How much does it cost to fill up a hybrid suv, like the Saturn or Mazda Tribute?

Question

What is the size of the tank as well as the real miles on a tank of gas? I am just tring to see if hybrids are an idea whose time has come since gas prices are on the rise, $3.19-$4.00 a gallon by Thanksgiving.

Answer 1

The Mazda Tribute Hybrid has a 15-gallon gas tank, and it gets about 30 miles to the gallon in normal driving (EPA's estimate is about 32 miles a gallon).  You can get about 450 miles on one full tank.

The Saturn Vue Green Line has an 18.3 gallon tank, and it averages 24 miles to a gallon (EPA's estimate is 25 MPG combined).  It gives you about 430 miles to a tank, but it will cost you about $10 more (3 gallons) to fill it up than the Mazda.

I like the Mazda Tribute Hybrid better--  It has a much better drivetrain than the Saturn Vue Green Line.  The Mazda uses a Power Split Device transmission, which has just a single gearset--  No gear-shifting, no clutch, no torque converter, no CVT belts.  This simplicity means the PSD tranny is very tough.  The Saturn on the other hand has a complex regular gear-shifting 4-speed automatic transmission with all of the potential problems a regular tranny can develop.

Unlike the Saturn, the Mazda Tribute Hybrid does not have a starter, alternator or timing belt / chain.  Less things to wear out.

After the Federal Tax Credit rebates, the two actually cost about the same--  The Mazda Tribute Hybrid 2WD has a $3,000 tax credit while the Saturn is eligible only for $650.

After driving a car equipped with a Power Split Device transmission, I'm never going back to a car with a conventional tranny.

Hope this helps.