2008 Ford Escape Hybrid FWD

Escape the ordinary

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In a crowded marketplace, it's important to distinguish yourself. Ford makes a big point of stating that Escape was the industry's "first hybrid SUV." Technically true -- the 2005 Escape Hybrid beat the Toyota Highlander Hybrid to market by several months. With a new design for 2008, Ford hopes to get the jump on the competition again. The 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid FWD carries a base price of $26,265 ($30,000 as tested), a 3 year/36,000 mile warranty (8 years/100,000 mile warranty on unique hybrid components) and an EPA fuel economy estimate of 34 mpg city/30 mpg highway. Let's drive.

Larger Exterior Photos: Front Rear

Escape has been around since 2001, sharing most of its body parts with relatives Mercury Mariner and Mazda Tribute. Built on a mid-size car platform that also formed the basis for the Mazda 626, Escape brought SUV functionality to a smaller, more efficient package.

The whole Ford lineup has gotten tougher, so it was time for Escape to man up for 2008. That means sharper angles, beefier fenders and front grille, and a more assertive stance. Strongly arched wheel wells bulge over 16" aluminum wheels. Rocker panels and bumper bottoms are notched with girder-like impressions, so it looks like Escape sits on a steel frame, even though it's a crossover built with a unibody. My test vehicle wore an optional ($195) Hybrid Chrome Appearance Package that included some flashy accents. The overall effect is more distinctive than the previous generation of Escape, if a little Tonka-toy inspired.

Despite its beefier appearance, Escape actually avoided the automatic bloat that seems to accompany a redesign. With a 103.1" wheelbase, 70.1" width, 174.9" length and 69.9" height, 2008's Escape is about the same size as 2007's, and at 3638 lbs, about the same weight.

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Larger Interior Photo

Escape's inside matches its outside. Beefy, chunky features abound. If you liked what you saw in the new grille, you won't be disappointed by the new dashboard. The center stack is simple, linear and easy to use. Two shapes and two shapes only -- rectangles and circles. Big round knobs control the climate; rectangular displays and vents handle the outflow of information and air. Ovals have been banished -- they must be a sign of weakness.

My test vehicle came with a $2,695 "Energy Audiophile & Nav System" preinstalled that allowed me to monitor the energy flow of the hybrid system via a pictograph on the navigation screen. It's pretty cool to be able to see how your SUV is using energy in real time, though I found the display distracting in the short run, and I switched over to the more useful navigation display instead. I would have liked the Leather Comfort Package ($695), because the "sustainable-fabric seating surfaces" on the driver's seat colluded with my pants to create a massive static charge that zapped me every time I exited the Escape.

Escape's second row is decent, better for two adults than for three, but with good leg and head room for all. Behind the second row, there's room for 27.8 cubic feet of luggage. Fold down the seat, and you can haul around 66.0 cubic feet of cargo.

The great thing about hybrid-powered vehicles nowadays is how ordinary they are. Press on the accelerator, and the Escape just goes. No shudder, no waiting for the gas engine to start up, just transparent operation, a computer coordinating the cooperation between the electric motor and the gas engine for maximum efficiency. The gas portion of the equation is a 2.3 liter inline four-cylinder engine that produces 133 hp and 124 lb-ft of torque; the electric portion is a motor that produces 94 hp. Ford doesn't quote torque figures for the electric motor, but electric motors are noted for their instant torque, and you can feel the added twisting power when the volts are applied in high demand situations. Net horsepower is reported to be 155, closer to the gas-only Escape four-cylinder's 153 hp than the V6's 200 hp. Comparisons aside, the Escape Hybrid feels adequately powered for most situations. With an SUV full of five adults (at least 650 lbs worth of human payload), I had no problem merging onto the freeway, driving up hills or passing slower traffic.

Curvy roads are not Escape's favorite venue. Despite four-wheel independent suspension and a front stabilizer bar, the SUV's center of gravity feels high, which does not inspire a lot of confidence. Ford has loaded down Escape Hybrid with a full complement of safety equipment, including dual-stage front airbags, front-seat side airbags, side-curtain airbags, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, LATCH, and a tire pressure monitoring system.

Escape hits the sweet spot for me in the Ford SUV lineup. Explorer and Expedition are too big; Taurus X and Edge are too mini-van-ish for my taste. I like the bold new styling, and I appreciate the uncluttered interior. The big question for me would be Escape Hybrid versus gas-only Escape. Considering that an Escape XLS with a four-cylinder gas engine and manual transmission starts at just $18,870 -- almost $7,500 less than the Escape Hybrid -- I would have to do some serious math to justify the Hybrid. The gas Escape is rated for 22 mpg city/28 mpg highway (four-cylinder FWD manual)/18 mpg city/24 mpg highway (six-cylinder FWD automatic), so the Hybrid's 34 mpg city/30 mpg highway represents a pretty substantial potential savings over the life of the vehicle. Not to mention the green credit you'll get from your friends and neighbors.

If you're considering an Escape Hybrid, there are several other SUVs you ought to look at. If you like the technology but not the style, check out the Mercury Mariner Hybrid, which shares mechanical underpinnings with Escape Hybrid but tones down the tough-guy looks. If you live in California, check out the Mazda Tribute Hybrid, another rebadged Escape clone. The big Kahuna on the hybrid block is the Toyota Highlander, which has also been redesigned for 2008. Saturn's Vue Green Line is also new for 2008. Don�t overlook the gas-only Toyota RAV-4 and the Honda CR-V.

The bottom line remains -- the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid is the most fuel-efficient SUV on the road today. And that's saying something.