Most (and least) cost-effective hybrids

How much it costs to save a gallon of gas varies widely, even among closely-related vehicles.

Saturn Vue Green Line
Saturn Vue Green Line
Hybrid value rank: 5
Time to recoup premium in fuel savings alone: 5.8 years

Typical cost: $24,170

Compared to: Vue 4-cylinder

Hybrid premium: $1,774 (Based on Edmunds.com True Market Value and $1,575 expected tax credit.)

Overall mpg vs. non-hybrid: 30.3 vs. 25.3

Annual fuel savings: $303 (98 gallons)

The updated Saturn Vue Green Line looks nicer and drives nicer than the 2007 model year version. It has the same low cost "belt alternator" hybrid system as the Saturn Aura and Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid. In this case the price difference between the non-hybrid Vue and the hybrid version means, in part because of a much smaller federal tax credit, substantial added cost for those getting the hybrid Vue.

AOL Autos: Vehicle details


Costs

Prius

Malibu

Camry

Escape

Vue

Mariner

Civic

Altima

Aura

GS450h

RX400h

Highlander

LS600h
Hybrid vs. diesel vs. flex-fuel Which will do the most for the environment, fuel supplies and your bank account. (more)
Hybrids: Seven worries, seven answers Sometimes buyers avoid hybrids for the wrong reasons. But, for some buyers, their worries are well founded. (more)
Top 10 best resale value cars Kelley Blue Book predicts how much these vehicles will hold their value. A CNNMoney exclusive. (more)

Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.

Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.