A 10K premium for hybrid is unreasonable, and will not continue. Five to ten year calcs in figuring out savings is reasonable for the right people in cars with excellent track records. Unfortunately, Ford Escape is not in that category. Also, you may be looking at high depreciation.

1st Recc: Don't buy an SUV at all.
2nd Recc: Toyota Rav.
Alt 2nd Recc: Wait a year.

R2-E2, 2G Prius.
Highway/City/Husband/Wife MPG: 56.5, as of 12/2005, 26K miles

Jac Nasser, Ford President: "We are planning to launch a hybrid version of
this car [P2000] within this year [1998]. We will also make FCEV available in
2004."