Hyundai Nuvis hybrid interesting but...

Great styling but questionable potential

I've been looking at pictures of the Hyundai Nuvis hybrid all morning, and I have to say I'm slightly disappointed. While I really like the styling of this vehicle, I have to question its approach.

Offering the room of a large sedan the Nuvis crossover is an appealing vehicle, but at 34 mpg combined, I'm just not sure its the right approach for Hyundai to showcase its future unless it can be priced considerably less than the Ford Escape hybrid.

Instead, I'd like to see Hyundai's Hybrid Blue Drive, which will use Hyundai's new lithium polymer batteries, in a smaller, cheaper Toyota Prius and Honda Insight hybrid contending package.

Moreover, considering Hyundai's lithium battery helped reduce the battery weight of this hybrid, coupled with the effort Hyundai took to make the hot new 228 hp inline 4 cylinder engine more efficient, I'm a bit surprised that the Nuvis doesn't blow the Escape hybrid's fuel economy numbers out of the water (Water was the design influence of the Nuvis).

Nonetheless, Hyundai's increasing focus on hybrid cars is very encouraging.