Hybrid vehicles offer drivers considerable savings on fuel costs while reducing environmental pollutants. While some hybrids may initially seem less capable than their gasoline-powered counterparts, a number of hybrid trucks and sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) grant drivers the power to tow heavy loads while still helping the environment.
GMC Yukon Hybrid
A full-size SUV that offers full-sized capabilities, the GMC Yukon Hybrid uses its mass to dwarf smaller vehicles that drive alongside it. At a hefty 7,100 lbs. for the two-wheel-drive model and 7,300 lbs. for the four-wheel-drive model, this spacious SUV would drink gasoline in a standard configuration. The hybrid model, though, reports a respectable 21 miles per gallon in the city and 22 miles per gallon on the highway. On the inside, Yukon owners can load up 1,476 lbs. of payload, but those with heavier loads will benefit from the 6,200-lb. towing capacity. The large SUV also includes a number of luxuries including a tri-zone climate control, a built-in navigation system and a nine-speaker Bose stereo. Optional third-row seats can accommodate up to three additional passengers, but a full passenger load can put strain on the engine and reduce the Yukon's towing capacity.
Cadillac Escalade Hybrid
Few SUVs exude opulence like the Cadillac Escalade, and the Escalade Hybrid offers all the luxuries a Cadillac driver might expect. Instead of drawing the ire of environmentalists like previous Escalade models, though, the Escalade Hybrid delivers an EPA-reported 21 miles per gallon in city driving and 22 miles per gallon on the highway. While the fuel efficiency and overall dimensions of the Escalade resemble the vehicle's Yukon cousin, the Escalade excels at towing. With the Escalade Hybrid's large 6-liter engine, the luxury SUV can tow a maximum of 7,768 lbs. While towing, Escalade drivers can enjoy sumptuous luxuries like heated and cooled cup holders, heated and cooled front seats, premium Bose sound, an automatically dimmed rear-view mirror, tire pressure monitors, built-in navigation and entertainment system, and LED headlights.
Lexus RX 400h
Luxury car maker Lexus offers a number of hybrid vehicles, and the eco-friendly version of its popular RX line offers drivers the ability to tow light loads while riding in style. While the upscale SUV puts out 295 horsepower and can go from zero to 60 in under eight seconds, it also promises owners an impressive 30 miles per gallon in the city and 28 miles per highway gallon. The Lexus has a considerably lower towing capacity than the Yukon and Escalade, but with the ability to tow up to 3,500 lbs., drivers can haul a decent amount of cargo. In the cockpit, the RX offers an array of technology that ranges from a next-generation navigation system to an on-board voice recognition system. Other optional features include a Mark Levinson premium sound system, heated and ventilated seats, a dual-screen rear entertainment system and an information system with steering wheel-mounted controls.
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