General Motors recently announced their official pricing for their new hybrid full-size pickup trucks. Amidst all the hoopla about the companies new hybrid technology, GM might have priced these vehicles to high for their initial savings potential.

The 2WD versions of both the 2009 Chevy Silverado Hybrid and the 2009 GMC Sierra Hybrid start at $38,995 and $39,365 respectively. This is a major price increase over the standard models of both trucks, especially given the fire-sale type incentives dealers are throwing around nowadays. The 4WD versions are even more expensive. The Silverado Hybrid 4WD is priced from $42,145, and can reach up to $48,280 for a loaded model. Likewise, the GMC Sierra Hybrid starts at $42,515 and can go up to $48,650. Both vehicle’s prices include destination fees.

Both Hybrid models come with specific equipment which aids in their fuel consumption. This includes a 332-horsepower 6.0-liter V8, low-rolling-resistance tires, hybrid ornamentation, soft tonneau cover and standard head curtain airbags. It all translates to an EPA calculated average of 22mpg for the 2WD and 20mpg for the 4WD version.

Still, in the end both trucks are on average $10,000(!!!) more expensive than their regular gas counterparts. I’m afraid that’s not going to justify itself as savings just because of the “25 percent overall increase in fuel economy over conventional versions of the trucks” that GM claims, especially once people replace the low-resistance tires with regular replacement rubber and remove the bed cover to actually use the thing.

You see, you can always drive less, but you can’t start paying less than your monthly car payment. Instead of a saving, you might just end up with a higher fixed monthly expense. Where as gas prices can rise and fall, your car payments are your car payments, and they wont change just because all of a sudden gas is cheaper. Whether or not GM can justify the added expense to a struggling public remains to be seen.

Above: Though its technology is innovative, GM might have a hard time justifying the added expense that comes with these new hybrid trucks….

-Source: Inside Line

-Photos: General Motors Co.