By Kurt Gensheimer

Blings:

• Most fuel efficient SUV on the planet
• Cavernous interior
• More masculine exterior appearance
• Easy-to-use Nav system

Dings:

• Brake pedal like stepping on a wet Nerf ball
• No traction control and downgraded NHTSA safety score
• Limited A/C function in electric drive mode
• No audio controls on steering wheel

Ruling: Unless you’re a devoted city dweller, being ‘green’ isn’t worth the added heft and expense. Read the rest of this entry »

By Alex Kramer

Pros:

• Excellent gas mileage (32 mpg average)
• Spacious interior
• Confident handling (for an SUV)
• Surprisingly powerful (for a fuel sipper)
• Seamless hybrid technology

Cons:

• Expensive for its size
• Questionable reliability (2 warranty repairs so far)
• No frills interior design

Introduction

I drove into the dealership in a sporty Ford Focus with tricked out rims and suspension. I drove out of the dealership in a hybrid SUV. Was I going nuts? Well, perhaps a little bit… but after a lengthy test drive (and the realization that I was turning 30 in a month, gas prices were going up, and I could use a bit more space) the Escape Hybrid just made sense. An impulse buy, yes, but one year and 13,000 miles later, I don’t regret the decision one bit!

Read the rest of this entry »