Ford Hybrid SUV Maintains Most Fuel Efficient Ford Automobile

By: Andy Hodges
Staff Writer
Published: Mar 26, 2009

Vehicle Specifications On Ford Motor Company Hybrid SUV

The SUV plant that manufacturers the latest Ford hybrid celebrated its production of over 100,000 sport utility vehicles. The Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner hybrids are still the most fuel-efficient SUVs on the market. Moreover, the vehicles were first released five years ago.

"As we celebrate our 100,000th hybrid, America's interest in hybrid vehicles keeps growing, as does Ford's commitment to advanced powertrain technologies that deliver greater fuel economy, lower emissions and help enhance our country's energy security," said Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford.

My wife and I actually went to a local Ford dealer to test drive the two hybrids. What was amazing about the experience was the amount of information provided on their new auto technologies. The Ford Escape was my preferred choice, my wife wanted the Mercury Mariner.

I left the dealership feeling good about Ford electric vehicles. I wanted one so bad that I attempted to get our company to purchase one as a company vehicle. While the management wasn't too impressed with buying a company SUV, the information I brought back to work is still being passed around the building.

Ford is doing big things with hybrids, which don't often make the news. The company plans to expand the line of vehicle categories available in hybrid technologies. Some of the new cars will deliver a driving range of 50 miles or more on a single charge without using one drop of gasoline.

"No domestic automaker has more real-world experience with hybrid vehicle technology than Ford, and it shows in the quality and fuel economy of our vehicles," Ford said.

Vehicles including the Ford Escape Hybrid SUV and Mercury Mariner Hybrid SUV can deliver 34 MPG (miles per gallon) city driving and 31 MPG on the highway. This month, a San Francisco Escape Hybrid cab fleet accumulated 300,000 miles with no major mechanical problems. Compared with conventional cabs, those 300,000 hybrid miles translate into cost savings of approximately 5,000 gallons of gas or 100,000 pounds of carbon emissions.