my wife is looking at the hybrids (wish we could two! but hey one is nice) and has narrowed it down to the escape and the camry. since we live in utah and she skis, the escape with AWD looks tempting, but then the milage and emissions is much better on the camry.

anyway, one question and general opinions wanted: i heard that ford bought their hybrid tech from toyota and that it is a few generations older. is this true, and what differences could that make to the cars in question.

opinions: any owners of either have some thoughts on why i should get one over the other?

No, Ford did not get the hybrid technology from Toyota. Some of it was licensed to avoid problems but Ford developed their own. Do a search on here, there are several threads that discuss this.

If you feel you need AWD then that pretty much takes the Camry off the table. It is really impossible to compare the two - it comes down to need....

I have two Escape hybrids and they have been great.

Good Luck.

I've an AWD FEH and a TCH. One thing to keep in mind is ground clearance. The FEH has more, and less overhang on the front. I'm careful not to go through dips and sloped driveways too fast with the TCH. With the FEH I never give it a thought.

Both have traction control, so wheel slip should not be a big concern. But in really bad weather, it is nice to know you have 4 wheels to keep you moving with the FEH. The TCH has VDIM (Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management system) that helps avoid loss of control.

If you haul a lot of gear with you, the FEH has lots more storage room with the rear seats down than the TCH. The TCH seats fold down, but the battery is in the trunk and blocks most of the pass through area. The FEH battery is below the floor of the rear cargo area, so you have a huge area to pack gear with the rear seats down. The FEH also has a roof rack you can use to carry your skis.

Both are very comfortable and fun to drive

I have to agree with Nash. I own a TCH and love it. But if going skiing and driving through lots of snow were an issue I'd have to give the nod to the FEH. We already have an SUV and don't need another. But when that dies an FEH might be our next car.