The current gas prices have even an enthusiast such as myself thinking about hybrids. And especially about hybrid SUVs, as I moved to a new neighborhood earlier in the year where the streets are not plowed promptly. So I test drove two hybrid SUVs, the Toyota Highlander and Ford Escape. A third, the Lexus RX 400h, should perform very much like the Toyota, as they share many components. I reviewed the Toyota yesterday. Click here to read that review.. This review covers the Escape Hybrid.

If you're looking for my review of the regular Escape, it can be found here.

The Escape also happens to be the first hybrid from a domestic manufacturer. Ford licensed much of the technology from Toyota, but still did a lot of engineering itself. Can its first effort measure up well to Toyota's third-generation technology?

Styling

Toyota's Prius achieved widespread attention in part because of its unique styling. Well, the Escape Hybrid, like the hybrid versions of the Civic, Accord, Highlander, and RX, looks pretty much the same as its conventional counterpart. Unless you look closely for the "Hybrid" badges and slightly different trim, you'll never know you're looking at the hybrid.

This is both good and bad. Good, because the Escape is among the better looking compact SUVs, and the Hybrid's optional silver cladding further enhances the trucklet's styling. Bad, because part of the appeal of owning a hybrid is knowing you're driving something unique, and unique styling would both further enhance this effect and let everyone know how good you're being.

Inside the Escape Hybrid looks even more like a regular Escape. Which isn't bad. Last year the Escape's interior received a makeover, and in addition to adding a console shifter this makeover lent a more upscale character to what had been an overly utilitarian interior.

Accommodations

You sit SUV-high in the Escape, and large windows make for great visibility in all directions. The driver's seat was also improved last year, such that I now find it a pleasant enough place.

Even though I've driven the Escape many times over the past few years, the roominess and comfort of its back seat continues to surprise me. The cushion, quite high off the floor, provides excellent thigh support. The rear seat in the larger Highlander should be so comfortable. Ford's own Explorer could also learn something here.

The Escape's cargo volume is about average for a compact SUV. Meaning it's plenty for most people's needs.

On the Road

For an explanation of how hybrids work, see my Prius review here.

For its own hybrid SUVs Toyota opted to use a V6 rather than a four-cylinder engine. Ford, in contrast, went with the four. Since this four-cylinder kicks out only 133 horsepower, I wasn't expecting much. So I was pleasantly surprised by how effortlessly the Escape Hybrid moves from a standstill to forty. Within this range acceleration likely comes close to that of the Escape V6. This being a hybrid, an electric motor lends a hand, and this helps a great deal. Electric motors produce their peak torque at very low RPM, and thus most benefit low-speed acceleration. Over forty the hybrid's acceleration tapers off, but it's still plenty quick for getting around town. If for some reason you want your hybrid to be a rocketship, then get the Toyota.

The gas engine is related to the one I've sampled in the Focus and Mazda3, so I was not suprised to find it smooth and quiet compared to the average four-cylinder.

Thankfully, the Escape Hybrid still has a tach. The Toyota SUVs do not. Even with an automatic I personally like to know how fast the engine is turning. I especially enjoyed being able to slowly motor down the road with the tach needle at zero. Like Toyota's hybrids, but unlike Honda's, the Escape can be driven with the engine off for short distances if you use a light foot. I once accelerated to nearly 30 miles-per-hour this way.

As in Toyota's hybrids, the transmission is a continuously variable unit. As a result, the powertrain feels a bit different than one using a conventional automatic, but so much so that many people will mind. The CVT does contribute to the powertrain's acceleration by holding the engine in its powerband.

In general the Escape drove much like Toyota's latest hybrids. Transitions between the vehicle's conventional and hybrid components can be detected, but only if you know what to look for. The average driver could well think they're driving a regular Escape. The Accord Hybrid is even more seamless, but then it uses a much less powerful electric motor and a conventional automatic. On the other hand, the same transitions in the first Prius were far more evident.

The Escape's powertrain is much less powerful than the Highlander's, so even with front wheel drive torque steer is negligible under full throttle. Paradoxically, the all-wheel-drive Escape Hybrid uses a conventional driveshaft to power the rear wheels. The Toyota uses a second electric motor for this task. While an ingenious solution, this foists the task of managing the primary powertrain's prodigious torque entirely on the front tires.

Fuel economy is what hybrids are primarily about, and Ford's use of a smaller engine should give the Escape superior numbers. Well, its EPA ratings of 36/31 with front-wheel-drive (which I drove) and 33/29 with all-wheel-drive are better than the Toyota's, but only by two to three miles-per-gallon. During my test drive the Escape tended towards the high twenties until I did a couple of full-throttle acceleration runs at the end. Then the average dropped to 22. I'd figure high twenties, maybe 30, in the Escape, mid twenties in the Highlander.

Perhaps because I've only driven the Escape in V6 form before, the Escape Hybrid actually felt more nimble than those I've driven before. The Escape V6 has a somewhat trucky character. Though I found this oddly appealing, I also liked the Hybrid's more car-like demeanor. The Highlander, though compact as midsize SUVs go, feels considerably less nimble. The Escape Hybrid's electric-assist steering feels lighter than the conventional steering in the regular Escape, and provides less feedback, but still felt more naturally weighted and precise than the system in the Highlander. I enjoyed taking turns in the Escape quite a bit more.

I also thought the Escape rode better, though I drove on different roads in the two vehicles and this could be a factor. When the Escape was first introduced road noise was excessive. With the latest revisions noise has been reduced to moderate levels and ride quality is very smooth. Over bumpy stretches of pavement the Escape felt more composed than the slightly jittery Highlander.

Ford Escape Hybrid Price Comparisons and Prices

With a base price of $27,515, the Escape can be quite a bit less expensive than the Toyota Highlander Hybrid, which starts at $31,055. Similarly equip the two and adjust for remaining feature differences and the gap stays about the same. I prefer how the Escape rides and handles, but the $3,500 premium seems very reasonable for the Toyota's extra power and third-row seat.

How much extra does the Hybrid cost compared to the regular Escape? That depends on which engine you put in the latter. At lower speeds the Hybrid performs more like the six than the four, so the real equivalent is somewhere between the two. Compared to the four, the Hybrid costs about $5,600 more. Compared to the six, it's about $4,900 more. Toyota charges a similar premium for the high-tech bits. So in either you'll have to drive over 80,000 miles to earn back your money.

I'd be a lot more comfortable with a $3,000 premium.

Prices change frequently, and differences will vary based on feature level. To quickly generate these and other comparisons with the specific features you want, visit my Web site, www.truedelta.com. (It's the only site that provides true "apples-to-apples" price comparisons.)

TrueDelta's page for the Escape:

http://www.truedelta.com/models/Escape.php

Last Words

The Escape Hybrid drives and performs very well, and is as roomy and functional as any Escape. An impressive first foray into hybrid technology. But the price is a bit high, especially for a vehicle without the gee-whiz factor of the Prius.

A Note on Ford Escape Hybrid Reliability

I cannot practically cover reliability within the context of this review. However, many people are interested in such information, so I've started collecting my own data. Results, once they are available, will be posted to my site, www.truedelta.com, with updates every three months.

Unlike other sources, TrueDelta will clearly identify what difference it will make if you buy an Escape Hybrid rather than another vehicle by providing "times in the shop" and "days in the shop" stats (among others). You will be able to specify the number of years, annual miles, and types of repairs to include in Ford Escape Hybrid reliability comparisons.

Before I can report results, I need data on all cars--not just the Escape Hybrid--from people like you. To encourage participation, those who help provide the data will receive free access to the site's reliability information. Non-participants will have to pay an access fee.

For the details, and to sign up, visit www.truedelta.com.

A link to this website and alphabetized links to my other vehicle reviews can be found on my profile page.

Some of my reviews of related vehicles:
Ford Escape V6 review
Toyota Highlander Hybrid review
Honda Accord Hybrid review
Toyota Camry Hybrid review
Toyota Prius review