2012 Ford Escape Hybrid Leads All Others in Fuel Economy, Customer Payback

•2012 Ford Escape Hybrid achieves 34 mpg city and 31 mpg highway, making it the most fuel-efficient sport utility vehicle in America

•These ratings are 6 mpg better city and 3 mpg better highway than Toyota Highlander Hybrid

•Ford Escape Hybrid listed by Edmunds.com as a class leader for best monthly fuel cost

The 2012 Ford Escape Hybrid combines capability, technology and fuel economy like no other SUV.

Escape Hybrid is a full hybrid. It can start off from a complete stop and travel up to 44 mph on electricity alone, during light acceleration. No fuel is used. And even when the gasoline engine kicks in, it maintains an outstanding 34 mpg city rating, making it the most fuel-efficient SUV in America.

This is 6 mpg better city and 3 mpg better highway than Toyota Highlander Hybrid.

The driving experience is virtually identical to a conventional SUV. Escape Hybrid provides comfortable seating for up to five, a versatile cargo area and a variety of standard and optional features, including an available intelligent four-wheel-drive system for enhanced traction.

'The Escape Hybrid broke new ground with its combination of fuel economy and full SUV capability,' said Jason Sprawka, Ford Escape Hybrid marketing manager.

Edmunds.com recently listed the Ford Escape Hybrid as a class leader for best monthly fuel cost in the publication's annual best and worst monthly fuel cost estimates analysis. The Escape Hybrid leads the pack for best monthly fuel costs, with consumers paying at least $100 less for fuel per month, compared with competing vehicles.

Additionally, CarGurus.com named Ford Escape Hybrid one of the best vehicles for hybrid investment. The site reported the Escape Hybrid is one of the few hybrid vehicles consumers can justify paying a premium for over the gas-only version, as the Escape Hybrid pays for its premium once gas prices and savings are factored in.

Quality

The Escape Hybrid Limited is packaged for environmentally conscious buyers who still want a full complement of accessories and equipment. Along with its gas counterpart, the Escape Hybrid Limited features 16-inch bright machined aluminum wheels and exterior chrome accents, a standard six-speaker audio system, chrome and ebony interior touches, and a luxury and convenience package that includes ambient lighting, heated front leather seating surfaces, a power moonroof, Reverse Sensing System, rear view camera and universal garage door opener.

Ford Escape Hybrid was named a 2011 Consumers Digest Automotive Best Buy Award winner, following awards for Best Bet for Hybrid SUVs by Cars.com™ and Top 10 Green Car by Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com.

Green

The standard innovative Earth-friendly cloth seat fabric in Escape Hybrid is made from 100 percent post-industrial materials – polyester fibers that would have ended up in landfills otherwise. Furthermore, the cushions use a bio-based polyurethane foam derived from the oils of various plant seeds such as soybeans. More than simply 'green,' the durable, comfortable and stylish nature of the material also makes it a perfect fit for Escape.

Safe

The 2012 Ford Escape employs an available intelligent four-wheel-drive system that works automatically to help prevent wheel slippage. Unlike the system on Toyota Highlander Hybrid, which is an on-demand system, the Escape Hybrid system does not require any driver interaction.

The Escape system is transparent to the driver and always there when it's needed, for wet or dry pavement, creating confidence and peace of mind. Because the system can transfer torque away from the front wheels, it helps reduce the type of understeer often associated with front-wheel-drive vehicles, providing improved vehicle control. When combined with traction control or the AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control™) system, a high degree of torque can be sent to the wheel with the best traction, even if the other three wheels have no traction at all.

Smart

Escape Hybrid's performance can be monitored at a glance with a center stack display that's integrated into the available Navigation System screen. Contained in it is an energy flow monitor as well as power and efficiency monitors that coach drivers on how to maximize fuel efficiency by making the most of the vehicle's electric mode.

The class-exclusive Ford SYNC® system is standard on Escape Hybrid and provides hands-free access with simple voice commands. Every vehicle with SYNC offers hands-free calling via paired and connected Bluetooth®-enabled phone, hands-free music via USB-connected digital media player and customer support and software updates via SyncMyRide.com for registered owners.

Other available SYNC Services features include Traffic, Directions and Information, which allows customers to receive traffic alerts, turn-by-turn directions and business search through the radio, hear personalized news, weather, horoscopes, stocks, movie times and sports content, get travel information and send directions directly to the SYNC system. Also available is Vehicle Health Report, which allows customers to receive an online report of vehicle diagnostics, and 911 Assist™, which can connect directly to a 911 operator through the paired mobile phone after an accident in which an airbag deploys.

by Ford