* http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparisons/11q1/2011_volkswagen_touareg_v6_tdi_vs._2011_touareg_hybrid-comparison_tests/2011_volkswagen_touareg_v6_tdi_page_2

http://www.caranddriver.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/images/2011-volkswagen-touareg-v6-tdi-graph-inline/4238707-1-eng-US/2011-volkswagen-touareg-v6-tdi-graph-inline.jpg

is is the best hybrid SUV on the market right now and still the diesel is more eficient in exactly the same car with the same weight, in fact the diesel engine is smaller. of course there is a lot of marketing BS! and hybrids are. until a diesel hybrid hits the market ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lV3DmhubghQ ) and they know it.

each region or clas has intrinsec caracteristics in their cars and arent really global cars they are mostly directed to its country or region of origin or the country they will be mostly sold (for example, toyota car line up is designed for americans, yet still has some euro-jap hatchs and smaller vehicles )and each region has its concerns:

Japanese cars are focused to cost effective, quality small sized spacious cars. they usually reduce cost of already existing technologies. japanese cars are speected to last a lot;very reliable

euro cars focus on space, fuel economy and driving expirience in a small or space efficient car (narrow lanes, no parking space, altitud changes etc etc..)
usualy have interesting looks. not eternal like the japanese but do last.

british auto industry is technically dead (jaguar land rover mini lotus and others were bought by foreing companies and the rest are dead or low production special models) they produced luxury and sport cars; only succesful econo car was the mini. their market now consumes euro, german and japanese cars.

german cars usualy are expensive to make cheap to run but normaly are full of technology, space efficient high quality build/finish and last as long as a the japanese and are ) and -like euro cars- use very well engine capacity ( hp per liter ratio)

chinese cars are crap. the priority es low cost and low sale price. bad quality cheaply made.dangerous.

american cars focus on huge space, no handling and glitter chrome and big rims but great comfort and usualy good looking exterior (recently interiors too) and average quality (even for loxury cars) and a good size/price ratio cars are spected to last some years but the industry dont care because the user wil replace it from 2 to 3 years for a new one

now to the point:

the last market who gave a crap about the fuel economy was the american market because has always had decent low cost gas so really and they are ages far from the euro japanese and german cars in fuel eficiency and expirence

hybrids are a product of marketing. to produce a prius is the most contaminant proces in all auto industry nikel from canada to china converted into a foam then shipped to japan where is assembled and chiped to the US. batery life is short so you will have to change all your not really reciclable or enviorementaly friendly bateries every 4 years (try buying 6831 laptop bateries)

in europe diesel is the most comon used fuel because gives more mpg, polutes less and has higger torque. for example here are 2 cars that give you more than 80mpg:

http://www.testdriven.co.uk/vw-polo-bluemotion-available-now-with-80-7-mpg-91-gkm-co2/
http://www.motorward.com/2010/06/skoda-fabia-greenline-ii-does-83-mpg/

hybrid is now a fasion and people buy it so, companies build it but isn necesarily good.
electric isn a really viable solution: if you want a car you will want to travel. needs more years of development.
so maybe a extended range electric.. oh wait thats really a hibrid but the engine isnt conected to the wheels..
the solution aparently is hydrogen but is a long way. I really hope that it has succes the change from gas to H will be slow.

I think the solution is simple:

a light normal car ( today most cars are made of alluminum) with a hybrid diesel engine will give you more mileage and less emisions that anything on the market. for me thats the solution.

PD. sorry for the bad english. isnt my home language.