7 Passenger Hybrid SUVs

The drivers of these cars are often very conscious of the miles per gallon they get and aren’t about to upset it by driving nay faster than they have to.

There is a new trend in hybrids that may lead to even more people being aware of their mileage and what affects the efficiency of their cars. This is the trend to apply hybrid drive systems to vehicles other than the mission specific sub compact MPG kings. There are more and more family sedans that have been given this treatment and the results have been just as impressive as when the hybrid tech was applied to smaller cars. Passenger cars are now seeing huge increases in their in town driving miles per gallon as well as a significant boost to the highway miles per gallon as well.

It was only logical then that the technology continued to evolve into larger and larger vehicles. 7 passenger hybrid SUV’s essentially show that they hybrid technology can be applied to any size of vehicle, as these monolithic SUV’s are typically the largest in a company’s lineup. Applying the hybrid technology to them will never make these road going giants the hyper mileage gas sippers that a Civic Hybrid is, but there is a great deal they can do.

In fact, some quick math will tell you that it makes a bigger impact on gas used if you can increase your mileage from 7.5 to 15 miles per gallon than if you go from say 25 to 50 miles per gallon. In some respects this behemoths were the very vehicles that needed a hybrid boost the most. As every increased mile per gallon counts for more near the bottom of the chart, the benefits are staggering. There are not a lot of options available today for those shopping for 7 passenger hybrid SUV’s, but with each new model year, the number of options grows. Customer demand and pressure from regulators to help improve fuel economy has seen to that.

Who Makes 7 Passenger Hybrid SUVs?

So just what models of SUV have taken the plunge into a greener, more fuel efficient future?  There are several current models that offer this option and many more to be coming in the next few years. So if your favorite SUV isn’t currently available with a hybrid drive train, it may be so in the next couple of years. In fact, every major US auto maker has now come out with at least one hybrid SUV. Some of the currently available 7 passenger hybrid SUV’s are listed here.

Domestic

While domestic autos have been slow in the uptake of fuel efficiency increases across the board, the situation is somewhat different with 7 passenger hybrid SUVs. Since it was American companies making the biggest SUV’s to begin with, it should be no surprise they have the most to gain by offering hybrid versions.  The Chevy Tahoe hybrid, starting at around 50 thousand dollars, will let you haul 8 people while maintaining 20 miles per gallon. Their sister company also offers the Yukon for hybrid duty as well, carrying 7 passengers and returning EPA estimated fuel economy of 21-22 miles per gallon. This is done while retaining a large towing capacity and a cabin full of high end options like remote start and keyless entry. Cadillac has even given their biggest SUV a hybrid boost. While they seem so large that they don’t appear to fit in a single lane, and often their drivers can’t manage to do that, the Escalade is a perennial favorite for showing that you have arrived in an over the top fashion. For 75 thousand dollars, you can have all of the luxury appointments of the standard Escalade and still get 18 miles per gallon in the city and 22 miles per gallon the highway. All this while still carrying 7 passengers in the comfort they expect from this flagship SUV.

Import

As the largest SUV’s aren’t as popular among import companies, it should be no surprise that there are fewer entries in this category from overseas. The real standout in this segment from import car makers comes from Toyota and that’s no surprise, with Toyota essentially holding the crown of king of the hybrid vehicle, it would seem odd for them to leave out a hybrid SUV from their lineup. The Highlander hybrid fills the bill. Basically This 7 passenger hybrid SUV is working from a stretched Camry body, which made installing the hybrid setup much easier. The Highlander is still able to carry 7 passengers and1 return an EPA estimated 26 miles per gallon while driving on the highway.

How Does The Hybrid System Work?

The hybrid system works by adding an electric motor the drive train in tandem with the gasoline motor. When the system detects he engine is under a load, power is routed from the included battery and spins the electric motor, offering relief to the gas engine. During low load driving the electric motors reveres polarity and acts as a generator, changing the onboard battery pack and preparing for the next time that it will need to be used to take stress off of the gas engine and save fuel.

Where To Find More information Online

Cars.com

This site is likely the first place you should begin at on the web when researching new or used vehicles. It has a wealth of information about any vehicle made in any year back for many years. This site can be located at http://www.cars.com.

Toyota.com

Makers of the Highlander Hybrid, one of the best 7 passenger hybrid SUV’s, this site is definitely worth looking into for all of their hybrid vehicles. The site can be found at http://www.toyota.com.

GMC.com

Makers of the Yukon and Yukon Denali Hybrids, this site can be found at http://www.gmc.com.