.

#51 of 84 Re: Driving the GreenLine Again [dmathews3] by stevedebi

Nov 07, 2008 (10:46 am)

Replying to: dmathews3 (Nov 07, 2008 10:39 am)
"You didn't look very good as I found specs after clicking on the Vue and I bet the rest does too. "
 
Did you even check the Honda website?
 
I would think that the official Honda website has the most accurate data. Having owned a CR-V, I know they don't weigh that much - one would need a V6 to power that much weight.
 
If you got your numbers off Edmunds, there are two possible explanations:
 
1. You read maximum gross weight, which includes cargo and passengers, rather than the curb weight.
2. Edmunds made a mistake on their site.

#52 of 84 Re: Driving the GreenLine Again [kipk] by kipk

Nov 07, 2008 (11:12 am)

Replying to: kipk (Nov 07, 2008 9:21 am)
"According to http://www.fueleconomy.gov/ the mileage for the 17 reported 2007-2008 models is 25.95. The 25 reported 2007 and 2008 CR-V average was 24.55 mpg"
  
 Correction on above sentence:
According to http://www.fueleconomy.gov/ the mileage for the 17 reported 2007-2008 Vue models is 25.95. The 25 reported 2007 and 2008 CR-V average was 24.55 mpg. That is averaging the 2 years together.
 
Don't how that the 1.5 mpg advantage of the Hybrid Vue could ever really pay for itself, other than self satisfaction. Even a 5 mpg advantage for "average driving" would take years and many miles to pay back the higher initial cost.
 
Kip

#53 of 84 Re: Driving the GreenLine Again [kipk] by stevedebi

Nov 07, 2008 (11:29 am)

Replying to: kipk (Nov 07, 2008 11:12 am)
"Don't how that the 1.5 mpg advantage of the Hybrid Vue could ever really pay for itself, other than self satisfaction. Even a 5 mpg advantage for "average driving" would take years and many miles to pay back the higher initial cost. "
 
Some of it would depend upon the duty cycle. If a person drove each vehicle in the same fuel-efficient conservative fashion, the hybrid might pay for itself after a few years of primarily Urban cycle, where the hybrid technology shines. If many of the miles are on the freeway at highway speeds, there isn't as much advantage to the hybrid.
 
I think that a CR-V would get around 22-23 in town, wherease a hybrid Vue should get around 28-31, possibly more depending upon how hard the driver "works" to maximize the hybrid technology.
 
Obviously it also depends on the price of gas, which is currently low. But try the comparison at $5 per gallon and see what happens...

#54 of 84 Re: Driving the GreenLine Again [stevedebi] by kipk

Nov 07, 2008 (11:44 am)

Replying to: stevedebi (Nov 07, 2008 10:46 am)
You are right, that does seem like a lot of weight for the CR-V.
 
Re checked and I did pick up the gross weight. Vehicle weight is 3389 for the CR-V Base model. Therefore the Vue Hybrid is heavier, which would account for weight of the batteries and electric drive system.
 
The extra length of the Vue is most likely in front of the windshield to accomodate the V6.
 
Point remains that the CR-V is not to be considered a small SUV.
 
Thanks,
Kip

#55 of 84 Re: Driving the GreenLine Again [stevedebi] by kipk

Nov 07, 2008 (12:53 pm)

Replying to: stevedebi (Nov 07, 2008 11:29 am)
We did a $4 per gallon comparison on the Civic Hybrid vs Civic gas cars. Figured the Hybrid at $4000 higher initial cost for basically the same features on both. . Figures came from Edmunds. Those were MSRP figures and we did not take into consideration that the dealer will "deal" on the gas models but not on the hybrids. Did not figure any tax rebate on the Hybrid or any insurance numbers.. Just figured MSRP to MSRP.
 
Figured financing the extra initial cost over a 6 year period and going 16,666 miles yearly. So the car would be payed off at 100K miles.
Seems we used 45 mpg for the Hybrid and 35 for the Gas. It took the better part of the 100K miles and the 6 years to hit a break even point.
 
Putting aside the reported figures and using your above 22 mpg for the gas engined car and 28 for the Hybrid, the gasser would use 146 more gallons of fuel over a 15000 mile drive. About 1 year for the average driver.
At $3 the hybrid would save $438 fuel cost.
At $4 it would save $584.
At $5 it would save $730.
With no interest involved at all the:
$3 gas would take 9.1 years and 136,000 miles to reach a break even point and start really saving any money.
At $4 it would take 6.8 years and 102,739 miles.
The $5 gas would take 5.5 years and 82,191 miles to do the same.
 
If you consider the extra interest for the $4000, the times and mileages would be longer and higher.
 
We don't actually know how long the batteries will last, cost of replacements, or any extra expense on the electric drive and regenerating components.
 
A person feeling they are doing the right thing by being more "Green" is admirable and priceless. A person feeling they are saving a lot of money is not looking at the total cost.
 
Kip

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