Hybrid SUVs currently available include the Toyota Highlander hybrid, the Ford Escape hybrid, the Saturn Vue Green Line, the Mercury Mariner hybrid, and the Lexus RX hybrid.

Upcoming hybrid SUVs include the Dodge Durango, the GMC Yukon, and the Porsche Cayenne.

The Toyota Highlander hybrid was introduced in 2005, and it's already the top selling hybrid SUV this year. (Edmunds.com, 2006) Equipped with a 215-horsepower V6 engine and four-wheel drive, the Highlander hybrid has a towing capacity of 3500 lbs and can go from zero to 60 mph in 8 seconds. Even with all of this power, the Highlander's estmated MPG is 31 city/27 mpg highway when using four-wheel drive. It's base MSRP is $32,490.(Toyota, 2006)

The Ford Escape hybrid was the first SUV to employ hybrid technology. The Escape Hybrid is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive. Its roomy interior can sit five passengers comfortably and it has a storage capacity of 65.5 cubic feet. The four-wheel drive Escape's fuel-efficiency rating is 32 city/ 27 mpg highway, and it's base price is $27,820. (Ford, 2006)

The Saturn Vue Green Line is one of GM's early entries into the hybrid vehicle market. It was designed to be fuel-efficent and inexpensive. The Vue Green Line comes equipped with a four-cylinder engine and four-speed automatic transmission. It has the best highway fuel efficiency rating in its class at 32 mpg. The Vue Green Line's suggested base price is $22,995, making it the most affordable of the hybrid SUVs. (Saturn.com, 2006)

The Mercury Mariner hybrid was launched in 2005 and was originally sold exclusively online. It's estimated fuel economy is 32 mpg city and 29 mpg highway. The base price for the Mariner hybrid is $28,615, but premium options include heated front seats, seven-speaker audio and navigation system with MP3 capability, and a reverse sensing system that lets you know when you're getting too close to an object. (Mercuryvehicles.com, 2006) The Mercury Marinier hybrid is endorsed by the Sierra Club. (Sierraclub.org, 2005)