Hybrid Car Review

GM is beginning to offer up to $6,000 cash back on their large SUVs and pickups, including the new hybrid models. With a sales goal of 10,000 vehicles in the first year, but only 1,735 units sold through May, GM needs something to get customers to overlook the low mileage.

The hybrid Tahoe and Yukon do improve fuel economy by 50% in city driving. But that only raises their fuel economy to just over 20 mpg. That sort of difference at the low end of the fuel economy spectrum makes a bigger difference than at the higher end. But 20 mpg just doesn't cut it for a lot of folks when gas stands at $4 a gallon.

SUVs, large pickups and other large cars are seeing a real backlash in sales, while smaller cars with four cylinder engines have become the majority.

The GM cash back program is starting June 7 and will run through the end of the month. The cash back program starts at $4,000, but existing offers could add another $2,000.

GM is also beginning a marketing push to bring awareness that these hybrids exist.

"There's very little awareness that we even have these products," concedes Mark LaNeve, GM's vice president for North American sales, service and marketing. "We're going to be constrained by battery availability, but we still think that we could work it up to 5 to 10 percent of our full-sized SUV sales."

Found via ABG.