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Mercedes-Benz M-Class

European automakers may be off the pace a little when it comes to offering hybrid electric vehicles, but it looks like the 2010 model year will be a major turning point for the non-diesel, green cars from Europe. Although many hybrids have been revealed over the last year, Mercedes-Benz is the first to make a European-banded hybrid available in North America as well as the first to offer a mass-produced car using lithium-ion batteries. Building off the accomplishments of the S400 Hybrid and giving Mercedes its first hybrid SUV, the 2010 Mercedes-Benz ML450 Hybrid finally became available today.

The ML450 Hybrid just barely beat its main rival, the BMW X6 ActiveHybrid, to market, but ironically these two vehicles share the same two-mode hybrid transmission that helps improve fuel economy. Aside from the high-tech transmission, both hybrids take completely opposing approaches. While the BMW retains the automaker’s performance-minded attitude with a twin-turbocharged V-8, the ML450 Hybrid focuses on fuel economy with a 3.5-liter Atknison cycle V-6. As expected, the BMW setup delivers 485 horsepower and 575 lb-ft of torque which results in unimpressive fuel economy estimates of 17 miles per gallon in the city and 19 mpg on the highway, but the specially tuned ML450 Hybrid engine still delivers an impressive 335 horsepower and 381 lb-ft of torque with fuel economy estimates of 21 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. Comparatively speaking, the 2010 Mercedes-Benz ML350 BlueTEC gets an estimated 18 mpg city and 25 mpg highway, and the base ML350 gets up to 16 mpg city and 21 mpg highway.

Unlike the S400 Hybrid’s lithium-ion battery pack, the all-new ML450 Hybrid uses a liquid-cooled 288-volt nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery pack. The two-mode hybrid transmission was a cooperative development between (then) DaimlerChrysler, General Motors and BMW, but each company is coming up with their own battery systems. Passenger and cargo volume aren’t affected by the battery pack, but the added weight associated with the ML450’s hybrid system tacks on more than 500 pounds and reduces the maximum towing capacity from 7,200 pounds down to 5,000 pounds. Despite the added weight, acceleration from 0-60 miles per hour is quicker than the ML350 by a tenth of a second.

One advantage the ML450 Hybrid two-mode hybrid system has over the S400’s mild hybrid system is that it can drive on electric power only at speeds up to 34 mph up to a distance of 1.8 miles. During coasting and braking, the motors act as a generator and recharge the batteries, but in harder braking maneuvers the regenerative brakes also help to recover energy that would normally be lost in order to help recharge the batteries. To further improve the fuel efficiency, start-stop technology is used to shut the engine off at a stop and automatically restart it when the accelerator is pressed.

To differentiate the ML450 Hybrid from non-hybrid ML-Class models, it receives a subtle badging on the fenders and tailgate and a modified hood to accommodate the extra wires and computer equipment. No aerodynamic changes were made to the ML’s design (unlike the GM hybrid pickups and SUVs) in order to keep the same sleek, elegant design.

When it comes to the pricing of the ML450 Hybrid, Mercedes-Benz will initially offer it as a lease only with lease terms of either 36 or 60 months at $659 or $549 per month, respectively. This is more likely done to reduce costs to the consumers, but it could also be that Mercedes-Benz is concerned about battery life and reliability. Out of the vehicles currently on the market or planned for the near future, the Mercedes ML450 Hybrid is the only vehicle not currently available for purchase.

Other than the BMW X6 ActiveHybrid, competition to the 2010 Mercedes-Benz ML450 Hybrid includes the Cadillac Escalade Two-Mode Hybrid and the Lexus RX 450h. Like all Mercedes-Benz M-Class vehicles, the 2010 ML450 Hybrid is built in North America in Tuscaloosa, Ala., while its BMW rival is manufactured Spartanburg, S.C.

Select photos via Mercedes-Benz

Most of us would like to think that America's taste in cars has moved past the gas-guzzling monster trucks and SUVs of yore. While it is true that the country's collective self-conscience has shifted to greener pastures, the truth is that there are still plenty of deplorably inefficient vehicles on the road. In fact, the vehicles with the worst fuel efficiency for 2010 barely hit double digits.

Technically, the least fuel-efficient vehicles for 2010 are made by the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini (the Lambo Murcielago takes the cake with 8 mpg city and 13 mpg highway). However, for this list Autotropolis has decided to stick to large-scale production vehicles. With that in mind, here are the 2010 vehicles with the worst gas mileage:

2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee (SRT8)
(14 mpg combined)

Outfit your 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee with all-wheel drive and the SRT8 performance package, and you'll cruise along at 12 mpg in the city and 16 mpg on the highway. As with most vehicles on this list, the 2010 Grand Cherokee SRT8 compromises fuel efficiency for power and performance. This decadent SUV teems with a 6.1-liter Hemi V8 engine that outputs 420 horsepower and 420 lb-ft. of torque.

Despite the Jeep's large size, the vehicle screams from 0-to-60 mph in less than five seconds. Base price for the 2010 SRT8 Grand Cherokee is $43,325.

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2010 Nissan Titan
(14 mpg combined)

Trucks are notorious for their poor fuel performance. The worst offender this year is the 2010 Nissan Titan. Outfitted with all-drive, the Titan guzzles 12 mpg in the city and 17 mpg on the highway. Fill 'er up with E85 flex fuel, and the EPA estimates 9 mpg in the city and 12 mpg on the highway (10 mpg combined). All that gas goes towards powering a 5.6-liter V8 that musters 317 horsepower and 385 lb-ft. of torque. Unless you need the superior hauling and towing power of the 2010 Titan, steer clear of this completely un-green machine.

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2010 HUMMER H3
(14 mpg combined)

The most infamously inefficient vehicle brand once again graces the list of least fuel-efficient vehicles. HUMMER's 2010 H3 and H3T earn as little as 13 mpg in the city and 16 mpg on the highway. Flex-fuel E85 brings those numbers down to 9 mpg city and 12 mpg highway. To achieve those paltry numbers, you'll need to upgrade to the 5.3-liter V-8 engine, which offers 300 horsepower and 320 lb-ft. of torque. While the 2010 HUMMER H3 excels in off-road situations, the price of gasoline these days is enough to make even the biggest off-roader think twice about sitting behind the driver's seat of one of these behemoths.

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Mercedes-Benz CL-Class (CL63)
(14 mpg combined)

The Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG is a car built around the idea of excess. When it comes to superior luxury and performance, this is a good thing. However, all that excess fuel consumption means 11 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the highway. Of course, this may be unimportant to you if you're looking for a 6.3-liter V-8 that tops out at 518 horsepower and 465 lb-ft. of torque. And, if you're willing to drop a cool $145,200 to own the 2010 CL63 AMG, then you probably won't care too much about your monthly expenditures on gasoline.

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2010 GMC Savana/Chevrolet Express
(14 mpg combined)

If you're in the market for a cargo van, then storage capacity or passenger space is likely the most important factor in your buying decision. To acquire all that extra space, you'll have to sacrifice fuel economy. The 2010 GMC Savana and 2010 Chevrolet Express are GM clones that offer as little as 13 mpg in the city and 17 mpg on the highway (when equipped with a 5.3-liter V-8). With E85, those figures drop to 10 mpg city and 13 mpg highway. Of course, competitors like the Ford Econoline Series don't do much better. As such, if you need a full-size van, you're just going to have to get used to the idea of betraying Mother Nature.

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2010 Porsche Cayenne
(13 mpg combined)

Porsche has always been known for one thing – performance. And when you pile that legendary performance into a big, opulent SUV, the result is a vehicle that offers as few as 11 mpg in the city and 17 mpg on the highway (GTS models with a manual transmission). The 2010 Porsche Cayenne GTS comes equipped with a 4.8-liter 385-hp V-8 engine. Add in a price tag of more than $70,000, and it's clear that the Cayenne GTS is reserved solely for those who want sports car performance in an SUV package.

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2010 Mercedes-Benz M-Class (ML63)
(12 mpg combined)

Mercedes-Benz has two vehicles that tie for the worst fuel efficiency for 2010. The 2010 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG is a performance-tuned luxury SUV that competes directly with the Porsche Cayenne. Fuel efficiency is estimated at 11 mpg in the city and 15 mpg on the highway. The 6.3-liter V-8 engine boasts 503-horsepower and 465 lb-ft. of torque. Base price comes in at about $90,000.

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2010 Mercedes-Benz G-Class (G55)
(12 mpg combined)

The Mercedes-Benz G55 SUV off-road performer performs just as poorly as the ML63 when it comes to fuel efficiency. A 5.5-liter V-8 engine hums along at 500 horsepower and 516 lb-ft. of torque. All-wheel drive and a 0-to-60 mph time of 5.4 seconds only serve to further deplete the vehicle's fuel efficiency. If you want a high-end luxury vehicle that you can take off the beaten path, then perhaps the 2010 Mercedes-Benz G55 is for you. Otherwise, keep your eyes on the road with a more fuel-efficient option.