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Claudia Hommel
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Cordell Koland
Car Writer
Weekly Reviews
 2007 Ford Escape Hybrid by Cordell Koland Given their gas-guzzling reputation, it makes sense if you’re going to purchase a sport-utility vehicle to buy a hybrid. Yet despite the current market buzz, there are still darn few alternatives. What’s so special about the Ford Escape Hybrid is that it achieves an estimated 36 miles per gallon of gasoline consumption for city driving at a base list price of just $25,600. The new Escape finally is the only answer to a question I’ve heard a hundred times. It goes something like: “is there a ‘green’ SUV, that’s affordable?” The Escape Hybrid looks like any other model in the line. The only visible difference is a unique logo that uses a road-and-greenleaf insignia. The gas mileage differs significant from a standard powertrain and appeals to my environmental consciousness. Ford estimates a 75 percent advantage for the hybrid in city driving. The Escape Hybrid is now available with four levels of trim, which offers choices from the grad-student special to the grand luxe treatment. There is some natural hesitancy on the part of consumers to wonder about the long-term viability of the new hybrid technology. Ford solves this problem with an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty on unique hybrid components. The Ford Escape has been a preferred small SUV and is a pretty neat little rig. It is peppy, handles quite well, is very maneuverable in urban traffic and will fit in almost any parking space. In fact, I think the Escape is an almost-ideal package for the urban couple or small family who want a lot of utility without any ostentation. The Escape is a simple package. Given its relatively small size, the interior feels roomy. The controls are easy to access and use. The seats appear adequately constructed to offer comfort and support over the life of the vehicle. Although inexpensive, the Escape does not feel cheap. One thing you won’t find any fancy dials in the Escape Hybrid that give you an instantaneous readout of mileage. The Ford is about results, not display. Our test vehicle had the standard 16-inch alloy wheels. It also had the special Appearance Package of lower body cladding and chrome trim. Options included leather seats, an upgraded audio system and satellite navigation. Buyers who live near, or travel to snow country should opt for the all-wheel-drive model. While I’m impressed that a nav system is an option on an entry-level vehicle, the Ford version didn’t work at all on our test model. And the display screen is so small that you’ll need exceptional vision to make it a worthwhile investment. The Escape Hybrid also has what’s called a continuously variable transmission. Ford seems to have solved a problem I noted when this type of transmission was first introduced a few years ago. At that time, the engine seemed to rev endlessly without much impact on the vehicle speed—more sound than performance. It now works as a transmission should—without calling attention to itself. In other words, it just quietly does the job. What makes the gas mileage so substantial is what’s called full hybrid technology. This means that it has both a gasoline and an electric motor. At the core of the Escape Hybrid is a 2.3-liter, four-cylinder engine. This engine features Atkinson cycle combustion technology for improved efficiency. It also has a 330-volt nickel-metal-hydride battery pack located and sealed beneath the rear load floor, which serves as the electric powertrain system's power reserve. The brain of the hybrid system is an electronic vehicle system controller, which manages charging, drive assist and engine-starting functions. This device shuts the engine down during coasting and at stoplights to save fuel. It also converts the electric motor into a generator during braking to help recharge the batteries, a process called regenerative braking. In actual operation the Escape automatically switches between pure electric power, pure gasoline engine power or a combined operation to maximize efficiency and performance. Vehicle: Ford Escape Hybrid Price as tested: $30,300 Engine: Type: 2.3-liter inline four and 70 kWatt electric motor Combined horsepower: 155 Combined torque: NA Fuel economy, automatic transmission City – 36 mpg Highway – 31 Curb Weight: 3,620 lbs.  Cordell Koland is an automotive journalist based in California's central coast. He can be reached at cordellkoland@oakparkjournal.com |
