I offer the following article with the comment that it is not fair to totally judge the FEH in comparison to the Insight or Prius or H-Honda because it is really a "Truck" and not a car and is used for a different purpose. Now it is Top Dog (at least until the H-Highlander and H-Lexus decide to show their faces).

Ford Escape Hybrid Wins Top Honors
By Nick Bunkley
The Detroit News

(Annotated)

The Ford Escape Hybrid was given the Northern America Truck of the Year award Sunday at the North American International Auto Show.

The Escape Hybrid's selection in the truck category marked the second consecutive year that the panel of journalists who vote on the award whose a vehicle that runs on both gas and electricity. The Toyota Prius won North American Car of the Year in 2004.

Meanwhile, the Escape Hybrid earned the vote of Vancouver Sun writer Tony Whitney for its distinction as the first sport-utility vehicle on the market.

"At last," Whitney said, "an SUV that should quell forever the notion that all vehicles in this segment guzzle gas."

A panel of 48 journalists selected the award winners out of 17 cars and 12 trucks that were nominated. Jurors evaluate the vehicles' design, safety, handling, performance, driver satisfaction and value.

Vehicles must be an entirely new model or have been changed
substantially from the previous year to be eligible.

The Escape Hybrid earned 232 points out of 480 possible to top the other two truck finalists, which are also made by Ford Motor Co. The Land Rover LR3 SUV tallied 163 points, and the Ford Freestyle sport-wagon received 148 points.

Mike Maline - Sdctcher
2005 Ford Escape Hybrid Owner
California School Teacher