2006 Ford Escape Review
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By Larry Edsall

Overview

The Ford Escape became even more popular last year with a hybrid version that won the 2005 North American Truck of the Year award.

The first thing you should know about the Escape Hybrid is that, for the most part, it drives just like a regular Escape. It demands little, if any, additional effort or knowledge from the driver. That's impressive, considering its complexity. In short, the Ford Escape Hybrid is a superb vehicle, smooth, responsive, comfortable and convenient.

Hybrid vehicles are powered by the combination of a gasoline engine with an electric motor. By combining a four-cylinder gasoline engine with the boost from the electric power pack, the Ford Escape Hybrid provides acceleration much like a V6-powered Escape, but the Hybrid is estimated by the EPA to deliver twice the fuel economy in city driving and nearly double on the highway. Plus, its emissions are much lower.

Many people are pleasantly surprised to learn that hybrid vehicles such as the Escape never have to be plugged into any sort of electrical outlet. The vehicle's specially designed battery pack is automatically recharged by the gasoline engine and by regenerative braking, technology that takes the otherwise wasted energy generated by braking and sends it to the battery pack.

There is a price premium that must be paid for equipping a car with hybrid technology, but there also are federal tax benefits, and sometimes state and local tax benefits, available to help offset that price. This is in addition to the fuel savings. In reality, it takes awhile to recoup the price difference, about $3,500 more than the retail price of an Escape XLT with the V6 engine. During that time owners can be comforted in knowing they're doing more than their part to reduce air pollution and consumption of fossil fuels.

The Escape Hybrid was the first hybrid-powered SUV available in the United States, and also was the first hybrid with available all-wheel drive and 1000 pounds of towing capacity, which allows buyers to enjoy the benefits of a small SUV while greatly enhancing fuel economy and lowering emissions.

The Escape Hybrid no longer has the hybrid SUV market to itself, however. The Toyota Highlander Hybrid and Lexus RX 400h were introduced as 2006 models using Toyota's impressive Hybrid Synergy Drive, but the midsize Highlander costs $6,000-$11,000 more than the compact Escape and the Lexus costs even more than that. The Escape's market is shared with the Mercury Mariner Hybrid and the Mazda Tribute Hybrid, which are nearly identical vehicles with different styling.

The Escape Hybrid is available with four-wheel drive (all-wheel drive) or two-wheel drive (front-wheel drive). All come with automatic transmissions; no manuals are available. The 2006 Escape Hybrid 2WD model appears to be the cleanest, most economical SUV available today. (Mariner and Tribute are only available with all-wheel drive.)

The Escape Hybrid was launched as a 2005 model, sporting upgrades made to the entire Escape lineup in addition to the hybrid technology, so there are no changes for 2006 except for the availability of a new Premium package and a new black clearcoat metallic exterior color.

Model Lineup

The 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid comes in one well-equipped trim level, but with a choice of front-wheel drive ($26,900) or all-wheel drive ($28,525).

Options include leather seating, upgraded audio equipment, side-curtain airbags and a navigation system. The Energy, Audiophile and Navigation package ($1,995) includes an upgraded audio system, CD-based satellite navigation and a display on the navigation screen that illustrates instant and recent fuel economy and the way energy flows between the gasoline engine, electric motor, battery pack and wheels.

A safety package ($595) includes side-curtain airbags that cover all seating areas as well as side airbags for the driver and front-seat passenger. Curtain airbags are designed to provide head protection in a rollover or side impact. Head injuries are the leading cause of death in such accidents.

Other options include a leather comfort group ($595), an appearance package ($695) with front and side fascias, Ford's MACH audio with six-disc CD changer ($595), a 110-volt AC power outlet ($180), a retractable rear cargo cover ($75), and rear carpeted floor mats ($25). A new Premium package ($3,995) for 2006 models includes leather sport bucket seats, the hybrid energy audio and navigation system, the retractable rear cargo cover, the AC power outlet, and floor mats. A sunroof with a shade a a mini overhead console with a storage bin and map lights ($585) is available when the Premium package is ordered. Many accessories from Ford dealers or aftermarket companies are available for the standard Escape, and they also fit the Escape Hybrid.