They are ramping up Prius output to half a million a year, so there should start to be adequate numbers available, or at least a short wait.

2001 Prius Photos       2005 Prius Photos
1992 Mitsubishi Delica Diesel-WVO Hybrid Photos

Really? I have kept records of gas mileage for every car I have owned . It's a great way of seeing changes in car performance (and I am a numbers geek, what can I say?).

What I am getting at is that I have documented PROOF that the Ford Escape in the Hybrid version gets 28-45% better highway milage and 85-100% better city mileage than the V-6 version that I also owned. I don't consider that marginal at all. My last tank in my work commute was 37.1 mpg. My best tank in the V-6 doing the same drive was around 19 mpg, normal was 17-18.

With gas now at close to $3.00 here in Boston and me doing about 20,000 miles in driving around Boston, my payback period is now around 2.75 years - and that is without factoring in the tax deduction which will save me $600 or so this year in taxes (on each of two Hybrids). Since I plan on owning them beyond that time, I think the numbers work well.

That would be great, but I thought the number was for total hybrids, perhaps including the Camry hybrid as well.

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."

When I read answers to questions like the OP's, I always look what car the poster owns, and what is recommended. It is rare to see discordance

Anyway, this is a no-brainer. Get a Prius

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."

Let me reiterate: In very general terms. It's impossible to summarize the variety of experinces we all have with our cars without writing a novel. Return is dependent on a dozen different things. You 20K miles per year is a good example - that much driving will speed up your return. Glad your Escapes are working out for you. Obviously, someone who drove half as much would have a different experience.

*** Retired after 65,000 outstanding miles ***

Thanks everyone! I read some great advices and its nice hearing from those who actually own hybrids. I'm still researching...I'd like something comparable to my V6 accord but something that fits in with my active lifestyle such as snowboarding, biking etc. so I was thinking about SUVs. Does anyone own the Highlander hybrid?

You may want to inquire into the subforums for the vehicles in question to get driver feedback more directly, rather than hope they find this thread, don't worry, they won't mind, and will spend all day talking about the Highlander Hybrid, the 400h or whatever you're curious about. Just post and ask your questions about it, or why or how they figured it was the vehicle for them.

Ray, good to hear that my experiment wasn't a fluke, and yours is far more convincing as it has the same driver over all of the same roads. Good to hear I'll be making more money from the FEH and break even faster too, as I was originally going for an convential Escape.

First 4WD Hypermiler

Have you read the FEH FAQ?

Live in Michigan? Let it be known in Michigan Roll Call

Read My Automotive Blog at Rich Rambles

My fiancee (KPez019) and I have the Highlander Hybrid as well as the Prius. She's the primary driving of the HH, though. She absolutely loves it. It's got a lot of power (more than the standard non-hybrid V6 of the Highlander, if I'm not mistaken), and we're looking forward to adding a trailer hitch and bike rack to haul our bikes around. And it is a *blast* to drive, too.

So far she's averaging 30 MPG over her 4 tanks, but that's above average according to the mileage database.

Rick

When I first heard the Hybrid Escapes were coming I wanted to wait and buy one of them but after test-driving a V-6 in May '04 I bought it. I loved it except for the fuel efficiency. I figure I have the best of both worlds now - a "right-sized" SUV that is good on gas.

I filled both Escapes the other night and at about 500 miles per tank, I can hopefully get by well past Labor Day until the gas situation normalizes some.

Doing an oil change on the '06 this weekend, maybe I'll get that 2 mpg bump and really have something to brag about.....

So u have a Honda Accord V6. You should look at the Toyota Prius since it is like ehe same size and has more cargo room, but order early thae wait may b long.