The Escape is great, but it's a smaller vehicle, right?

The 2008 Highlander has full-size seats in the second row, you might call them captain's chairs; there is a little space between them to get to the third row.

The third row is larger than it used to be and is less of a joke now; my wife rode back there for 400 miles and was comfortable. She has short legs. I couldn't do it.

I don't think we could have hauled 6 people and two large dogs in the Escape. But yeah my office-mate has the Escape hybrid at it's great.

I'm getting 29 MPG today; we had snow this morning. YMMV!