Rating:

Nickname: THANE33

Review: Thane Peterson back again. Just wanted to report that I drove the Escape Hybrid back to Manhattan from Northeast Pa. on Saturday and was getting 33 mpg going 70 mph on I-80 with the heater on low--vs a little over 25 mpg on the same stretch doing 30 during the snowstorm (and just over 24 overall). The test Escape had a running fuel economy calculator and you could see mpg go down with the heater set on "defrost" or "heat/defrost" because that forces the engine to run all the time. High winds and snow on the road probably also reduced mileage during the storm. Still, I was surprised that mileage fell so much because I was going slow and braking a lot during the storm.

Date reviewed: Jan 22, 2006 2:45 PM

Rating:

Nickname: Thane33

Review: Thane Peterson, the BW Online reviewer, back yet again. Here are Ford's plans for future hybrids: Hybrid versions of the Mazda Tribute (a clone of the Escape) are due in '07, and of the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan in '08. Ford says that by 2010 it plans to offer "a hybrid power option in up to half of its Ford, Lincoln and Mercury nameplates." However, I haven't seen anything specifically about a hybrid Ford Focus being in the works.

Date reviewed: Jan 21, 2006 2:00 AM

Rating:

Nickname: Thane33

Review: Thane Peterson, the BW Reviewer, back again. Chris, according to the Escape owner's manual, running the defroster (as well as the AC, which I obviously didn't need in a snowstorm) reduces mileage on the Escape because it forces the engine to run continuously.

Date reviewed: Jan 21, 2006 1:52 AM

Rating:

Nickname: Thane33

Review: Thane Peterson, the BW Reviewer, back again. Chris, according to the Escape owner's manual, running the defroster (as well as the AC, which I obviously didn't need in a snowstorm) reduces mileage on the Escape because it forces the engine to run continuously.

Date reviewed: Jan 21, 2006 1:52 AM

Rating:

Nickname: Thane33

Review: Thane Peterson, the BW Reviewer, back again. Chris, according to the Escape owner's manual, running the defroster (as well as the AC, which I obviously didn't need in a snowstorm) reduces mileage on the Escape because it forces the engine to run continuously.

Date reviewed: Jan 21, 2006 1:52 AM

Rating:

Nickname: Thane33

Review: Thane Peterson, the BW Reviewer, back again. Chris, according to the Escape owner's manual, running the defroster (as well as the AC, which I obviously didn't need in a snowstorm) reduces mileage on the Escape because it forces the engine to run continuously.

Date reviewed: Jan 21, 2006 1:43 AM

Rating:

Nickname: Chris

Review: I agree with everything above. Also this paragraph made me laugh. "How did the Escape do in real-life driving? Predictably, mileage plunged during the big snowstorm because I was running the heater, defroster, and front and rear windshield wipers full blast, and was plowing through heavy snow. In 189 miles of driving, I got only 24.3 miles per gallon. " Since when does running your wipers, heater, ect at full blast affect your mileage? It runs of the alternator, and its stress on the engine never changes...

Date reviewed: Jan 20, 2006 7:53 PM

Rating:

Nickname: Tsvi

Review: In the market for both a sedan and SUV, we bought a Prius, but passed on the Escape Hybrid because it cannot tow over 1000 lbs--an ability option we wanted for an SUV. We also were wondering about the reliability of the Escape Hybrid, which is why I read the article. I hope Ford is improving--my reliability experience from Fords made about 15 years ago is bitter. The Prius is a joy so far--averaging 43 mpg now, 47 mpg in summer/fall, 50 mpg when babying it with AC off.

Date reviewed: Jan 20, 2006 6:03 PM

Rating:

Nickname: rick

Review: I am glad that Ford built the hybrid Excape. What I would like Ford to do next is build a Ford Focus Hybrid that would get equal or better MPG than the Civic Hybrid & the Prius Hybrid. If Ford could make a Focus Hybrid that got 50-55 MPG and sell it for $19,000 they would be able to out-do the Japanese competition. I currently drive a Nissan Sentra, but I am rooting for the domestic car makers GM, Ford, & Chysler-Benz to make this vehicle. This is because I have no reasonable use for a SUV, and therefore, the only Hybrid sedans available are Japanese. Also, I would not mind seeing the Hybrid in the Chevy Aveo mini car, or any other future mini-car Hybrids by any auto-maker.

Date reviewed: Jan 20, 2006 2:36 AM

Rating:

Nickname: Thane33

Review: Thane Peterson, the BW Online reviewer, again... Joe, I'm not going to argue with you about Ford (except to say I don't see how anyone could call the Escape exciting looking). I love my Fords and I rated the Escape four stars, which is a high rating. And I agree that Ford and GM are making better cars than ever before. I also agree that Toyota designs can be pretty dull. But Toyota quality just flat out isn't a myth. Check J.D. Power or Consumer Reports or just talk to some owners. Toyota makes very reliable, high quality vehicles.

Date reviewed: Jan 19, 2006 10:57 PM