2009 Chrysler Aspen Hybrid Test Drive

2009 Chrysler Aspen Hybrid Test Drive Hi, I’m Kelsey Mays for Cars.com. These days a gallon of gas costs more than most of the drinks at Starbucks. But if you still need to haul the kids in a boat up to Aunt Megs in for the weekend Chrysler’s answer is the 2009 Aspen Hybrid. And this is going to be marketed along side the identical Dodge Durango Hybrid together these two SUVs make up Chryslers first hybrids. Now both models used a two mode gas electric hybrid system developed specifically for larger SUVs. Here it's attached to Chrysler 5.7 liter Hemi V8 and four-wheel standard. The result in gas mileage is 19/20 city highway versus 13/18 for a regular four-wheel drive Aspen Hemi. That may not seem like much but it’s actually a 25% overall improvement and the Aspen Hybrid can tow up to 6000 pounds. That’s not something in Prius and Ford Escape hybrid will be managed. Now outside the hybrid budging is fairly minimal, there’s a little decals on the doors and on the trunk. There aren’t big letters across the side like you see on Chevy Tahoe GMC Yukon Hybrid and they’re actually aren’t any major aerodynamic changes either like there are on those SUVs. So most people will probably think you’re just driving a regular Aspen. Inside there are few differences, the first one is a hybrid gauge it goes in place with the tachometer, It's got three zones a charging area for one you’re regenerative brakes or charging the battery, economy which is under most normal driving empower if you need more of it. The idea is to keep the needle in that green hybrid area in the middle as often as you can. The navigation system is standard. It’s got a hybrid energy display. It’s pretty typical as they go and it shows the flow power to instant gas mileage and it shows whether you’re running out of that electric power or gasoline power of the hybrid system. And between the gas engine and the electric motors there’s 385 total horsepower. So the Aspen Hybrid scoots along pretty well when you need it to. The electric only mode is good for short slow acceleration which is fine if you don’t mind holding up along line of cars. Don’t do that while I’m driving behind you. The engine comes on pretty seamlessly although it can take a little bit long if you need immediate acceleration from the stand still. One way to cheat this is to activate the tow haul mode on the transmission which keeps the engine on the whole time. There’s no delay but that probably does lower gas mileage. Now decelerating at pretty much any speed shuts-off the engine and cranks on the regenerative breaks. That helps mileage but it can be problem if you’re on the lane that’s moving slower than you decide to move into another lane that’s moving faster because it takes a moment for that engine to come back on when you’re on the gas you need it immediately. Now the regenerative breaks that I mentioned earlier help recharge the battery. The pedal feels awfully brick like. The breaks on the Tahoe and Yukon Hybrid in comparison seem much more natural. In fact both competitors seem better at making their hybrid nature invisible to the driving experience. The Aspen Hybrid doesn’t seem quite there yet. What it does have on the GMs is price. This starts at about $45,000.00. It comes pretty well equipped and Chrysler says it projects a $1800.00 federal tax credit when it comes on sale. That means it's about seven grand less in comparable Chevy Tahoe Hybrid and only about two grand more than a similarly equipped Aspen Non-Hybrid. The Chrysler says incentives between the hybrid and the non-hybrid will be identical and so barring any markups at your local dealership this could be a pretty good deal.