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2008’s Top Fuel-Efficient Three-Row SUVs

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Old Apr 30, 2008 | 01:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Threxx
Well I found the full article on Car and Driver... apparently Yahoo has the abbreviated article which neglects to include the part where the author acknowledges the Tahoe Hybrid that I was earlier pointing out that they badly missed on that list.

His explanation is that the list is intended to include only crossover SUVs... not body on frame. He also mentions the high price of the Tahoe Hybrid.

Sounds like a very poor excuse to me... why a BOF chassis construction would exclude it from a "most fuel efficient three-row SUV" contest is completely beyond me... if anything BOF construction is a disadvantage in terms of fuel economy, and yet the Tahoe Hybrid overcomes that... it also offers dramatically more power, interior room, feature content, towing, and off-roading capabilities than most others on that list. And if the Tahoe's sticker price is an issue there then the Benz definitely doesn't belong either.


http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...w_suvs_feature
Maybe it might be due to testers not getting anywhere close to 20 MPG in their Tahoes?

Autoweek got 13 mpg on their two-mode tester...
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Old Apr 30, 2008 | 01:51 PM
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my bad, it was 13.9 MPG.
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl...7317/1532/FREE

Not really good enough for an award I would think at 56k at 13.9 MPG.
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Old Apr 30, 2008 | 01:56 PM
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Originally Posted by spwolf
Maybe it might be due to testers not getting anywhere close to 20 MPG in their Tahoes?

Autoweek got 13 mpg on their two-mode tester...
I'm averaging about 15.5 city, and 20 hwy in my '07 Tahoe w/ 5.3 motor and Active Fuel Management.
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Old Apr 30, 2008 | 01:59 PM
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Originally Posted by spwolf
Maybe it might be due to testers not getting anywhere close to 20 MPG in their Tahoes?

Autoweek got 13 mpg on their two-mode tester...
Originally Posted by spwolf
my bad, it was 13.9 MPG.
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl...7317/1532/FREE

Not really good enough for an award I would think at 56k at 13.9 MPG.
Well, I already said why they said they didn't include it.

Lots of car tests have vehicles under cutting their rated mileage... typically just because they are driven hard.

Edmunds got 17.6 in the Tahoe hybrid for the test duration, and 20.9 for the fuel economy test (where they make sure to drive like sane very day normal drives), and that was actually in the 4x4 which is rated at 20/20 (1.5 mpg under the 2WD model).
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Old Apr 30, 2008 | 02:00 PM
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ah, and the fact that GM sells few hundred hybrids per month, total, might be another one of the reasons for that too... how know what the avail. is if they cant sell 1k per quarter, accross 4-5 hybrids.
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Old Apr 30, 2008 | 02:02 PM
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Originally Posted by MadDawg350
I'm averaging about 15.5 city, and 20 hwy in my '07 Tahoe w/ 5.3 motor and Active Fuel Management.
man, i would love to live in US city, my GS averages 12.9 in my city, currently.

:P
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Old Apr 30, 2008 | 04:20 PM
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Originally Posted by spwolf
my bad, it was 13.9 MPG.
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl...7317/1532/FREE

Not really good enough for an award I would think at 56k at 13.9 MPG.
Hmmm, I need to go home and read this article - I swear they got near 20.....

Of note, the Honda products are missing because of their insistence on 5 speed transmissions (they claim they are more fuel efficient for some reason?).

And the RAV 4 should not have a 3rd row - there just isn't enough room back there
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Old Apr 30, 2008 | 04:29 PM
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Originally Posted by PhilipMSPT

The 4Runner is no longer necessary. Yes, it hauls better than the Highlander, but I don't think it'll be popular with rising gas prices.

Sequoia is a great top-of-the line SUV. Pretty much the equivalent to the GX.

The Land Cruiser should have been discontinued,
The 4runner and land cruiser should definitely be kept in the line-up. After all, they are true off-roading vehicles that gave Toyota's many props. They're simply legendary. Taking those vehicles away would strip toyota's fame away.

The only vehicle I would ditch is the Sequoia. I see little to no purpose for that vehicle when you already have the land cruiser. Yes it cost more than the sequoia, but the highlander should be good enough for most folks.
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Old Apr 30, 2008 | 04:56 PM
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Originally Posted by doug_999
Hmmm, I need to go home and read this article - I swear they got near 20.....
I have no idea who stole my Autoweek but it is gone..... that said, I know they got ranges between 17 and 19 on the Tahoe Hybrid. Their Green issue is not available on the web yet but it should be shortly. They were amazed that a vehicle that big got such good mileage.
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Old Apr 30, 2008 | 05:34 PM
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Why did Toyota even bother with a 3rd row in the Rav4?
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Old Apr 30, 2008 | 07:14 PM
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I can't wait to see Lexus come out with hybrid versions of the LX and GX.
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Old Apr 30, 2008 | 09:03 PM
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Originally Posted by RX_330
Why did Toyota even bother with a 3rd row in the Rav4?
Toyota listened to the market. Rav4 owners and prospective buyers asked for a 3rd row, and Toyota listened.
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Old May 1, 2008 | 07:31 AM
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Originally Posted by TRDFantasy
Toyota listened to the market. Rav4 owners and prospective buyers asked for a 3rd row, and Toyota listened.
Sure they did.....and why exactly are they not listening to the market for a 3rd row in the RX?
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Old May 1, 2008 | 07:34 AM
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Originally Posted by doug_999
Sure they did.....and why exactly are they not listening to the market for a 3rd row in the RX?
Wait for the 2010 RX350...
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Old May 1, 2008 | 07:42 AM
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Originally Posted by 1SICKLEX
Suprised no Honda/Acura.
There's no way I would have guessed the GM trifecta had better mpg than the Pilot/MDX. Maybe the '09 Pilot with cylinder deactivation will make the list next year?
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