Big and Green: 2010 Hybrids

If anybody still thinks that hybrid vehicles -- or going the extra mile to be eco-conscious -- is in any way lacking manliness, or smacks too much of Ed. Begley Jr. looking whack in a plug-in clown car, check out the latest hybrid SUVs and trucks:

Cadillac Escalade Platinum Hybrid: Launched earlier this year, the limited edition Escalade Platinum Hybrid is the most technically advanced full-size luxury SUV ever, if Cadillac says so itself. And it’s difficult to argue the point. Like the standard Escalade Hybrid, which bowed in summer of 2008, this premium edition has a 6-liter V-8 rated at 332 horses, and the same 20 mpg or so in city driving.

The Platinum also has Cadillac’s advanced Magnetic Ride Control system and light-emitting diode headlamps for better visibility and enhanced bling appeal. And while Escalade is surely more noted for flashy urban adventures, the Platinum Hybrid has strong outdoor and off-road credentials, offering a four-wheel-drive model that has towing capacity of up to 5,600 pounds.

“[T]he Cadillac Escalade Platinum Hybrid represents an opportunity for the changing priorities of luxury consumers who want dramatic design and technology combined with fuel efficiency and functionality,” said Mark McNabb, North America vice president, Cadillac/Premium Channel.

GMC Yukon Denali Hybrid: There’s a new Denali in the Yukon lineup, adding to the growing list of luxurious, full-size hybrid SUVs that reconcile the need for maximum size and power with green sensibilities. Available in the U.S. starting in May, the Denali Hybrid seats eight and tows up to 5,800 pounds with GM’s 6-liter 332-horsepower Vortec V-8. Similar to most of its full-size hybrid GM brethren, including the Chevy Tahoe, it gets around 21 mpg in city driving -- a 50% boost over their standard gas-only versions. Fuel economy is aided by GM’s Active Fuel Management, which shuts down four cylinders when they aren’t needed.

It joins the Yukon Hybrid and Sierra Hybrid pickup truck in the growing full-size GMC green niche.

“The eight-passenger GMC Yukon Denali Hybrid goes just as far on a gallon of gas in the city as a much smaller, V-6 Toyota Camry sedan,” said Susan Docherty, vice president, Buick-Pontiac-GMC. “And in terms of fuel savings, the GMC Yukon Denali saves about 250 gallons of fuel a year over the Lexus GX 470.”

Of course, the Denali Hybrid is also all about infusing a new level of luxury to the Yukon Hybrid brand, rolling on 22-inch eight-spoke chrome wheels with an Ebony or Cashmere interior. It’s the first Yukon to include GM’s MagnaRide suspension system; magnetic particles in the shock-absorber fluid automatically adjust the damping rate of the absorber, based on road conditions and vehicle dynamics, for a super-smooth ride and maximum tire-to-road contact.

Lexus RX 450h: An all-new hybrid version of the gas-only crossover RX 350, the 2010 RX 450h -- introduced at the L.A. Auto Show in November and just now trickling into U.S. dealerships – is a step-up model to the popular and pioneering 400h, sporting a wider and taller stance and bigger 3.5-liter V-6 that generates nearly 300 horsepower and an EPA rating of up to 32 mpg in city driving. That’s almost 30% more horses than the 400h, with up to 20% better mileage, Lexus claims. Also new for 2010 is a cool joystick controlled navigation system with “casual language” voice-recognition, tricked-out enhanced rear suspension and a sleeker, car-like vibe. Its green credentials are assured with a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) certification, meaning it produces nearly 70% fewer particles of smoggy gunk than standard vehicles.

Saturn Vue 2 Mode Hybrid: Showcasing the European styling of its popular and well-reviewed Opal counterparts across the Atlantic, Saturn’s new compact five-door crossover is the next stage of evolution for the defunct Saturn Green Line, with a low-slung look that has a sporty, coupe-like flair. Also, the suspension and handling are re-tuned for tighter sport handling.Saturn claims that its 2.4-liter 172-horsepower Ecotec engine is the most fuel-efficient V-6 around, offering a top rating of 32 mpg, aided by its electric hybrid motor. The Vue 2 Mode can tow up to 3,500 pounds, as well, and with the two rear seats folded down, it has 56 cubic feet of cargo space. It also has an impressive roster of standard safety features for its class, such as electronic stability and traction control, a supplemental emergency “panic” braking system and a rollover mitigation system that can sense an impending flip and prepare by firing side-curtain airbags and automatically applying the brakes.