For some reason Americans want everything that they own to be BIG: big houses with 12 rooms too many, big stereo systems that pump out big remixes to every song imaginable, big flat screen plasma TVs and, of course, big cars. All of these things are bad for the environment because they either consumer too much energy or create too much waste, and they all increase your carbon footprint.

But our obsession with big cars, like the wildly popular SUV, doesn’t have to be completely unhealthy. The Saturn 2008 VUE Green Line Hybrid SUV was actually named the most affordable green hybrid SUV on the market, with a starting price of $24,795. Oh, and it has great gas mileage.

Most environmentalists hate SUVs because they’re gas guzzlers and they emit tons of greenhouse gases into the air… not to mention that they hog the road! But, because everyone from city dwellers to country folk love these massive machines, it looks like they’re going to be around for a long time.

So instead of raging against something that will probably never go away, how about pointing out the positives in those car makers who are trying to create eco-friendlier models?

The Saturn VUE Green Line Hybrid is not only considered one of the most affordable green SUVs, but it’s also super sensitive to the environment. Here’s how:

• It gets an estimated 25 city/32 highway mpg
• The electric engine starts smoothly whenever you take your foot off the brake
• Electric Power Assist feature helps you to gain extra power when you accelerate
• Has an "intelligent charging" feature that tells the car when to efficiently recharge its hybrid battery
• If you take your foot off the pedal or brake to stop, the fuel is turned off to save energy
• Torque and power allow for a smooth driving experience
• When you decelerate the kinetic energy is converted into electric energy, which is then stored in the battery

With all of these great features and only limited availability in the Spring of 2008, I would suggest calling your local Saturn dealer to find out if and when you can get one!

If you’re interested in buying a Saturn VUE hybrid SUV, another great reason to get this car is that General Motors, the company who makes it, was the first ever automaker to win the Stockholm Industry Water Award in 2001. This was due to the green initiatives of its General Motors de Mexico Ramos Arizpe Complex, which recycles up to 72% of its water. This is especially noteworthy because water is a scarce resource in this Mexican community.  

You can read more about GM's water conservation efforts here.

So give Saturn some credit for finding a way to meet society’s demand for more SUVs with the environment’s demand to stop global warming.