Hybrid Car Review

With more hybrid cars coming out every year, I thought it would be helpful to update the list of hybrid cars along with some of their basic information.  If you want to see their fuel efficiency, you can take a look at the list of most fuel efficient vehicles I put together.
 

Make	Model	Class	Status	Full/ Mild	Hybrid System	Year Introduced
Cadillac	Escalade	SUV	Current	Full	Two-Mode	2008
Chevy	Malibu	Car	Current	Mild	BAS	2008
Chevy	Silverado	Truck	Retired	Mild	BAS	2005
Chevy	Silverado	Truck	Current	Full	Two-Mode	2008
Chevy	Tahoe	SUV	Current	Full	Two-Mode	2008
Chrysler	Aspen	SUV	Retired	Full	Two-Mode	2008
Dodge	Durango	SUV	Retired	Full	Two-Mode	2008
Ford	Escape	SUV	Current	Full	Ford Hybrid System	2004
Ford	Fusion	Car	Future	Full	Ford Hybrid System	2009
GMC	Sierra	Truck	Retired	Mild	BAS	2005
GMC	Yukon	SUV	Current	Full	Two-Mode	2008
Honda	Accord	Car	Retired	Full	IMA	2004
Honda	Civic	Car	Current	Full	IMA	2002
Honda	Insight	Car	Retired	Full	IMA	1999
Honda	Insight	Car	Current	Full	IMA	2009
Lexus	600h l	Car	Current	Full	HSD	2007
Lexus	GS 450h	Car	Current	Full	HSD	2006
Lexus	RX 400h	SUV	Current	Full	HSD	2005
Mazda	Tribute	SUV	Current	Full	Ford Hybrid System	2007
Mercury	Mariner	SUV	Current	Full	Ford Hybrid System	2005
Mercury	Milan	Car	Future	Full	Ford Hybrid System	2009
Nissan	Altima	Car	Current	Full	HSD	2007
Saturn	Aura	Car	Current	Mild	BAS	2007
Saturn	Vue	SUV	Current	Mild	BAS	2006
Toyota	Camry	Car	Current	Full	HSD	2006
Toyota	Highlander	SUV	Current	Full	HSD	2005
Toyota	Prius	Car	Current	Full	HSD	1997 in Japan/ 2000 in US

Full vs Mild Hybrids
While there is more to it than this, what it comes down to is mild hybrids are incapable of moving the vehicle with their electric powertrain alone. The electric motor is their to 'assist' the internal combustion engine (ICE). The advantage to being a mild hybrid is cost, simplicity, and smaller battery size. The disadvantage is lower fuel efficiency.

Hybrid Systems
Toyota has their Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD) system in place in their hybrid cars, while Honda has their Integrated Motor Assist (IMA). Ford has their own hybrid system, which is similar to Toyota. GM has the Belt Alternator Starter (BAS) installed into their mild hybrid vehicles. GM and Chrysler use the two-mode hybrid system for their full hybrids they co-developed with BMW.

Current vs Retired
Several hybrid cars have already come and gone, usually because of low sales volume. The mild hybrid trucks from GM and the Honda Accord and Insight have all been retired. The Accord Hybrid was designed to increase performance, rather than emphasizing fuel economy, which resulted in poor sales. The two-seat Insight just never took off with it's lack of utility, despite being the most fuel efficient hybrid built to this day. Chrysler retired their two-mode hybrid SUVs after just two months of production in the context of the economy meltdown and lackluster interest/sales.

The hybrid trucks from GM are making a come-back as full hybrids using the two-mode system, while Honda has begun selling the new Insight as a 'cheaper' hybrid.

The Future of Hybrid Cars Through 2009
On the day I created this list of hybrid cars, the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan Hybrids are not up for sale, yet.  But they are due out in just a short time.

Other major hybrid cars due out in 2009 include the Fisker Karma, Mercedes-Benz S-Class (mild), Porsche Cayenne, and the Saturn Vue Green Line as a two-mode full hybrid. But the dates on these vehicles have been more fluid, so I think I'll leave them off until later.