Lexus 400h only gets 24mpg hwy. The 2009 Lambdas with direct injection as said to be rated at 26mpg hwy, of course the city mileage of those non hybrids won't be as good.

 

Yeah stating the highway fuel economy of a hybrid isn't a very accurate depiction of the benefits of a hybrid since they see virtually no improvement on the highway but plenty in the city. What did the Tahoe Hybrid gain... IIRC 5-10% highway, but 50% city?

 

Trick her into getting a Mazda Tribute Hybrid

 

R400h?

Is there a new model, or are we talking about the RX400h?

 

If fuel economy is a concern, don't buy an SUV. Too many people are willing to shell out big bucks on a hybrid just to save some money at the pump, when they will never make the money back at the pump on their auto investment. Must be a psychological thing.

 

It is all an opinion. I like the Vue. I am considering the two mode hybrid version, but I might end up with a lamda instead (surprising how someone so small has to travel with so much stuff).

I think the Edge looks ok, but the Flex, oh, that one is really ugly to me.

 

I agree with this for the most part, but the VUE (which I realize he doesn't want) is the exception here.

With such a small premium (about $2,000 on the 2007) vs. a comparably equipped 4 cylinder Vue and the $650 tax credit we got this year, I figure we'll make up the cost difference on my wife's in less than two years.

 

Fair enough. A $50k Tahoe Hybrid though? It's gas mileage is still not great, even though it is a hybrid. The trade off for buying a big SUV is crappy gas mileage.

 

I've thought about that and we'll definately consider the mazda and the merc.

She wants an SUV for the "Safety". And to haul the family (which we don't really have yet) around.

The vue is an awesome value and I tossed it out to her to gauge interest and she shot it down pretty quick. At some angles the Vue isn't that bad. At others its pretty ugly.
We'll see when we go shopping this weekend.

 

Wouldn't be my first choice, but for someone with 4 kids and a boat? Might be worthwhile.

 

Our VUE is a 2007, so it's the old body style (with polymer panels). I like the new VUE, too, but everyone has different taste, so I can understand not wanting a car you don't think is attractive.

SUVs have a higher perceived safety, but I don't think that they're really much safer than any mid-size or up car. They are good for family, but so is a small wagon like the Vibe, which gets 25/31. We had a Vibe prior to the Vue and it was a good family car.

 

The RX isnt that pretty of a SUV, and they are all over the place.
BRX will be out in a year or so, and Im sure two-mode will launch along with it.
Tahoe might be a bit overkill for what you are looking for.
I think the Vue is one of the best looking compact SUV's out there, especially in red.

 

To quote a good friend... "Ya think?"

 

I like the RX for its elegant and sophisticated look, yet it's sturdier looking than the Vue, which i agree has its bad angles. the rx has been around for quite a while yet has aged fantastically. the srx3.6 is a tantalizing option, probably signiifcantly cheaper than RX400h, even with cool options like the ultraview. the updated interior matches the elegance of the RX and the quality is there. the drive on the SRX will be sporty and balanced as opposed to more "pedestrian" feel relative to the srx of the RX.

acadia is a nice option, rugged and elegant, but i prefer the exclusivity and sporty pretensions of the srx. have to say one of my favorites will soon be getting a diesel, the touraeg, which if i had all the money and didn't have to think about vw's reliability record, i would go for based on the cool looks and beautiful interior. also like the cayenne a lot. the tahoe is a bit too much car, and the hybrid seemingly makes less sense because of the much higher price than the standard version, but it's a good looking suv that i wouldn't mind being seen in, not sporty enough though.

escape is downmarket, but the hybrid is compelling. if they redesigned the escape, made the hood longer and burlied up the rest of the look, made the greenhouse smaller in relation to the rest of the sheetmetal, and used a more extreme, more modern design theme similar to maybe the upcoming explorer, and refined the interior a heckuva lot, that would be one serious upmarket option. as is the hybrid is compelling, but cheap-feeling.

overall i'm lukewarm on the brx, though i think it's chances for success are good. i don't know how it'll work in person, but it looks like it could be fresh. the vue proportions really are there, and that's not good, but again in person this effect may not be so strong. also for once i think the frontal features may be too big for the car. i hope they decide to stick with the srx until a bigger true midsize crossover is ready with 3 rows of seating, a strong sporty competitor to cayenne and ilk, like srx already is, but this time trying a new theme. keeping srx around should only help sigma's profitability. i consider brx an alternative to FX35, a very cool but niche SUV. so the image SUV category is where i might place it, hopefully they follow through with trim options, especially wheels are hugely important to the BRX. don't cheapen it and you'll receive ultimate investment returns on the brx!