2008 Escape Hybrid: Best Escape we've owned so far

After owning three previous regular fuel Escapes, we ordered a new 2008 Escape Hybrid 4WD last May and took delivery in September. Since then we have put about 12,000 trouble-free miles on it. Ours has all the standard features plus leather seating, moon roof and satellite radio.

We particularly like the new styling inside and out. The seats are very comfortable even on long trips, the interior is very roomy and all controls are well laid out. 2008 Escapes have more sound deadening materials in the chassis making it noticeably quieter than our earlier Escapes. Handling is sharp and the ride is firm but quite comfortable. The hybrid doesn't have quite the same power as a V-6 but it is adequate.

The hybrid drive system operates smoothly and the driving experience is only slightly different from the gasoline versions. You can feel a very slight shudder when the gasoline engine cycles on and off, the regenerative braking gives a very firm feel to the brake pedal and driving in electric mode has an eerie feel since the car moves almost totally silently.

We have no trouble hitting the EPA mileage rating of 29 city/ 27 highway. Applying a few hypermiling techniques can boost those numbers and I have seen as high as 36mpg in mixed city/country driving. Hybrids are more sensitive to variables such as driving habits, road conditions and weather and mileage was a bit lower in the winter.