The soon-to-be released 2009 Silverado Hybrid and Sierra Hybrid finally have a price tag to go with the improved fuel economy. The 2009 Sierra Hybrid will have a base price of a cool $39,365. If you want the decked out 3HB version with leather, Bose, and rear sonar, be prepared to pony up a stunning $45,500. Remember, we’re not talking about the latest luxury sedan or sports car here – we’re talking about a pickup truck.
On the plus side, if you can get beyond the price ( I can’t ), fuel economy is excellent for a truck. EPA says the 4×2 version will get 21 MPG city and 22 MPG highway. The 4×4 will drop to 20 MPG city / 20 MPG highway. Either way, those are strong numbers for a full size truck.
I don’t get it
Full-size hybrid SUV’s, I can kind of see a market for. There are plenty of large SUV buyers who have big families, and make decent use of the space. But a pickup truck? If you need a full-size truck ( most don’t ), then your demands will likely outpace the hybrid’s capabilities ( lower towing capacity and all ). If you stay within the capabilities of this truck, chances are pretty good you could get by with a small truck. And you wouldn’t get hit with a $40k+ price tag, either.
My advice? Save your cash. If you need a big ol truck, buy one without the fancy hybrid hardware. If you don’t need to tow 8k+ pounds on a daily basis, but still need a truck, buy a Frontier or Tacoma. Gas mileage won’t be much worse than the hybrid, and they can be had for $18k less.
