Every purchase of a new car is colored by emotions. We are all enveloped by the look, feel, and smell of something brand new. Buyers overlook negatives, and positives become bigger than life. The best of reviews will be written well after first impressions disappear and just before our new car becomes just another vehicle.

I was one of the first to own and drive the new 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid SUV in the Fall of 2004. In the Spring of 2005 my car now has nearly 8,000 miles of everyday use. In this review I hope to give potential buyers of the 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid some unbiased information based upon my experience with the 2005.

Value - Why Pick an Escape?

I would imagine that many prospective owners of the Escape Hybrid SUV are like myself. I need a vehicle that is all-weather, can carry a reasonable load of passengers and cargo, fit in my price range, and be roomy enough to accomodate both a tall husband and a short wife as drivers and passenger. I want a vehicle that will get superior gas mileage because of rapidly rising prices, be environmentally-friendly, and be attractive without standing out in a crowd.

These parameters meant only one thing, a hybrid. I really love the Toyota Prius, thought highly about what I had heard about the Honda Accord Hybrid, but both are too small and neither would hold up in the long run out where I live in the desert, therefore it had to be a hybrid SUV. When I bought, the only hybrid SUV available was the Ford Escape. I could have waited for the Lexus 440h in April or the Toyota Highlander in June but both cost more than I was willing to pay and both were offering more power and less gas mileage than I needed.

The listed MSRP (Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price) price for the Escape Hybrid is about $27,400 ($1,500 higher for AWD). For a model fully loaded with available options you will pay about $34,000, including taxes and plates. This is about $6,000 higher than one would pay for the regular gasoline Escape, taking into account its possible rebates, which are not available for hybrids because of their popularity. I did not pay a premium over MSRP and it is my feeling no one else should pay one either. There are plenty of dealers that will sell for a fair retail price if you just look hard enough. I received a Federal deduction of $2,000 on my 2004 tax return. This is a deduction, not a credit, and although it is available once again for 2005, it will drop to $500 in 2006, unless Congress passes a new authorization. California gave me no breaks but some states have additional deductions or credits.

Dealer and After-Market options are currently limited. There are few that offer a sunroof and radio compatible with satellite or an IPod. I purchased side steps ($200), a trailer hitch ($200), and a front cover bra ($75) for my own particular needs.

Utility - An Answer for All My Needs.

Ford has been good to me over the years. I've owned many Ford Trucks, and during the past twenty years, several Bronco IIs. The last Bronco II outlived two engines and finally died after nearly 300,000 miles, due to no fault of its own. My Fords were all well-built, reliable, and Ford's service was great. I have hopes that the Escape Hybrid is an extension of Ford's good reputation.

The primary job of my Escape is to get my wife and I to work and back. I drive about forty miles each way and my wife about 10 miles. Gas mileage for my long commute averages 35 MPG in warm weather and 32 MPG in the winter. My wife averages about 2 - 3 miles per gallon less. She is nearly five feet tall and I am a bit over six feet. We have found driving comfortable for both short and long trips. The seats are perhaps firmer than some people would desire. The power seat lacks lumbar support and the controls on the left side of the seat may be difficult for some people to reach easily.

We have driven our car in very difficult weather conditions. I have personally had to drive for an extensive distance through flash-flooded roadways in two feet of water. I've barely felt crosswinds of forty miles per hour. Some of my daily travels traverse dirt roads through mud and dust and sand. Our car has never hesitated. One dark and rainy evening I unexpectedly hit a patch of deep water on the highway at a high speed. I immediately turned on the wipers and steered straight. I was amazed that the front wheel drive pulled the car safety through the water and the all-wheel drive kicked in quickly. My Bronco II could never have made me feel so safe and secure through this incident. I am sure I would have been off the road.

One of my top priorities when I ordered my Escape was to be sure it had the capacity to tow a substantial weight. My home is far out and I have to use a road drag to keep my long driveway open and free of snow and debris during the winter months. I found that the Escape does have the capacity to tow at least a 1,000 pound dead weight without any hesitation. The problem was that Ford did not provide a means since they had no optional towing hitch that would fit. I was able to find an after-market hitch company, Hitch.Com, that worked with me and we were able to manufacture a great Class II hitch.

Often, I will use my substantial cargo space to haul trash cans, lumber, and dogs. There is plenty of room when the rear seats are down and when I go back to hauling people instead of cargo I've found that four full sized adults and a driver can go hundreds of miles in comfort. This car has been more than a good replacement for my Bronco II. Although it seems to be about the same size on the outside, it is much roomier on the interior. I do wish that I did not have to remove the rear seat head pads in order to fold down the seats. I have also removed the front head pads because it was difficult to see out the rear window.

Performance - A Good Balance of Power and Efficiency

Early hybrids, like their cousin, the electric car, were usually referred to as gutless wonders that got great gas mileage. This is both unfair and not true. The hybrid hardware that is added actually enhances performance at low and high speeds. The Escape Hybrid is advertised as 0 - 60 in about ten seconds which is comparable to the regular Escape. I often have to accelerate to get on the freeway and the partnership of gas and electric power plants always give me the get up and go I require. I've also found myself in the right lane at stoplights when I should have been in the left. Flooring the gas pedal not only beats other cars off the line but also embarrasses them when they realize I am but a hybrid. Ford says that the Escape Hybrid produces the power of a V-6. I can only say that mine has more power than my Bronco II did with its V-6. When I have carried a full load of passengers and/or cargo I have noticed no impairment of acceleration despite the additional weight.

In most states the Escape Hybrid is classed as an SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle) based on measurable tailpipe gas emissions, quantified over an extended time period. To meet SULEV standards a light or medium truck must be at least 90% cleaner than the average 2003 model year car. In California and several other "Green" states the Escape is classed as a PZEV (Partial Zero Emission Vehicle). PZEVs meet SULEV tailpipe emission standards, have zero evaporative emissions and a 15 year / 150,000 mile warranty on distinctive hybrid parts. No evaporative emissions means that they have fewer emissions while being driven than a typical gasoline car has while just sitting. Some manufacturers advertise their hybrids as AT-PZEV (Advanced Technology PZEVs). AT-PZEVs meet the PZEV requirements and have additional "ZEV-like" characteristics. A dedicated compressed natural gas vehicle, or a hybrid vehicle with engine emissions that meet the PZEV standards would be an AT-PZEV. To most of us this just means that our car meets the highest possible current standards we can achieve to help keep our air clean. Ford and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) calculated that the Escape Hybrid Front-Wheel Drive model would average 36 miles per gallon (MPG) in the City and 31 MPG under Highway conditions (33 MPG City and 29 Highway for the All-Wheel Drive model). Many of us view EPA estimates of mileage with distrust and few understand how they are set. There are so many variables included in drivers, and in driving conditions. Things such as weather, altitude, vehicle weight, type of fuel, speed, and of course, driver input at the pedal will determine one's own miles available per gas tank. Aggressive drivers in cold parts of the country may achieve less than 28 MPG overall. Careful drivers in warm areas, like me, may greatly exceed EPA. The Escape Hybrid definitely likes warmer weather because the engine must first warm up the exhaust system prior to getting better mileage. The battery pack is also most efficient at about 82 degrees. Some have said I am a 'Hypermiler' because I have averaged an overall 34 MPG with a current maimum of 38 MPG. But I am not the norm and everyone's mileage will be different. I remain happy with my mileage because it is over 50% higher than what I would get with a regular gasoline Escape, or than I was getting with my old Bronco II.

Safety - Not Great but Above Average Protection

Ford has done a good job of outfitting the Escape Hybrid with the numerous safety features consumers want. Buyers often comment that they buy a SUV because they offer more protection in crashes. In frontal and side crash tests this car achieves five stars on a 1 - 5 star scale. In rollover tests it was graded at three stars because of its high ground clearance. Side-impact air bags are not standard but are included as an option for about $600 more. Within the frame a "safety cell" construction surrounds the entire vehicle interior with a structural cage. Crumple zones are built into strategic areas of the car to protect the passenger compartment safety cell.

The AWD model comes with an 'Intelligent 4WD System' that's always on. It monitors traction and automatically adjusts torque distribution. I have seldom felt it coming on and it has no indicator light. I have felt it while in extreme 4WD conditions and on rainy and slick roads. In most instances the FWD will pull you out of harm's way.

Ford's 'Personal Safety System' is standard. It includes adjustable deployment of air bags to enhance protection for front seat occupants, electronic crash severity sensor, dual-stage driver and right-front passenger airbags, driver's seat position sensor, front outboard safety belt energy management retractors, safety belt pretensioners and belt usage sensors.

Other things I love about my car that relate to safety are the huge windshield, that combined with a rapidly-sloping front hood, gives great driver visability, despite a less-than-large-enough sunshield; the placement of accelerator and brake pedals that seem to fit all size drivers; and the electrically-controlled side mirrors that I have to adjust everytime we change drivers.

Uniqueness - On the Cusp of Technology

One of my understated reasons for gravitating to hybrid ownership early in the technology cycle is my love of newness, despite the risks of buying before newness is fully tested and/or paying too much. Unique hybrid components include the High Voltage (330 volt) Battery, Electronically Controlled Continuously Variable Transmission, and the DC/DC converter which allows me to have a functional mobile 120 volt outlet to amaze my friends. I try to maximize my mileage by using the regenerative braking system in combination with very light pressure on the accelerator. In this way I use demonstrated patterns to help the Powertrain Control Modual (PCM), the hardware and software brains of the car, keep the batteries full or discharged, turn the internal combustion engine (ICE) on and off, and use the electric motor/generator (EV) to its fullest extent. I am glad I purchased the Navigation System option because I use it constantly in combination with the standard tachometer to monitor and adjust my driving for maximum mileage and efficiency.

The hybrid drive components have a warranty coverage of 8 years/ 100,000 miles (10 years, 150,000 miles in PZEV states like California). This is in addition to the standard Ford Warranty coverages like the Bumper-to-Bumper 3 year/36,000 mile warranty, Roadside Assistance, Tires, Corrosion Protection, Safety Restraints and Emissions. I have not yet purchased the Extended Service Plan (ESP) from Ford to gain added miles and time after 3 years/36,000 miles. The current cost is about $2,000 for a $100 deductible but many dealers will negotiate a better price.

Ford dealers will begin taking orders for the 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid during the last week in March, 2005, and production is scheduled to begin at the Kansas City Plant on or about May 2, 2005. Customers can expect first deliveries, depending upon location, during the middle of June, 2005.

New factory options for the 2006 model year are expected to include a new premium package with heated seats, heated side mirrors, premium leather, an improved audiophile navigation system and an available moonroof. The Escape Hybrid also will be available in a new monochromatic color scheme, in addition to an elegant black.

SPECIFICATIONS

Front Wheel Drive MSRP starting at $26,970**
Four Wheel Drive MSRP starting at $28,595**

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES (All dimensions are in inches unless otherwise noted)
Overall Length 174.9
Overall Width 71.8
Overall Height (FWD/4x4) 70.0
Wheelbase 103.2
Track, Front/Rear 61.1/60.2
Fuel Capacity 15.0 gal
Oil Capacity 4.5 qt
Coolant Capacity 11.6 qt

INTERIOR
Cargo Volume
rear seat up 27.6 cu ft
rear seat down (cushion removed) 65.5 cu ft
Headroom
1st row 40.4
2nd row 39.2
Legroom
1st row 41.6
2nd row 36.3
Hip room
1st row 53.4
2nd row 49.1
Shoulder room
1st row 56.3
2nd row 55.9

POWERTRAIN

GASOLINE ENGINE
Engine Type aluminum double overhead cam (DOHC) 16-valve Atkinson cycle inline 4-cylinder
Bore/Stroke 3.44 x 3.70
Displacement 138 cu in, 2261 cc
Compression Ratio 12.3:1
Fuel Injection Sequential multi-port electronic
Valvetrain Direct-acting mechanical bucket
Power 133 hp @ 6000 rpm
Combined horsepower of gasoline engine and electric motor 155 hp
Torque 129 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm

ELECTRIC MOTOR
Motor Type Permanent magnet AC synchronous motor
Power 94 hp (70kW) @ 3000 - 5000 rpm
Voltage 330V maximum
Transmission Electronically Controlled Continuously Variable (eCVT)

SUSPENSION
Front Independent MacPherson struts supported by L-shaped lower control arms, coil springs and stabilizer bar
Rear Independent, Multi-link suspension with two lateral links and trailer arms

STEERING
Type rack-and-pinion with electric power assist
Overall ratio 19.9:1
Turning circle, curb-to-curb 37.7 ft

BRAKES
Front 11.9-in Vented Disc
Rear 11.9-in Disc
Assist type Vacuum, Optional ABS

WHEELS AND TIRES
Base Wheel and Tire 16-in, P235/70R16
All-Season Continental BSW tires
Largest Tire Available P235/70R16

WEIGHT
Base Curb Weight
FWD 3620 Lbs.
AWD 3782 Lbs.
Max Towing Capacity, Properly Equipped 1000 Lbs.

2005 FORD Escape HEV 2.3L (4 cyl) Auto
Fuel Economy: (City MPG 36/Highway MPG 31) 2WD (Front-Wheel Drive)
Fuel Economy: (City MPG 33/Highway MPG 29) 4WD (All-Wheel Drive)
Sales Area - All of USA Except California
Price: $30K+
Air Pollution Score - 7 (With 10 Being Best) 2WD
Air Pollution Score - 9 (With 10 Being Best) 4WD
Emissions Limits at Full Useful Life (100,000-120,000 miles)
Maximum Allowed Grams per Mile:
NOx (0.04) NMOG (0.070) CO (2.1) PM (0.01) HCHO (0.011)
Greenhouse Gas (CO2) Score - 8 (With 10 Being Best)
Lbs. CO2 per Mile (0.55-0.64)