Another option is the Escape Hybrid (starting at $31,499 with FWD). Its combination of continuously variable transmission (CVT), electric motor and gasoline engine delivers a combined 155 hp, and can considerably lower fuel consumption, especially in city driving. However, all Escapes will return excellent mileage for this class of vehicle if you use a light foot when driving them. [...] Inside, the fabric surfaces are made from 100 percent recycled materials, which Ford believes to be an industry-first. The company that supplies the fabrics, Interface Fabrics Inc., estimates that Ford's use of these materials will conserve approximately 2.5 million litres of water, almost a million kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalents, and seven million kilowatt hours of electricity annually. The entire vehicle is about 85% recyclable. Full Article
The FEH's EV mode feels stronger. You can accelerate harder in EV than the Prius (w/out EV mod). I hope the quality of plastics have improved.
I test drove the '08 Mercury Mariner hybrid ... felt really heavy ... it is nicely redesigned over last year's model though. The back seats seemed a little flat (no contour). I did get about 30 mpg on my 8 mile drive with a little interstate driving in there. One nice thing was 6 months of Sirius radio ... stereo was really nice as well. I believe the sticker was $32,700 (loaded). It had an economy button that you can engage which will disengage the A/C at stops so the engine can shut off (since it's completely tied to the ICE).
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Husker4theSpurs @ Apr 19 2007, 03:10 PM) [snapback]426331[/snapback]</div> How's that different from "A/C" and "MAX A/C" on the Classic Prius? (MAX A/C keeps the engine running with cold air blowing, regular A/C shuts off the engine and A/C). Also it seems they didn't upgrade their hybrid system with this new vehicle.
I believe the sticker said 29 city, 27 hwy ... revised '08 sticker fuel economy. This was an AWD version.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Apr 19 2007, 03:13 PM) [snapback]426334[/snapback]</div> Are you sure regular AC shuts down when the engine turns off? I don't think that's the case because when I've been stopped for a long time in the sun the big battery will run into the purple running the AC and then the engine kicks on to do a recharge. I don't remember being on MAX A/C in this situation.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(San_Carlos_Jeff @ Apr 19 2007, 05:39 PM) [snapback]426353[/snapback]</div> I believe on the Ford the A/C compressor runs off the ICE, the Prius has an electric Compressor, one of the first things I noticed when I looked under the hood. The battery drives the AC on the prius, thats why the engine can shut off, if I am correct with the Ford using conventional AC compressor, that would be the reason the engine runs at a light.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(San_Carlos_Jeff @ Apr 19 2007, 03:39 PM) [snapback]426353[/snapback]</div> How's that different from "A/C" and "MAX A/C" on the Classic Prius ? You skipped over the most important bit of my post
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ACD @ Apr 20 2007, 11:26 AM) [snapback]426883[/snapback]</div> the two what? cars or A/C system?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Apr 20 2007, 05:15 PM) [snapback]427077[/snapback]</div> me thinks he is referring to "classic"
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Husker4theSpurs @ Apr 19 2007, 03:17 PM) [snapback]426337[/snapback]</div> Wow.... Toyota must be doing something right since the 2008 THH is bigger and more HP.... still get more MPG
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dipper @ Apr 21 2007, 11:29 AM) [snapback]427364[/snapback]</div> 2 extra hp.
on the Classic the ICE cycles off and on with the A/C compressor. Unless it's on Max Air, just like Jon said. I'll say it again Toyota should have used the compressor that the HAH uses, electric and belt driven, so if the ICE is running it drives the compressor when needed and when in stealth it's powered by the Hybrid battery. No sense converting gas to electric to drive the compressor when the ICE is running and burning gas. Yes I know it's a variable speed compressor but so is a belt driven one, it just cycles on and off more often.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dipper @ Apr 21 2007, 01:29 PM) [snapback]427364[/snapback]</div> I would imagine the '08 Highlander Hybrid will have LOWER listed fuel economies. The Escape and Mariner currently out are '08 early models and the new process for determining fuel economy is in effect for ALL '08 vehicles. The Escape and Mariner had higher sticker fuel economies than the Highlander Hybrid for the '07 model.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Husker4theSpurs @ Apr 22 2007, 05:44 PM) [snapback]428025[/snapback]</div> Nope. It has identical mpg (under new EPA) which means it increased a bit (if we used the old EPA).
How do we know if they aren't out yet? The only thing I've seen is that they've said that it (the '08 Highlander) won't have any reduction in FE vs the '07 version. It appears under the new testing procedures the '07 Highlander is rated at 27 city, 25 highway.
Aren't they estimates? (the 08 I mean). The new HiHy will be heavier even though the 3.5 litre is lighter than the 3.3 litre.
They are, but the only thing we heard for sure is that the FE of the '08 won't be worse than the '07 ... Highlander Hybrid that is. I would imagine the Ford and Mercury will be higher in economy, but I still wouldn't get one ... significantly smaller than the Highlander Hybrid/400h
