Yay, hybrids! You're in the market for a relatively compact SUV whose fuel economy doesn't drop too far from the Focobaltra you're selling. Plus, you want the snob appeal of owning a hybrid. You'd like to sit up high, have more cargo space, and get amazing fuel economy.
With $31,013 to spend, you can just barely afford a 2009 Ford Escape hybrid, which carries an MSRP of $29,305 excluding destination charges. The Escape hybrid is the most fuel-efficient SUV available, with a combined city/highway rating of 32 mpg.
You can afford the base model Escape hybrid, but you're not a "base model" type of buyer -- you want toys. Would you be willing to sacrifice a few mpgs for other entrants like the Saturn Vue hybrid, which gets 28 combined mpg and starts at a less expensive $26,270? Further down the price and mpg line are vehicles like the 24 combined mpg Toyota RAV4 and Nissan Rogue.
Some of your many choices include:
2009 Ford Escape hybrid
2009 Saturn Vue hybrid
2009 Honda CR-V
2009 Nissan Rogue
2009 Subaru Forester
2009 Toyota RAV4
Something else?
How much in savings would it take for you to step away from the two hybrid entries?