2009 Ford Escape Hybrid Limited SUV Review

2009 Ford Escape Hybrid Limited You know it seems like we’ve had Ford Escape Hybrid as long as we’ve had hybrids. Over 100,000 of these and its mercury sibling have been sold, not Prius numbers but top 5. What gives this boxy, little feel good SUV its staying power? Let’s find out. Now I’ve got to tell you, this isn’t a real cheap car but it feels like it sometimes in the interior. That said the technology, it’s solid. This is the Ford Microsoft Sync system and on this vehicle it’s part of an optional navigation line item. But I’ve got to say even though the screen is fairly small the touch screen calibration is very good. It’s easy to get around. You’ve got the outstanding Sync system to enter via voice which normally I hate but on this car it’s a joy. Once you do get your destination up and running you’re going to see again a small but well rendered map, none of the various information icons here are coarse or grainy, good work on a small piece of real estate. Now as part of that navigation unit you also get audio file sound which gives you more speakers, an 8-inch sub, 300 plus watts of power and I’ve got to say it does a pretty darn good job with compressed digital sources like satellite radio or MP3 which can shred really easily. I must say their DSP settings especially the one for driver is very good. It does a great job of arraying the sound stage in a very natural but pleasing way. If you don’t pop for the good head unit, you get stuck with an AM/FM 6-CD in dash, 4- speaker sounds system, great for ten years and not much else. But, because Sync is standard you still have the Aux, the USB, the great voice recognition, and the Bluetooth streaming for playing stereo tunes off of your Bluetooth streaming phone. By the way, the seats are covered in cloth made from post industrial waste that was heading for a landfill and the cushion underneath that is made from soybeans and the like. The electronically controlled continuously variable transmission isn’t as hopelessly spooly as some and the hybrid power train generally has good response. It doesn’t feel powerful per se but it doesn’t feel wimpy either. MPG is a tidy 34 city, 31 highway, nice numbers. On a scale of 10, it scores 9.5 and 8.0 on nitrous oxide and CO2 respectively and an Escape Hybrid should qualify for a $1500.00 Federal tax credit when you buy a new one. I must say I was annoyed by the ride which felt a little too connected to the road. Every little imperfection seems to be telegraphed up through the vehicle and into my seat bottom. Now up here in the engine room we’ve got a 2 ½ liter inline for 150 some odd horsepower, 136 foot pounds of torque but you’ve got to add 94 horsepower from the electric motor on top of that. Also, that engine what you call an “Atkinson cycle”, which means the power stroke is longer than the intake stroke. I parked this thing last night and I went to go ditch my laptop bag in the smugglers box you normally find on these Crossovers but not in this case. I forgot there’s battery back here. A Great big thing, nickel metal hydride, 330 volts and of course it seems to add quite a bit of weight because the ride on this car feels perhaps excessively planted. Okay let’s price are Escape Limited Hybrid about 32,700 base for this guy, nicely appointed including Sync but you got to add 2400 for that Nav system with the audio file sound package. I would do it for sure. Another 1750 will get you all-wheel drive but as I mentioned, you’re going to shave quite a bit off the MPG.