2008 Ford Escape Hybrid Review | Buyer Guide
ESCAPE GETS A NEW LOOK
The Escape SUV has been just what the doctor ordered for the beleaguered Ford Motor Company. Sales have been strong. Over a million copies have passed through dealer’s doors in the six years that it’s been on the market. The Hybrid version, added to the line for 2005, has contributed to its popularity. To insure that sales of the Escape continue to roll along, the Detroit automaker has improved the 2008 model, especially its styling.
The overall size of the 2008 is about the same as last year’s vehicle, but Ford gave its compact SUV a fresh look. The headlights, taillights, as well as the hood have been restyled. However, the first thing you’re likely to notice about the new Escape is its new chrome grille. This grille gives the Escape a brighter, more distinctive face. And if you have a need for even more brightness, you can order the optional Appearance Package that will provide chrome all the way down around the front bumper.
The designers gave the interior a makeover as well, and they did a good job. The look is functional, but not austere. My test vehicle was attractively trimmed in beige. The dash was two-tone, part of it light, but with darker textured panels in front of the driver and passenger for contrast. A “top of dash” display that included radio and temperature readouts, added a nice touch, but the screen tended to washout in sunlight. Gauges are now illuminated in light blue, rather than green, and the Hybrid model gets a meter showing battery function. A graphic display of hybrid energy flow is available on the optional navigation screen.
The Escape seats four adults in reasonable comfort—five in a pinch. Head and legroom are good, considering that this compact SUV rides on just a 103.1-inch wheelbase. The driver gets a six-way power adjuster. The front passenger uses a manual control. Luggage space behind the second row is decent at 27.6 cu-ft, and can be expanded to 65 cu-ft when the rear seat is folded down. A hatchback door, which was heavier than I expected, provides access to the cargo area.
Ford powers the 2008 Hybrid with a 2.3-liter, four-cylinder, gasoline engine, which is combined with a 70-Kilowatt electric motor. Together, they generate 155 horsepower. This is basically a carryover from last year’s Hybrid. Around town, the electric motor does most of the work, so in this environment, it’s the most fuel-efficient. At speeds above 25 mph, the gas engine takes over, and when a burst of power is needed, the two systems work together.
The hybrid engine is teamed with a continuously variable (automatic) transmission (CVT). This tranny uses a series of planetary gears to transfer power to the wheels. Out on the road, the CVT feels a little unusual at first. The sense of acceleration seems missing, since there is no shifting of gears, but press firmly on the gas, and the hybrid will pull just as well as the V-6 powered Escape.
The Hybrid is rated by the EPA with gas mileage of 34 mpg in the city, and 30 highway with front-wheel drive, 29/27 with 4wd. My gas mileage, with a lot of highway driving, was 28.3 in a FWD model.
The driving dynamics of the 2008 Escape are about the same as last year’s model. The handling is about average. The new electric steering feels a bit more precise, but the Escape still wants to run wide and lean going around corners. And unfortunately, the ride quality is similar to its predecessor. It is still stiff and choppy—like a truck-based SUV, rather than a car-derived crossover.
The Escape Hybrid has a base price of $25,740, which is actually $580 less than last year, and the hybrid components are warranted for eight years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Snapshot Review
Bolder Styling
Strong Hybrid Engine
Good Gas Mileage
Choppy Ride
Specifications
Base Price: $25,740
Engine: 2.3-ltr gas/70-kw electric
Horsepower: 155
Transmission: CVT
Brakes: disc, ABS
Gas Mileage: 34-city/30-hwy
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