Hybrid v Diesel Smackdown: Chevy Hybrid vs Mercedes Diesel

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Comparos/articleId=125645

2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid vs. 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL320 CDI

No one's talking about it, but the 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid and 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL320 CDI are the two most fuel-efficient full-size SUVs on the market. We guess that makes Paris Hilton, proud owner of a 2008 GMC Yukon Hybrid, the hybrid Tahoe's twin, a forward-thinking early adopter at the vanguard of the green car movement.

Truthfully, calling either of these SUVs "green" might border on an insult to the color, not to mention the movement. These are still large, comfortable vehicles with more torque than the average commuter needs and more seats than most families will use, perfect for vacations but decadent in daily life.

But these vehicles are more reasonable when you consider that the four-wheel-drive 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid earns an EPA rating of 20 mpg city/20 mpg highway, and the all-wheel-drive 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL320 CDI rates 18 mpg city/24 mpg highway. This works out to a combined rating of 20 mpg for both SUVs — a big achievement for a full-size sport-utility.

When it comes to large sport-utilities, think of this as a practicality test for hybrid and diesel. In other words, if you want to drive something big without feeling bad, this is what it's all about.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• diesel
• 2008
• Chevrolet
• Tahoe
• Hybrid
• vs.
• Mercedes-Benz
• GL320
• CDI
• Edmunds
• Inside
• Line
• alternative
• fuel

[EweToobUsername]

Can't tow the boat with the Benz. Unless its a small boat.

[Kostrz3wa]

cant compare German to American garbage

[D41H4T5U]

@bornbillsmith Email sent, hope you receive it. Manuals typically use 20% less than autos as YOU drive the car, not the other way around. Diesel engines use up to 30 to 50% less than petrol equivalents, and as said the US gallon is 3.78 litres, the UK gallon is 4.54 so i guess the combination of these things makes the difference. And remember fuel here is $10 a gallon so car makers are always bringing out new efficient engine technology.

[bornbillsmith]

@D41H4T5U I did and the sedan gets 40 miles to the gallon .

no where near the number you mention.

The gas fiat has a mpg of 30/38 per gallon.

I doubt A Diesel engine and Manuel transmission would make those numbers that much better.

I never heard that a gallon is different in Europe.

I do know Gas isn't sold by the Gallon.

In Europe Gas as well as soda is sold by the liter

I Googled and haven't seen any numbers that you report.

If anything the number are about what I expected.

[D41H4T5U]

@bornbillsmith I have a Fiat 500 Abarth. In Europe we have better engines and manual transmissions. My old Fiat Panda had the same 1.3 Diesel engine as in the Fiat 500 and it got 82 MPG. To be fair though, the US gallon is around 17% smaller, so 100 MPG would be more like 83 MPG. Just Google "new Kia rio MPG" and tell me what you find out!

[bornbillsmith]

@D41H4T5U The fiat 500 the best small car built even on the highway gets under 40 miles per gallon.

Do you really think you can do better then that.

Even a scooter doesn't get 94 miles per gallon.

Is it possible the numbers you are using are in meters and not miles per gallon.

[D41H4T5U]

@bornbillsmith Dude that was 2 years ago FFS! Anyway, in the last 2 years, our fuel has hit $10 a gallon in the UK. But it's ok because there's a new KIA out that does 94 MPG. If you don't beleive me, then why just not use Google?

[bornbillsmith]

@D41H4T5U no vehicle gets 63 mpg.

The smart car doesn't even do that well and there's nothing that gets better gas milege then the smart car.

[bornbillsmith]

I wonder how they would do off road and in the snow.

My guess the Mercedes would not even be close.

If you want a car that handles well on turns then get a sedan. or a sports car,

[peugeotCitroen2CV]

these diesel hybrids should be good when they come