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Walkaround
Ford says the Escape Hybrid is the cleanest of all sport utility vehicles, and while the automaker is talking about the hybrid powertrain system, which the EPA states does indeed produce less greenhouse gas emissions than the Mariner Hybrid or Lexus RX 400h, the adjective also applies to the Escape's exterior design.The design of the Ford Escape is clean: Simple and practical without unnecessary flourishes and flares, contemporary and not likely to look outdated within just a few years. Visually, the Escape Hybrid is barely changed from the standard Escape, and most people won't even notice that your SUV is different that the rest. There are small Hybrid badges just behind the front wheels and also on the rear hatch. The hybrid also has a vent built into its left rear quarter-panel glass; this vent helps cool the battery pack. The standard fog lamps set toward the outside portion of the lower front fascia provide a nice balance to the car's face and visually widen the Escape Hybrid's stance. Like many SUVs, the Escape Hybrid has a two-tone appearance, with body panels and lower fascia in complementary colors. Those who want a monochromatic look can order the appearance package in a choice of five exterior colors, including the new black clearcoat metallic. Five-spoke alloy wheels are 16 inches in diameter and wear 235/70-aspect tires tuned to provide a smooth and comfortable ride, not for severe off-road duty. One very useful exterior feature is the way the glass backlight opens separately from the rear hatch door, providing a quick and easy way to load or unload small packages. We also liked the fact that the top of the rear bumper cover is wide enough that we could set a 12-pack of soda on it while loading other groceries through the open rear window.
Interior Features
Escape Hybirds come with flint gray interiors, either in a nicely patterned premium cloth or leather. The driver's seat has six-way power adjustment controls. All of the switchgear is easy to find and to use.Seats provide an elevated vantage of the road ahead. They also are comfortable around town or on trips. The rear seat has ample room and a 60/40 split back that provides several options for expanding the size of the flat rear cargo floor. The gauges have black figures on a white background and are easy to read in even bright daylight. At night, the colors reverse, with white numbers against a glareless black background. The biggest difference between the Hybrid and the regular Escape is seen on the tachometer, which reports the revolutions per minute of the engine. In the Escape Hybrid, the tachometer needle has a sub-zero setting that it uses to indicate that the car is running only on electric power, such as while sitting at a stop or even while traveling on the road in certain conditions. We recommend getting the optional Energy, Audiophile and Navigation package. If you're among those who want a hybrid, you likely will opt for this package because it graphically and immediately demonstrates the benefits you derive from the technology. By paying some attention to the graphs, you'll find yourself becoming an even more environmentally friendly and fiscally efficient motorist. It's fun to see how efficient you can drive. The screen isn't as large as those in some other vehicles, but its graphics are extremely clear and we had no trouble reading even the smallest details, either at night or while wearing sunglasses in bright daylight. When you switch over to the energy reporting screens, the next navigation instruction remains as the bottom line on the display, sort of like the line at the bottom of the screen in some television newscasts. This can be a handy feature for those who aren't sure of their route but also want to keep an eye on fuel economy is shaping up. The navigation system includes a Home button that can lead you back to whatever location you set as your home base, or you can easily program it to take you to various destinations. The optional 110-volt AC power outlet (house current) can be a useful feature, whether tailgating or camping.
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