If you look in the photo section (for this photo) you will see my SOC is 68% and I am obtaining a 45 mpg reading. I obtained this excess hybrid battery SOC with a long downhill run in Maryland this past January. I also had electric assist for a short duration. I understand it as Ford does not program the vehicle for "too" much of this for durability concerns. The hybrid battery SOC in the Escape is like 40-58%, the Honda Civic I believe is 50-80%. The Prius is? Ford wants the hybrid battery to last a long time.

2005 AWD Escape Hybrid
Best Interstate tank trip MPG 39.02 (scangauge II) for 402 miles on I-70, 10.3 gallons used over mostly flat terrain.

Best Interstate tank trip E30 MPG 34.6 for 271 miles along I-80 in Indiana and Ohio.

Best multiple road tank trip E30 MPG 36.2 for 202 miles in Southwestern Pa.