I have driven a 2002 Escape for the last 4 years (still have it) and just purchased a 2006 Hybrid. I also live in Florida, a "high temp climate" state. I was concerned about the AC situation prior to my purchase and have found two situations in which it has become an issue One is afternoon rush hour traffic where the vehicle doesn't reach speeds where the ICE runs with enough consistency to effectively cool the interior compartment. This has only been an issue in the worst of traffic conditions. A similar type of situation involves driving in a downtown setting with traffic lights at every corner especially after the vehicle was parked in the sun. Other than these times, I have found the AC setup to be entirely "livable." My 2002 V-6 4WD was only averaging 16-17 MPG, the lowest tank average in my Hybrid 4WD has been 29.8, so I can happily deal with the fairly rare problem situations. Hopefully, I'll be of the same mind in July and August.