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Originally Posted by ploddinTod
The only things negative that Consumer Reports (CR) had to say about the Ford Escape Hybrid were (1) noisy on the highway when running on the gasoline engine, and (2) that CR would not recommend the Escape because of a tip-up in the government rollover test.
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I wonder if they used a sound meter to actually measure the sound level in the cabin or if it was a reviewer perception? Because I can say in my own experience our 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid is MUCH quieter than our 1992 Toyota Corolla at highway speeds, and while the engine in the hybrid does rev higher when accelerating harder (such as to overtake a vehicle or enter the highway via an access ramp), it is not what I would call "loud" it's just a higher pitched sound than what most drivers are used to at first... and it lasts only as long as you accelerate hard. Once you're up to 60-70mph, the rpm's drop back down to 2000 or so (normal for an Atkinson cycle gasoline engine, which is what's in the Ford Escape Hybrid; our Corolla is a traditional Otto cycle engine.) and the sounds drop accordingly. I wonder what Consumer Reports rated the 2001 Ford F-150 engine noise as because I consider it to ride loud although some of that is the slightly aggressive (not mud terrain or anything excessive like that) tread on Justin's tires.
The best bet when considering any new vehicle purchase is to test drive the model for yourself. Reviews, even first hand ones from other owners, are good but they only go so far.
As for rollover ratings, you will find that is standard for all SUVs and most trucks (many SUVs are built on truck frames). It's just the nature of the beast due to the higher center of gravity found in an SUV's design vs. a sedan or sports car. Justin's F-150 has a rollover warning on the back of both sunvisors, for example.
We did buy the side curtain airbags option however, in part for peace of mind and also because the Ford Escape with side curtain airbags performed much better in certain crash tests than one not so equipped. The same would be true of the non-hybrid version.
There are MANY different makes/models of hybrids available now, so don't let my praises and references to our new Ford Escape Hybrid make you think that's the only choice. For example, the Honda Civic has been available for at least 2 years in hybrid form (and I know a local owner who loves hers) and the Toyota Camry is coming out in 2007 -- you'll be able to buy one soon.