2008 Ford Escape Hybrid consumer reviews

Although fine during warm weather conditons, cold temps during the winter cause the 12V battery to go dead if the car is not run for 2 days or more. Got stuck in snow, should have backed out easily, but, the vehicle was warm, it shut down to electric only, and the engine would not engage, even with the accelerator to the floor. The only solution, to turn it off, wait for the vehicle to get "cold", then start it and back out with the gas engine. Mileage is good, but I would not own this vehicle in a northern climate. Had it checked out by Ford and they said everything was "normal". The high voltage electric is useless if short trips are the norm, as it does not engage until all fluids are totally warm. Thought my wife could drive this 4 blocks to school on electric, no gas, but that is not the case, as the engine had to be fully warmed before electric engages.

I am 6'7" and easily fit in this vehicle. I consistantly get around 33-35 MPG, and split my time between city and highway pretty evenly. This is also a great city car as it fits into small parking spots yet has enough interior room (with both seats folded down) to easily carry golf clubs, a gym bag, and a small suitcase with enough room to get everything in and out easily. I love this vehicle and would buy one again.

before i bought my 2008 ford escape hybrid AWD, i read a lot of reviews and got the opinion of a ford mechanic friend. all the positive reviews and my friend's positive opinion proved to be correct. i'm actually getting more mpg than advertised. i drive 140 miles roundtrip to work, mon - thurs, and average 31 miles per gallon. i live in the country, so these miles could be considered mostly highway miles but include going over a mountain pass. i've driven it for almost a year now, and it has 25,000 miles on it. i usually get an oil change every 5,000 miles but have done no other maintenance yet. it starts right up, handles nicely, is comfortable, and i think rather attractive. to get to my house, i have to drive on 3 miles of dirt road that depending on the season can be like a washboard, covered in ice and snow, or extremely dusty. my car has no problem with any of it. and it handles going up and down that mountain pass on my way to and from work without any problem. i wish i hadn't gotten the extended warranty. i only tried to use it once when i locked my keys in the car with the engine running. it was a hassle to get help, which i eventually gave up on and found a different way to solve the problem. besides, the car runs so well (knock on wood) that for what the extended warranty cost, i could pay for whatever problem may arise down the road (excuse the pun). all in all, i highly recommend the ford escape hybrid, and i'm glad i got the all whell drive (AWD).

I just picked up my Ford Escape Hybrid last week. I waited two months while it was built. I was built on June 10th and I had it on the 23rd. I test drove all hybrids including Camry and Prius and this one fit my family of 5 best. We ditched our hyundai accent and believe it or not this gets better gas milage. Right from the factory the worst I can do even on highway doing 120kms per hour is 8L/100kms. The best about 4L/100kms in city driving and being really light on the peddle. I went camping the first weekend I had it and it was just like the commercial - I snuck up on three deer and quietly drove past - wow! It is so quiet and my friends are amazed. What a vehicle! I love the $4000 tax credit as well (available in Ontario, Canada where I live). I can't wait untill I can by a plug-in version. David Ottawa, Canada

I am a lifetime Ford owner. My husband wanted a hybrid and I wanted an SUV so we compromised. It is great getting 30+ milies a gallon, and I love the stylish look of this car. It is my favorite Escape design. It was very affordable and has a lot of options. I have had the 2008 model for over a year now and I am VERY happy with it. I would definatly recommend it it a friend.

I special ordered my Escape Hybrid and it took 4 months to receive it. It was worth the wait! This is a great car! First of all, the outside styling is very cool! I ordered a black car with the additional chrome package. It is very styling. I also decked out the options except the nav system. The audiophile sounds great. I had a Bose system in my last car, an Acura MDX and it sounds better than the acura. It also handles better. So far I am getting around 31 miles to the gallon but have done a fair amount of highway traveling. I am very pleased with my purchase and hope to have this car for years to come. I have always had Hondas or Acuras and put this car in the same league.

This has to be the bust Hybrid out there! we test drove the saturn and the toyota and overall we like the ford the best and the tax credits! the interior is very nice and the stero is awesome! i would highly recomend this car to anybody this is a best buy over honda or toyota combined! and its cheaper than both

Over 30 miles to a gallon on the first tank. It gets the mileage that they advertise. That is a first for us!

I would recommend this car to everyone. I needed a larger car but wanted a hybrid. The Escape has exceeded all of my expectations from basic driving, city driving, and packing it for camping trips.

I test drove the Prius, Toyota Hylander and Camry Hybrids, the Civic and Accord Hybrids, and the Ford Escape is the best. Firstly, it definately has enough power for accelerating off the line, and passing. You have to "hit the gas" going up a steep and high hill for the electric motor to give you that boost, but overall, it's great. And...I'm getting around 33 mph on the 4-wheel drive model, with primarily highway miles. When I'm driving around 30 mph in the city, it runs primarily on the battery, and when I break from high speeds, the engine shuts off just under 40 mph. I have the fully loaded model, with chrome package, leather, etc., and I love it. It handles very well, comperable to the responsiveness of the Prius. I found the Camry and Hylander to be better for "old people" (I'm 25). And the navigation system with upgraded sound system does not disappoint in any way. Finally, the new 2008 body style is a real improvement from the 2007. It doesn't feel like my mom's Ford mini-van inside, which the 07 definately did, and it's a lot more masculine. And finally, becuase Ford has not produced as many units as Toyota, its tax credits are between $2,200 and $3,000 depending on the model, while a Toyota receives around $650. I highly recommend the Ford hybrid over of the competition.