Yukon hybrid: Big price for small savings

0 Comments | USA TODAY, April, 2008 | by James R. Healey

NEW YORK -- Do the Chevrolet Tahoe hybrid SUV and mechanically identical GMC Yukon hybrid save fuel? Enough to justify their high prices? Has hybridization made them weenies?

The answers after a week in a GMC Yukon rear-wheel-drive hybrid: Yes. Iffy. Not exactly.

These big SUV hybrids are rated 20 to 22 miles per gallon in all circumstances vs. gasoline models' 14 in town and 16 in combined city-highway use.

Mark Cieslak, chief engineer for the big hybrids, says he spent 14 hours driving around trying to keep the dashboard fuel-economy pointer dead center -- meaning best mileage -- and got, he says, 25.3 mpg, according to the trip computer.

"You're not that pokey driver that everybody honks at. You learn how to drive differently and brake...