The 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid Limited FWD is the automotive equivalent of eating reduced-fat ice cream. You get the pleasure of enjoying something that may be a little better for your health and diet -- or in the case of the Escape Hybrid, driving an SUV that may be better for the health of the planet and your gas budget -- but isn't quite like the real thing.
While the payoff with the 30-plus mpg Ford Escape Hybrid comes at the pump and perhaps knowing that you're driving a bit greener, the trade-off compared to the conventional Escape -- or comparable gas-powered small sport-utes and crossovers -- is the premium price and in performance by carting around an extra 300 pounds.
But there are few downsides to the 2009 Escape Hybrid Limited ($33,725 as tested) when it comes to the vehicle's tech. And going for the top trim model comes with distinct advantages.
iPod Integration: Included on the Limited trim level is the gold-standard of iPod integration, Ford's Sync system. Plug an iPod or any other compatible MP3 player into Sync's USB port and you can call up your tunes by requesting a specific artist, album, track, playlist, or genre, all via voice control. Or create playlists on the fly using a "play similar" command if you don't feel like making a decision. Same with music loaded onto a USB "thumb" drive, in case you're a cheapskate and don't want to spring for an MP3 player. While Sync's voice activation isn't perfect, it's as good as it gets in automotive applications and works about 90 percent of the time without hassle.
Bluetooth: Sync's Bluetooth hands-free-phone component is also best in class and effortlessly pairs with most phones, automatically downloads a device's address book and dials with a simple push of a button on the steering wheel and by speaking the contact name or phone number. Hands-free calling should be this simple and safe in every car. And for those who feel compelled to stay totally connected with their peeps while behind the wheel, the system can receive and read aloud text messages as well as reply to them. Plus, Sync is one of the few systems that allows wireless music streaming from compatible A2DP mobile phones and devices.
Audio: The vehicle we tested came equipped with Ford's "Audiophile" sound system as part of the $2,395 navigation option. While the 7-speaker, 320-watt setup doesn't exactly live up to its moniker's billing, it performed admirably with our test tracks. Tone, timbre, spectral balance and bass impact weren't perfect and we nitpicked some small discrepancies in sound reproduction (mainly in the tough to reproduce midbass region), but overall sound quality was good if not better than many name-brand premium systems we've tested.
Soundstaging and imaging were the system's strong suits, with a stage height well above the dash and width extending past the A pillars. This is even more impressive considering that the front speakers are mounted relatively low in the doors. In addition to a CD/DVD player that can also play movies and display them on the dash-mounted screen when the car is not in motion, the sound system also includes a Jukebox 10GB hard-drive that stores music ripped from CDs (although not from the onboard USB drive, as with Chrysler's uconnect tunes system) as well as digital pics.
Navigation: The Escape Hybrid's voice-activated navigation system is on par with the rest of the vehicle's top-shelf tech. The in-dash touch screen makes the system easy to operate and its user interface is intuitive. The system has useful features such as a bird's-eye perspective, lane guidance and "breadcrumbing" to show the vehicle's path for up to 140 miles. Our test vehicle was also equipped with Sirius Travel Link, which finds gas prices and movie showtimes in a given area as well as real-time traffic, weather and even sports scores and ski resort info.
Tech Extras: The Ford Escape Hybrid we tested came with tech extras included as standard equipment: heated front seats, keyless entry, ambient lighting and cruise. And the navigation system option adds a screen mode that shows various fuel-economy stats, charging status and energy flow of the hybrid system.
The Ford Escape Hybrid was the first on the market when it debuted. But with more hybrid crossovers and SUVs now available and more to come, Ford has boosted the power and added Sync and other goodies to the '09 Escape Hybrid to help sweeten the deal for those willing to pay a premium to drive lean and green in a large vehicle.
And while there's the inevitable trade-offs, the tech in the 09 Escape Hybrid Limited won't leave you feeling like you're missing something. And unlike low-fat ice cream, there's no saccharine aftertaste.
IL Tech Ratings (10 is best): 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid Limited
iPod Integration: 9
Bluetooth: 9
Audio: 7
Navigation: 8
Ergonomics: 8
Overall Average Score: 8
firstwagon says:
05:21 PM, 03/30/09
I don't see the purpose of this at all. Sure it gets good mileage for an SUV but is it an SUV?
It has no SUV abilities. It's not very big inside. Can't tow or go offroad.
A Honda Fit will get as good or better mileage, has simular space and costs just over 1/2 as much.
A Jetta wagon TDI cost around the same or less (depending on options) and beats it every way.
GT5000 says:
05:31 PM, 03/30/09
That is why I don't understand the purpose of any CUV
brn says:
07:27 PM, 03/30/09
FW, it gets good mileage for a car. People buy SUVs. It might not make sense to you, but it makes sense for the market.
"A Honda Fit will get as good or better mileage"
Not according to the EPA.
"TDI cost around the same or less (depending on options) and beats it every way."
Worse city fuel economy (better highway). No AWD option.
I'm not knocking those cars, but the Escape does have a reason to exist.
bc1960 says:
07:45 PM, 03/30/09
Oh, please. The Fit is the best-designed Honda they have sold here since at least the late '80s, but it has 21/57 cubic feet of cargo space to the Escape's 28/66 (rear seat up/down). It has similar head and leg room, but considerably less shoulder and hip room. I can't find a GVW rating for the Fit, but I would be fairly comfortable assuming its passenger+cargo weight capacity is less than the Escape's, and that the Escape would have an easier time hauling it and get closer to its rated fuel economy doing so. The Fit is unavailable with a sunroof or AWD. If I were single or had a young family I might choose the Fit, but the Escape is more accommodating for an older family.
The Jetta SportWagen is a nice car, one I would strongly consider although probably not the TDI. It has 33 cubic feet of cargo space with the seats up, but just 1 cubic foot more than Escape with the seats down. It has the same leg room as the Escape and Fit, but has less head room; more hip and shoulder room than the Fit but less than the Escape. You can get a very nice sunroof but not AWD. The Escape Hybrid can be had with cloth or leather upholstery; the Jetta TDI has your choice of colors of vinyl (the primary reason I would not buy one). Unless the TDI is an anomaly among recent VWs, the Ford is quite likely to require fewer repairs. If I did most of my driving on long highway trips, I would lean towards the TDI; if I did more urban/suburban driving, the Escape Hybrid.
autoboy16 says:
11:02 PM, 03/30/09
uhh bc1960, its2009... As of 2005, 4 years ago, vw was deem reliable. (gasp) Even by consumer reports!! Check the longterm No issues. Most of the problematic vws were 1998-2001. That was almost a decade ago.
Plus the Jetta is at the end of its life cycle so most of the few bugs the mk5 (2005.5-now) have had are worked out. Heck, the next rabbit (called golf again in the Us) comes here in the summer so a new jetta shouldn't be too far behind.
creeper says:
08:58 AM, 03/31/09
thought i saw that the rabbit name was dead globally