Overview & Reviews

As with the regular gasoline version, the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid gets an exterior makeover. Inside, the cabin has been updated to improve its appearance and functionality, and there's extra insulation to quiet the highway ride. Side and head curtain airbags are now standard, as are automatic climate control and an MP3 player input jack. The optional navigation system runs off a DVD instead of CDs this year and has a larger display with a touchscreen interface.

• Surprisingly powerful hybrid drivetrain, gets 30 mpg in the real world, comfortable interior with roomy backseat.

• Noisy four-cylinder engine, mediocre handling for a small SUV, stiff brake pedal, no stability control.

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 89.00

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  Very Good SUV hybrid - 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By vincenc08 - December 19 - 5:50 pm

  2008 Kiwi green Escape Hybrid has been a very good SUV. Had is for 3 yrs and 71K mi ...reliability is very good only a few minor build issues. Good interior room and surprising storage with 2 nd row folded down. Gas mileage is over 32 mpg on HIway 33 city. Sotck tire have ltos of road noise after 30K mi. Eco seat material stains easily...hard to keep clean. There is a way to get them replaced but you really have to dig on the internet. Overall a very good SUV if you can live with some minor quirks.

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  Great Little SUV, commuter only - 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By bartimus - May 18 - 7:06 am

  Just a couple 100 miles on it now, getting better than the EPA sticker so far! Due to weight savings, lots of plastic, interior feels a little cheap. Front grille came loose/off the 1st week and needs to go back to dealer. Coming from a Volvo XC90 the Ford ride is lighter, peppier (feels like a V6), way less room. Dont expect to fit 3 child seats in the back seat. We can barely fit a car seat, a booster, and our 6 year old in a seatbelt, its very cramped back there. Zero cargo room. Without NAV system so all hybrid info is on the dash near odo. The 3 hybrid info buttons are in a bad spot to the left of the wheel, (should be on the steering wheel). Stereo/climate buttons are confusing.

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  Hybrid vs. Quality - 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By jeb - August 28 - 3:20 am

  I was determined to buy a hybrid and I guess I was lucky to get one but I had to pay a premium for it. I am not sure it was worth it - I think you give up quality in other areas. I will have to say that the quality is no where near as nice as the Expedition I had prior. Some of the interior and exterior portions of the car are cheap plastic and scratch very easy. have a fully loaded model except for the navigation system. I am getting about 25 miles to the gallon but if you like to stay cool during the summer months forget driving in electric mode - the one thing they dont tell you is you wont go electic with the AC on even in econ mode!

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  Only a bit shy of perfect! - 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By Gary - October 21 - 12:20 am

  Ive driven Explorers and 1 Mountaineer since 94, about 600,000 miles altogether, you might say I liked them. This is definitey the next thing. Ill admit to driving around 70-75 mph far more than the cops would like, and am getting 28.3 - 29.7 mpg. Its very comfortable, and I love driving a hybrid and still have awd, 4 seats and doors, some cargo space, an actual suv, yknow! -I think (hope) that Fordll notch things up a bit in the next couple model years. Mine will kill the engine and then restart it 10 sec later (or even less!) regularly. You/it must start the engine to use the car. In this century all cars need locking fuel doors (actually they always should have had them)

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  Love it but it rattles. - 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By Redwoodmeg - May 30 - 10:46 am

  I love the idea of a hybrid SUV and I am happy to "buy American" I have had my new Ice Blue Escape (I call her Sky) for about a month and I am getting about 35.5 MPG! I am a high mileage driver and was driving a 2002 Explorer and getting about 15 MPG. That was my 2nd Explorer. I am dissapointed at the hardness of the center console and the arm rests. The leather is a little stiff and I have a rattle in the center console where it meets the dash. My biggest concern is a rather loud noise in the back hatch that appeared after I drove on a slightly rough road in the 2nd week. It seems to be coming from inside the door near the Ford emblem. I dont want to "accept" this or get used to it.

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  Not bad...not bad at all. - 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By Chris - May 22 - 6:13 pm

  This vehicle is not something you are going to want if you are looking for the drive of your life, but if youre looking to have an economical vehicle that looks pretty good, then this is the one for you. I did have a couple proplems with some of the features when I first got my car, but Ford was more than happy to fix those up for me. All in all this is probably on of the best cars Ive owned. I enjoy the smill I have every time I fill up my gas tank.

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  08 Escape Hybrid - 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By John Miraldi - February 24 - 4:56 pm

  I recently purchased this vehicle after reading a number of positive reviews on various internet sites, but quite honestly, this vehicle is very average. Overall build quality is below Honda and Toyota. Performance is very average in terms of acceleration,noise etc. Vehicle feels very loose on the highway. Gas mileage has been good...as advertised. Beware if you drive in a warm weather region because the air conditioning compressor shuts off at stops and when the car is running on the electric motor only. If you are in a traffic jam on a 90 degree day, you are in for a painful ride. Also, beware the the $3,000 tax credit may not apply if you make six figures and utilize the AMT

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  New England Ownership after 1 year, 2 Mo - 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By GuzziAlfa - April 30 - 11:56 am

  I will echo much of the positive remarks about this vehicle although the one thing that is inconsistent between reviewers is mileage. In New England the weather is so variable by season that I actually charted my mileage for each fill up. In winter months with heat and electric seat heaters I could get 22 - 24 mpg. In the spring I shot back up to 30 mpg. Max mileage reached was 31.5 and that was only 3 times. The economy mode button helps by cutting out the engine at traffic lights so blowers will still work but not AC or heat. Thats ok for short pauses. The one thing inconsistent is the HEV or hybrid display of mileage - it is always higher than reality by 1.5 - 2.5 miles.

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  First hybrid owner - 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By TONY M. - February 16 - 9:03 am

  It was the price that got us in the door. Then it was the vehicle, and good salesmanship that kept us there. We drove our Escape Hybrid from Spearfish to Rapid City, and we knew that we had made the right decision. My wife says "It is quiet & relaxing like Grandmoms Studebaker".

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  Escape Hybrid hits the mark - 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By Kpick - June 17 - 9:43 am

  I picked up my 2008 Escape Hybrid one week ago. First impressions are excellent. Gas mileage is 36 mpg in mostly city driving. The leather interior is well done. The build quality is flawless. I traded a 2005 Honda Accord because I needed more interior room and better gas mileage. The Escape gave me both. Time will tell if the reliability will match Honda.