2010 Ford Escape Hybrid
2010 Ford Escape Hybrid
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The 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid provides reduced emissions, increased mileage, while still providing all the normal useful SUV features. It features new safety and driver-aid technologies, including Integrated Spotter Mirrors, MyKey™, Rear View Camera System and Active Park Assist. Park Assist uses an ultrasonic-based sensing system and Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) to position the vehicle for parallel parking, calculate the optimal steering angle and quickly steer the vehicle into a parking spot. The Escape Hybrid carries-on for 2010 with minimal changes. The Ford Escape gets a 5-star and top pick crash-testing ratings, including the highest ratings from the government and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Escape, including the hybrid is the only small SUV to offer advanced roll stability control and side curtain air bag technologies with rollover protection. Overall, new technologies for 2010 will help to take the Escape Hybrid to the next level of safety and driver satisfaction. The 2010 Escape Hybrid has a starting MSRP of $29,750 – $34,010 and an EPA fuel economy of 34 mpg for city travel and 31 mpg for highway speeds. The benefits of the 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid include its excellent gas mileage, the powertrains performance, the unsurpassed safety features and ratings, and its easy drivability. The Escape Hybrid, however, does have only a modest towing capability, and wind noise at higher speeds. Competitors include the Saturn Vue 2-Mode Hybrid and Toyota Highlander Hybrid.
Ford Escape Hybrid Power
The 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid compact SUV got a new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine for 2009. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine is linked to an electric motor. The net result is acceleration similar to that of a V6. As a full hybrid, the Escape Hybrid can provide truly guilt-free operation by running solely on electric power in low-load conditions. The Hybrid uses a continuously variable transmission, also known as a CVT, which optimally matches the power and gearing.
Design for the 2010 Escape
The 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid has the air of a conventional, truck-based SUV, with a more rugged look than many other small, sedan-platform sport-utilities such as the Honda CR-V. It sits a bit higher than many competitors (8.1 inches of ground clearance), and the high profile is enhanced by its design. The headlights are essentially connected to the grille, and shaped to create a family resemblance with Ford's Edge crossover SUV. Yet the grille itself is tall and flat and stacked right on top of a skid plate-type fascia that flows under the bumper. Escape Hybrids beltline is high, too, and its roof pillars are blacked out. The taillights have a clear band that wraps around the rear corners. The Hybrid has grilles painted to match the body, unless you opt for the Chrome Appearance Package.
Driving the Escape Hybrid
The Escape Hybrid is available with either front or four-wheel drive and can run on 100 percent electric power up to about 25 mph. Besides this, the 2010 Hybrid model drives similar to the conventional Escape. This model is much quieter than the previous generation of the Escape Hybrid. Thicker carpeting was claimed to diminish road noise. Overall, Ford said, the Escape is 12 percent quieter at 80 mph. There are a few advanced technologies on the Escape Hybrid that make it a safer vehicle to drive. Integrated Spotter Mirror is a consumer-friendly, affordable blind spot technology that consists of an outside rearview mirror designed with a secondary convex spotter in the top outer corner, which is aimed exclusively at the driver’s blind spot. When traffic enters the driver’s blind spot on either side of the vehicle, it is visible in the secondary convex mirror, helping provide the driver broader peripheral view. MyKey (standard) – allows owners to program a key that can limit the vehicle’s top speed and audio volume. MyKey also encourages safety-belt usage, provides earlier low-fuel warnings and can be programmed to sound chimes at 45, 55 and 65 miles per hour. This feature is standard on Escape models featuring a message center cluster, including XLT and above. Rear View Camera System uses an exterior camera embedded in the rear of the vehicle that sends images to a video display in the rearview mirror or the navigation system screen to help enhance visibility directly behind the vehicle when it is in reverse. Ford is leveraging the affordability of high-quality video cameras to widely offer the technology with navigation systems.
Cabin Features for 2010
The Escape Hybrid has room for five occupants, plenty of room in the front and a decent rear seating space. It features SYNC with Traffic, Directions and Information – helping reduce distractions while accessing important route and safety information. The Hybrid also offers a convenient AC outlet for powering small devices such as a laptop. The Escape features upholstery 
cloth made from 100-percent recycled material. Ford claims that compared to upholstery made from virgin fiber, production will conserve about 600,000 gallons of water and 7 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 1.8 million pounds. There's not an abundance of side bolstering on the seats, but that makes it easier to slide into the seats, and there's enough to keep occupants solidly in place. The gauges and switches feature Ford's signature backlighting style, which the company calls Ice Blue.
Summary
The Ford Escape Hybrid offers buyers an earth-friendly alternative to regular SUV's. The 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid offers exceptional safety features; new technologies build on Escape’s unsurpassed crash ratings – a “Top Safety Pick” award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and 5-star government ratings in all crash tests. Ford’s 2010 Escape, the small SUV with the best crash test ratings of any vehicle in its class, is increasing its technology leadership with the addition of five new features that improve safety, reduce driver distractions and aid drivers by automatically parallel parking their vehicle. The new Escape hybrid will add MyKey™ teen-safety technology, Integrated Spotter Mirrors – both offered standard (MyKey on XLT and above models) – optional Rear View Camera System and SYNC with real-time Traffic, Directions and Information. For more research visit the official Ford Escape Hybrid site.
