The right idea at the right time
Therefore, I firmly believe that this system should be fitted to everyone's vehicle. In fact, when the Canadian public finally sees sense and hands me the job of Prime Minister, I'm going to make it compulsory. Actually, I might even go a step further and convert the L/100 kms numbers into actual dollar per kilometer figures, so that you realize exactly how much your driving style is costing you!
Over a week-long period in the Yukon Hybrid, which amounted to a few hundred kms of both city and highway driving, I averaged 11.3 L/100 km. Considering that we are talking of a full-sized SUV here, those are pretty good numbers, I think you'd admit.
It seems to me that GM might have actually found a way of balancing our love of SUVs with livable fuel economy, and from what I understand, this system is going to be added to a number of GM products in the near future.
Now I know that there are a lot of people out there who will still be saying that we could save more by driving a Toyota Prius or suchlike, but the truth is, some people do actually require a larger vehicle. I live in the countryside just north of Toronto, and many of my neighbors tow horse boxes, boats, etc. Also, the winters can get a little rough up here, and you can't exactly walk to work, nor rely on public transport because they is none!
Another consideration is often safety, because if you are involved in an accident in our leafy suburbs, chances are that the collision with involve a full-size pickup truck or something even larger. Because of that, many locals prefer to drive SUVs. However, these owners have endured the brunt of the anti-SUV feelings for quite some time now, simply because there has never been an option for them. Well, there is now!
The 2008 Yukon Hybrid SUV seems to offer it all. V8 power when you need it, yet reasonable fuel economy when you don't. It sounds like a win-win situation to me. The only trouble that GM is going to have is getting consumers to believe it's possible. My tester carried more decals on it than I have ever seen on a vehicle. In fact, from any angle, it was hard not to notice the hybrid symbols.
Therefore, I firmly believe that this system should be fitted to everyone's vehicle. In fact, when the Canadian public finally sees sense and hands me the job of Prime Minister, I'm going to make it compulsory. Actually, I might even go a step further and convert the L/100 kms numbers into actual dollar per kilometer figures, so that you realize exactly how much your driving style is costing you!
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| I had somehow reached the utopia of driving, and I'll be honest, it's a nice place to be! |
Over a week-long period in the Yukon Hybrid, which amounted to a few hundred kms of both city and highway driving, I averaged 11.3 L/100 km. Considering that we are talking of a full-sized SUV here, those are pretty good numbers, I think you'd admit.
It seems to me that GM might have actually found a way of balancing our love of SUVs with livable fuel economy, and from what I understand, this system is going to be added to a number of GM products in the near future.
Now I know that there are a lot of people out there who will still be saying that we could save more by driving a Toyota Prius or suchlike, but the truth is, some people do actually require a larger vehicle. I live in the countryside just north of Toronto, and many of my neighbors tow horse boxes, boats, etc. Also, the winters can get a little rough up here, and you can't exactly walk to work, nor rely on public transport because they is none!
Another consideration is often safety, because if you are involved in an accident in our leafy suburbs, chances are that the collision with involve a full-size pickup truck or something even larger. Because of that, many locals prefer to drive SUVs. However, these owners have endured the brunt of the anti-SUV feelings for quite some time now, simply because there has never been an option for them. Well, there is now!
The 2008 Yukon Hybrid SUV seems to offer it all. V8 power when you need it, yet reasonable fuel economy when you don't. It sounds like a win-win situation to me. The only trouble that GM is going to have is getting consumers to believe it's possible. My tester carried more decals on it than I have ever seen on a vehicle. In fact, from any angle, it was hard not to notice the hybrid symbols.
 |
| From any angle, it was hard not to notice the hybrid symbols. |