MOTORISTS MAKE U-TURN FOR HYBRIDS SUVS WANE IN POPULARITY AS GASOLINE PRICES SOAR.

Byline: Eugene Tong Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Squeezed by gasoline price spikes and $100 weekly fuel bills, the SUV craze has lost some momentum with Santa Clarita drivers as some consider ditching their rigs for smaller vehicles or fuel-efficient hybrid models.

Consider Paul Lonquich, 52, who bought the gasoline-electric Toyota Prius last year and is now enjoying the benefits of a vehicle that gets just under 50 miles per gallon when a gallon of regular unleaded neared $2.70 at local pumps.

``I'm a biology professor - it's us tree-huggers,'' said Lonquich of Canyon Country, who used to drive an Acura Integra. ``But it's not only gas-efficient, it produces less pollution and such, and it just seems like the way to go.''

Though he's not yet ready to give up his Honda CR-V - there are soccer players in the family - Lonquich said he's keeping an eye out for the upcoming hybrid version of Toyota's Highlander sport utility vehicle.

``I'm hoping U.S. carmakers get the hint now that people are willing to go for fuel-efficient cars,'' he said.

In fact, enthusiasm for large trucks and SUVs - which made up more than half of registered vehicles in California - has shrunk. At Power Ford in Valencia, they account for 60 percent of total sales, compared with some 70 percent last year, general manager Gary Pilikyan said.

Meanwhile, Ford's Escape hybrid SUVs are flying off the lot, despite the $5,000 premium over gasoline-only models. The Prius and hybrid versions of Honda's Civic and Accord sedans also are selling well.

Now, the buzz is on the Lexus RX400h hybrid SUV - slated to go on sale at Keyes Lexus of Valencia today. Eager buyers have clogged waiting lists nationwide, with some even auctioning their spots on eBay, starting at $1,000.

``It's certainly become more heightened due to the gasoline prices,'' said Bill McClendon, general manager at Keyes Lexus. The last time he recalls so much anticipation for a Lexus was when the Japanese automaker released a convertible roadster years ago.

John Thomas, an analyst with the National Auto Dealers Association, said a year of sustained high gas prices has finally hit home.

``If you're paying $100 a week, I'm sure people are feeling the pain,'' he said. ``(Consumers are) re-examining their purchasing options. The market for the heavy, big SUVs has been going down.

``Some of it is due to fuel concerns, and they're replacing some of the bigger platforms this year and early next year. They are always looking for new technology.''

Between 2003 and 2004, total SUV sales in the United States declined about 3 percent, from 2.9 million to about 2.78 million, according to auto trade publisher Ward's. Meanwhile, sales of smaller Cross Utility Vehicles - smaller SUVs based on passenger car platforms - increased 16.6 percent from 1.67 million units in 2003 to 1.95 million last year.

The most popular hybrid on the market - the Prius - sold 53,991 units in the United States in 2004 - a pittance when the company can sell 37,500 Camry sedans or 30,800 Corolla and Matrix subcompacts over a single month.

``Whatever they make, they're selling before they hit the pavement,'' Thomas said. ``There's a feel-good factor. People who are environmentally conscious, they might feel the need to do something about all the bad things that happen to the environment.''

Still, 55 percent of 16.9 million new vehicles sold last year were SUVs, light trucks and minivans, and hybrids still have miles to go before they're truly mainstream.

``(Consumers) want to have their cake and eat it. too,'' said Jack Plunkett, chief executive officer of Plunkett Research, a Houston-based market research firm. ``They want a large vehicle that drives like a car, and gets the fuel economy too.''

Most hybrid owners find it takes years for gasoline savings and tax breaks to break even with their vehicle's higher price tag, said Plunkett, who publishes an auto industry almanac of the same name.

``You can save on fuel, but you can't save any money.''

But Plunkett believes hybrid vehicles are here to stay. For 2005, Toyota plans to manufacture 300,000 Prius worldwide - a large portion headed for the U.S. market.

``I think we're going to see an extraordinary number of American consumers driving hybrid cars in five years, and car manufacturers are going to have a tough time keeping up with demand,'' he said. ``Meanwhile, Toyota's walking away with the business.''

The Lexus RX400h - the first hybrid for Toyota's luxury brand - has a sticker price of $49,500, some $5,100 more than a comparably equipped gasoline-only RX330. Estimated fuel economy is 31 mpg in the city and 27 mpg highway, compared with to 18 mpg and 24 mpg for the conventional model.

But the prime selling point has been power, McClendon said. The 208- horsepower gasoline engine and two electric motors deliver a combined 270 hp, exceeding the 230 hp of the RX330.

``The fuel efficiency is one minor aspect of this vehicle,'' he said. ``This is definitely about performance.''

Lexus claims more than 9,500 vehicles have been presold, but McClendon is bucking the trend. There are no waiting lists here, and they're not accepting deposits until would-be buyers take a test drive.

``It's a seamless transmission,'' he said. ``You don't feel the car shift. For somebody that's never driven one, it could be very odd. ... We want to make sure the customer is comfortable driving the vehicle before we sell it to them.''

Eugene Tong, [phone]

eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com