When hybrids first hit the market, they were cars. Small cars. Small cars that typically got good gas mileage without the expense and complexity of a hybrid system. For years, we wondered why this technology wasn't being added to already expensive and gas-guzzling SUVs. They were popular, and price didn't really seem a deterrent for the buyers who just wanted space and the image of off-road capability. It seemed a natural match.

The industry has gradually recognized this opening in the market. We've gained entries from Chevrolet and GMC, Lexus and Toyota, and Ford, all to good effect. But it's Volkswagen's entry that cracks this subset wide open.

Volkswagen's first hybrid for the U.S. market is the Touareg, a mid-sized luxury SUV. This redesigned version does everything the old non-hybrid model did and the new ones continue to do, but with better fuel economy (and about 400 pounds less weight than the previous generation). The only drawback seems to be today's economy, which plays both pro (expensive gas making hybrids more desirable) and con (low consumer confidence hurts the sales of expensive vehicles).

The Touareg has always been a stand-out SUV. Interior materials and quality are from the era when Volkswagen was near the top of its game. Things fit just right, materials feel expensive, and every switch, gauge, and accessory is right where you'd expect it to be. Comfortable seats and plenty of storage--the latter has not always been a German quality--add to the pleasure of sitting up front.

In the back seats, the Touareg has plenty of room. Legroom is more than ample for two or even three passengers while headroom is not compromised, as in many "crossovers" today. The 2011 Touareg has an airy cabin just like the large SUVs that inspired its creation. While the practicality of SUVs can be called into question when the overwhelming majority of them never go off road, Volkswagen made everything in the Touareg right.

Push the start button, release the electronic parking brake control, shift into drive, and you're ready to go. Unlike many hybrids with