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First Drive: 2010 Ford Taurus
While the lion's share of media attention regarding the all-new 2010 Ford Taurus will go toward... Read More
First Drive: 2010 Ford Taurus
While the lion's share of media attention regarding the all-new 2010 Ford Taurus will go toward... Read More
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The Bottom Line:
At Ford, 2008 brings an Escape that provides ample room and comfort for four adults of any size, though backseat drivers may need to raise their voices to be heard over the wind noise.
Around The Web
“Room Enough for Lurch, Donk, Sasquatch, and Michael Clarke Duncan”
“one of the roomiest in this class”
“cargo space is easy to maximize and access”
SAFETY | 8 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
standard safety features are upgraded significantly for 2008
Automotive.com
“front side impact and side curtain airbags”
Motor Week
TheCarConnection.com notes that the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid gets good marks for safety overall, save for some early versions that scored rather low for driver protection.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid comes standard with anti-lock brakes, as well as side and curtain airbags. Early versions of the 2008 Escape Hybrid scored only three stars for driver front impact protection, which Cars.com calls "unacceptably low," but later versions were tested and turned in four-star protection for the driver. Other passengers have five-star crash protection, the NHTSA reports.
Another safety feature that is missing is the AdvanceTrac electronic stability system. The New York Times expresses some dismay at this omission, which is included, or at least available, on most newer SUVs. The review at ConsumerGuide suggests that Ford had intended to include this with the Escape Hybrid, but according to the report at Cars.com--which came out later--there were technical problems in "integrating the technology with the regenerative braking system" that recharges the batteries, according to a Ford company spokesman.
Conclusion
The 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid performs well in crash tests, but stability control is not yet available.
