Jason on Cars

HYBRID OMG HYBRID!!! Did you say H$BR$D?

Let me first admit that I would like my next car to be a hybrid, and that I’m all for altering the gas-guzzling paradigm persistent among U.S. auto makers, but I have a hard time taking Ford serious. I drove the 2005 Escape Hybrid a few years ago and remember it being a most disappointing drive, so I was anxious to test out the 2007 and see what improvements were made, and how “earth-friendly” this car turned out to be.

My first impressions were that I really like this size of SUV, so I gave it a huge bonus right out of the blocks. I think it’s a very livable car that provides reasonable space inside, while still maintaining an urban driving experience that doesn’t make you want to just go home. I like the subtle styling upgrades over the past two years, and say with confidence that it is a very attractive SUV for $26,000, especially for a hybrid. But sliding into a Ford almost always provides the exact same response: a moment of disappointment. I always hope that Ford will finally fix the many things that are wrong with their interior design, and finally produce an environment that I want to spend time in. With the Escape, I was again disappointed. I think the controls are too blocky and awkward, the tactile response is muted and dull, the accents look cheap and made of plastic, and it always takes me several minutes of playing with the driver’s seat before I feel comfortable. However, that’s the same with most Fords I’ve driven, so I won’t spend any more time on it.