At the Los Angeles Auto show, Green Car Journal has awarded the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid as the Green Car of the Year for its outstanding gas mileage, outwitting its competitors in the segment.

According to Green Car Journal editor Ron Cogan, “This is a milestone in many respects.” “People don’t think ‘green’ when SUVs are concerned, and for generally good reason since most other vehicles. Chevrolet’s Tahoe Hybrid changes this dynamic with a fuel efficiency improvement of up to 30 per cent compared to similar vehicles equipped with a standard V-8.”

The Tahoe hybrid, a 6.0 liter two-mode vehicle, achieves 50 per cent better fuel economy in city driving compared with the standard Tahoe with a 5.3 liter V-8 engine that has the same city rating with the four-cylinder Toyota Camry, last year’s winner of the Green Car of the Year award. This achievement in perspective is the industry’s first application of hybrid technology in a full-size SUV. Accounting all those facts, the Chevy Tahoe indeed deserves the award.

Another impressive aspect with the Chevrolet Tahoe hybrid is its eight-passenger seat capacity and its convenient spacing. It features 1.8 cubic meters of cargo space, giving it the ability to carry about 700 kilograms of cargo and a tow rating of 2,800 kilograms.

The Tahoe Hybrid is significantly General Motors’ first model to use a hybrid system developed in collaboration with BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Chrysler.

After the presentation of the award, California Governor Arnold Schwarzengegger said, “They’ve proven that they can make beautiful cars, keep the size, keep the safety, and all those kinds of things, and at the same time be more fuel efficient.”

The other nominees for this year’s Green Car of the Year award include Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid, Mazda Tribute Hybrid, Nissan Altima Hybrid and the Saturn Aura Hybrid.