The 2011 Ford Escape Hybrid blends hauling and load capacity, substantial ground clearance, and truck-like upright styling with a remarkably sophisticated hybrid powertrain which provides 34 mpg city, 31 mpg highway.
Changes on the 2011 Ford Escape Hybrid are relatively minor. Ford’s MyKey strategy is now standard on all models.
The Ford Escape Hybrid has been around for five-years now. The Escape is well designed with some cool technological features, including Ford’s Sync voice-activated multi-media as well as an automated parallel-parking feature.
The Ford Escape Hybrid is not without its faults, however. Traditional gasoline-powered models like the Chevrolet Equinox, Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 are better vehicles overall compared to Escape and still get decent fuel economy. The 2011 Ford Escape Hybrid comes in two trim levels: base and Limited. Upgrading to the Escape Hybrid Limited adds chrome exterior accents, a sunroof, rear parking assist, a rearview camera which has a display found in the rearview mirror, piano-black interior treatments, leather upholstery, heated front seats and mirrors and multicolor ambient lighting.
Options add the sunroof (base model only) and also a voice-operated navigation system including a hybrid energy flow/fuel-consumption display along with a premium seven-speaker head unit that has digital music storage, Sirius Travel Link and new HD radio capability. The 2011 Escape Hybrid is powered by way of a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine as well as a battery-powered electric motor; combined they produce 177 horsepower. EPA estimates for gas mileage placed the front-wheel-drive Escape Hybrid near the top of the hybrid SUV category with 34 mpg city/31 mpg highway and 32 mpg in combined driving.
The 2011 Ford Escape Hybrid comes standard with antilock brakes (front disc, rear drum), stability control, front-seat side airbags and full-length head curtain airbags with rollover sensors. Ford’s programmable MyKey system allows parents to specify maximum speed limits and stereo volumes for their teenage drivers.
In government crash testing, the 2011 Ford Escape Hybrid scored a great five from five stars for many occupants in the frontal and side impacts. The 2011 Ford Escape Hybrid features an attractive interior dolled up with soft-touch materials.
While many hybrid models have launched a reputation for sluggish performance, the 2011 Ford Escape Hybrid actually doesn’t think distinctive from its V6-powered cousins.
The 2011 Ford Escape Hybrid has another thing choosing it other sellers can’t match — it’s the only compact hybrid SUV in the marketplace. The Escape gets a combined fuel economy rating of approximately 30 mpg, which stops working to 30 city and 27 highway. All safety bells and whistle are up to par, with standard dual-stage front airbags, seat-mounted bags quietly, AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control and anti-lock brakes. Using a three-year / 36,000 mile basic warranty along with a five-year / 60,000 mile powertrain warranty (with methods of roadside assistance), the majority of people feel over secure in the driver’s seat of the hybrid Escape.