Are hybrid SUVs a good or bad thing?

[Grant-53]

In North America SUVs started with auto executives wanting to go off road on fishing trips in something more than a Jeep or an IH Scout so I've read.

[freebeard]

cRiPpLe_rOoStEr — If they can 3D print airliners, they can print barn door Type II panels vans in Dove Blue.




http://www.modernoffroader.com/histo...936-2011/1638/

Suburban beat them both.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by freebeard

cRiPpLe_rOoStEr — If they can 3D print airliners, they can print barn door Type II panels vans in Dove Blue.

Sure.

Suburban beat them both.

Even though I've been more favorable to vans instead of SUVs, I still like the Suburban.

[thingstodo]

Looking at the Mitsubishi Outlander hybrid to replace my Hyundai Santa Fe. I want:
- towing once a month-ish. 3500 lb minimum but 5000 lb would be nice.
- ground clearance. Pot holes on the gravel roads/railroad crossings 8 - 10 inches easy. At 50 - 65 mph.
- normal highway travel without towing, just people moving, electric would be fine. Daily commute to rowk is 30 miles one way, may make it electric-only.
- something that is not twice the price for the hybrid option. Mitsubishi seems to fit, when the Outlander gets to North America this summer/fall
- travel from work -> home -> the lake on fridays 130 miles.

What I *NEED* is perhaps a bit less than what I want

I don't think there are any electric-only options besides a Tesla Model S. A bit out of my price range.

[thingstodo]

Read through the thread -

I voted 1. I am going to buy a truck/SUV/Van. If I can make it more efficient I will. 99% of it's life will be on paved road, but as I mentioned that other 1% is kinda nasty - potholes, railroad crossings, towing. The suspension and clearance of a truck helps.

Once I have retired (36 months and counting) I will likely try to pack enough battery into whatever I buy to make it all-electric. But I need something reliable right now, day in and day out.

My Mazda is my toy, to play with the electric conversion. If it works out well - fine. I will pound the tar out of it. After I upgrade the suspension to hold the battery pack, and lift the rear a couple of inches for extra clearance. And it should survive my daily commute, for a couple of years anyway. It still can't haul enough battery to make it 130 miles after work on friday.

I still need to haul my trailer. 15 times last year. A few miles to the garbage/recycle/metal yard would only be maybe 1800 lbs. 100 miles to the lake still needs a vehicle that can haul 3000+ lbs. There are only a couple of local places that rent trucks/vans that have a hitch receiver. I could make it work if I had to, but their hours make it difficult.

I'll stop there - just an opinion from someone who has occasional use for a truck/suv

[freebeard]

Originally Posted by Google

2017 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Towing capacity - 1,750 lbs

Close enough? Then if it were to get totaled, you'd have that sweet twin-motor rear axle.

[Daschicken]

I'm sort of in between. As I read number 1 I was like "absolutely", but then position 2 brings up a good point. Here is Georgia, about half of vehicles are already suicidal utility vehicles or pickuuuuup truuuuuuuuuks! So there is the chance that #1 would benefit, but still, I can see a lot more people buying those vehicles if they got better gas mileage. I am tired of seeing so many of those vehicles, something to encourage more people to get them would not be good. So that leans me toward position #2.

I'm in between.

[thingstodo]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Close enough? Then if it were to get totaled, you'd have that sweet twin-motor rear axle.

I have not seen the RAV4 hybrids advertised outside California. But a quick search shows that they are available in Canada.

$35K - $42K new, and one of the local dealers invested the cash in tooling and training to service the hybrids. Quite a surprise!

[roosterk0031]

Overseas Outlanders are rated at 3300 lbs towing with brakes. If Mitsubushi does their normal North American Derating they will be 1500 lbs, if you want a Mitsubushi better off getter a 5-8 year old Outlander GT or even an Endavor. Endavors/Monteros and all high end Mitsubushis seem to age very well, daily MPG not great but total cost of ownership might be a winner.

Been watching a local 2010 Outlander GT 3500 lbs tow rating, for almost a year for the dealer to get repaired from minor rear end damage and salvage title, but I assume they can't find used parts so costing more than they expected to repair so got the wife the 2015 Rogue instead. Not near the towing capacity but no timing belt either.

[thingstodo]

Originally Posted by roosterk0031

Overseas Outlanders are rated at 3300 lbs towing with brakes. If Mitsubushi does their normal North American Derating they will be 1500 lbs, if you want a Mitsubushi better off getter a 5-8 year old Outlander GT or even an Endavor. Endavors/Monteros and all high end Mitsubushis seem to age very well, daily MPG not great but total cost of ownership might be a winner.

Thanx for the info. 3300 lbs is marginal for hauling a car trailer but more than enough for anything else that I do.

What's this about derating to 1500 lbs for North America? Is that due to braking? Maybe I should be looking up european specs as well .... I'm a bit paranoid so more information about how they come up with the ratings is better