How do the emissions of a Toyota Highlander hybrid SUV compare to those of the non-hybrid model?

The Prius is rated as SULEV (super ultra low emissions vehicle), while the regular Highlander has a ULEV (ultra…) rating.

This means that the regular Highlander can produce up to twice as much CO2 (bad) and three times as much NOx (which makes smog). [ source ]

Both ULEV and SULEV are pretty good ratings, but there’s definitely a difference between the two.

i feel compelled to mention that anyone who purchases an SUV (even a hybrid SUV) without the express intention of using it in an off-road environment is NECESSARILY making a very bad environmental decision. there is no justification for an SUV in an urban or suburban environment. the amount of gasoline that these hybrid SUV’s save is fractional.

It’s fractional, but a big fraction: Front-drive hybrid version is rated 33 mpg in town, 28 on the highway, 30 combined. The AWD is 31/27/29. Front-drive gasoline version is 19/25/21; AWD is 18/24/21. link.

that’s a bigger difference than i expected. but an EPA rating of 33 means a real-world average around 28. and nobody should be impressed with 28 MPG… my prius is rated at 60 MPG and the absolutely best i’ve ever gotten is 57… usually it’s between 40 and 45.

The gas savings are marginal, but the reduction in emissions is significant!

the reduction in emissions is indeed significant, but a significant improvement from “horrible” to “not too bad” is still not great. better to choose a compact hybrid instead of a gasoline model and make your emissions improvement from the “not too bad” category to the “very very good” category.

Actually I misspoke; the Highlander Hybrid AND the Prius are both SULEV.

The non-hybrid Highlander is ULEV.

well if that’s true, theeeeen… i take it back! hooray for SULEV.