2009 Chrysler Aspen 4-door LIMITED HYBRID Sport Utility

Chrysler's introduction last year of yet another large SUV to an already crowded market might have seemed a little like arriving at a party just as was breaking up. But before the idea of four dollar a gallon gasoline and an economy on the fritz, the rationale seemed logical. While Chrysler felt it was necessary to have a player in this segment the future of the Aspen and other SUV's like it now hangs precariously in the balance. If your budget allows it, 2009 may be the best time to go shopping because there are deals to be made on full-size trucks and SUVS. Despite its less than stellar operating costs, the 2009 Chrysler Aspen is an elegant addition to the large SUV landscape, one that features a hybrid version to help ease fuel economy worries and give buyers a way to remain in the Chrysler family when their own families outgrow the Town & Country minivan.

You'll Like This SUV If...	You May Not Like This SUV If...
If your lifestyle regularly requires a vehicle with room for six or seven people, or lots of cargo, or you tow a trailer, or your travels or your climate make four-wheel drive more a necessity than a nicety, you now have another quality choice for your shopping list.	Perhaps higher fuel prices took you out of the large SUV market, or perhaps you never really needed one in the first place. If so, you may find that a midsize SUV, or a station wagon-like crossover, makes more sense and will use less gas, too.

Although it sounds like a contradiction in logic, the Aspen HEMI Hybrid offers improved city fuel economy with the towing and passing power of a 5.7-liter engine. It also provides a 40-percent improvement in city fuel economy over the non-hybrid V8.