The Green Car Journal names the Chevy Tahoe Hybrid as the Green Car of the Year.

This vehicle is America’s first full-size hybrid SUV and is available in two- or four-wheel drive. It provides the power and capability you expect from a utility vehicle while delivering efficiency.

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

A full hybrid, Chevy Tahoe Hybrid is General Motors ‘ very first vehicle to use the company’s all-new two-mode hybrid system.

The vehicle having a dual mode powertrain has the ability to lock the electric motors out of the drive train when extreme engine power is needed, such as when towing. This capability will enable the Tahoe hybrid to tow up to 6,000 pounds and this can’t be done at this point in time by Toyota hybrids.

Essentially, in terms of the dual mode hybrid drive, one drive mode will assist with slow, city driving, the other with highway driving. This helps achieve optimal fuel efficiency based upon driving conditions, and it could make GM’s hybrids superior to Toyota’s single-mode hybrids in some driving conditions especially highway driving.

The 6.0-liter two-mode hybrid Tahoe achieves 50 percent better fuel economy than a standard 5.3-liter V-8 powered one. What’s more interesting is that the Tahoe’s 21 mpg city fuel efficiency rating is the same as that of the city EPA rating for the four-cylinder Toyota Camry sedan.

“The importance of GM’s accomplishment can’t be overstated,” says Green Car Journal editor and publisher Ron Cogan. “For years, consumers have been buying SUVs in increasing numbers because of their functionality, making them the number one class of vehicle on the market. The problem has been obvious: With larger vehicles generally comes poorer fuel economy because of greater size and curb weight. An ‘equalizer’ has been needed…and the two-mode hybrid system in the Tahoe is clearly that equalizer.”

According to the latest reports, the Tahoe hybrid will go on sale some time in the first quarter of 2008 for around $50,000.