FWIW, I think using a vehicle in a taxi fleet (or perhaps as a law enforcement vehicle) is pretty much the best way to prove dependability in a model (as this seems to be the worst road duty an on-road vehicle will get). Well, maybe a driver's education car would rank up there too

As reported, the FEH has been in taxi fleets in NYC and SF since 2005 and no major issues (except for a few water pumps early on) have been reported. If there were some major design flaw or other quality issue, it would be reported by now. There are too many news outlets looking for the slightest hint of a story with NYC going all hybrid by 2012. (Look at this story where the initial PEV PT Cruiser didn't make the cut for example: http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/07...it-as-ny-taxi/).

Side-note: A NYC Taxi medallion has sold for as much as $600,000. Kinda takes the sting out of a $30,000 vehicle price but imagine the gas cost savings when you go from 8-10mpg to 25-30? That's about ~$26,000 per year savings since the average cab goes 360 miles a day (two 10-12hour shifts).

I see you're in California, and that means all hybrid components get a 10 yr/150K mile warranty, if that makes a difference for you on reliability.

1. OFF ROADING: both HH and FEH have an electronically controller CVT-like transmission. both have 4wd, but neither is for hard-core offroading. if you need "LO RANGE" 4wd type stuff, no hybrid will meet your needs

2. RELIABILITY: I'd be very weary of anyone telling you "Toyotas are reliable b/c mine hasn't broken down"--you're looking at ONE case out of TWENTY THOUSAND, etc. it's just statistically insignificant. Last I heard, FEH has a more realiable powetrain than the regular escape, but if I was going to buy the car, I'd look long and hard for real statistics that show how FEH compares to other cars you're considering. A single person's experience simply doesn't say anything about the model's overall reliability design.

I have to agree with TomTom on reliablity; it is a matter of statistics. It is somewhat tricky to access good stats on vehicles. Personally I have never owned any thing but American cars; I've owned 9 or 10. I tend to buy then new and keep them for about 10 years. I usually end up with about 100K to 150K on them when I sell them. I've never had any real problems with any of them. I now have a 07 FEH it has 24K on it. I traded in a 2000 Chevy truck because the cost of fuel was killing me. It has had no problems so far. From what I read here that seems to be the norm. It may just be that hybrid owners tend to be hyper sensitive to their vehicles and keep them maintained properly.

Check the complaints recorded for both vehicles here:

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/complaints/

I found 11 for the 2006 Ford Escape hybrid and 8 for the Highlander. You can't draw any conclusions from the numbers but the collection of reports may offer of insights.

Bob Wilson

Operation Iraqi Oil Freedom:

Automatic, stock, project car.

My other 1500 cc car:

Automatic, stock, backup car.
Free speech, dialog and knowledge thrives without the poison of SPAM.

Do I need odi #???

Hi, I just had to put in my 2 cents.

Usually when people bring up Toyota vs Ford (or almost any other car company), it get kind of ugly.

I have a 2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid. Personally it is the best car I have ever driven in the snow. In fact it is one of the best cars I have ever owned. I live in Cleveland, so 4wd is a really great thing to have. I have driven through snow so high that my MMH has pushed the snow out of the way. It is also great to drive on ice (although it stops just the same way as anything else).

I get 28mpg most of the time. A little higher in the summer (I do use AC almost all of the time as Cleveland is VERY humid, and I do blast the heat (great heater!) in the winter, because it's COLD! around here).

So here is something to think about.

FEH MMH transmission is made by Aisin Seiki Co. They make Toyota Prius Transmissions.

FEH MMH Battery Pack is made by Sanyo I have no idea if this is good or bad.

FEH MMH Duratec 23 is a 2.3 L (2261 cc) version of the Mazda-designed Duratec 20. Good, bad, I don't know.

My point is that the FEH MMH is kind of a mutt among cars. It has a little of everything.

As far as dogs go, mutts are the best. I hope it is the same goes with cars.


I have been a very happy owner. No major complaints about my SUV. The 2008 are even nicer. Dual Climate control, mp3 imput, and a real integrated Sirius radio are the only things my car was lacking.

Which ever car you end up with, if you take care of it, it will be fine.

[quote=rxhybrid;154175]Hi, I just had to put in my 2 cents.

I have a 2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid.

The 2008 are even nicer. Dual Climate control, mp3 imput, and a real integrated Sirius radio are the only things my car was lacking.

quote]

It is possible to add Sirius radio and mp3 input if you pull your factory radio and insert an aftermarket unit. I put in a double din unit (Kenwood dnx7100) that also has nagivation and I could not have been happier.

2005 AWD Escape Hybrid
Best tank trip MPG 39.02 (scangauge II) for 402 miles on I-70, 10.3 gallons used over mostly flat terrain.

Best tank trip MPG 34.6 for E30 for 271 miles along I-80 in Indiana and Ohio.

Reliablity comparisons between Ford and Toyota should be based on fact, not opinions. I know i was looking into test driving a FEH before i bought my TCH but there were none in the area to be found for what seemed like months. I just wanted to drive one and look it over, i had already decided to buy a 2007 TCH anyways. I think you can compare the reliablity of a model based on sites like edmunds, Car and Driver etc. Most of the data i saw on Toyota was favorable..........for most models. Ford.......well they have a ways to go to catch up with Toyota's relaiblity, in my view. I have never owned a Ford, but did own a 1992 Chevy S-10 extended cab pickup that had to be hands down the worst vehicle i have ever owned......very poor quality and workmanship. From all the paint completely coming off after only 2 years to all the valve seals going out after 20,000 miles and the AC control, i wrote Chevy off after that. It didn't help that at the Chevy dealership one manager had the nerve to tell me to buff out the paint......which there was none left of because it had all came off......down to the primer. Needless to say....they lost my business forever!!! Couple that with The 2007 TCH being named the Motor Trend 2007 car of the year.......i went with Toyota!!

The 4wd systems on the two vehicles are totally different. The Ford 4wd system is, as mentioned, mechanical. That means that there is a transfercase that takes power from the engine and electric motor and turns the front AND rear wheels. The Toyota system has NO transfercase. The Highlander Hybrid has no mechanical connection to the rear wheels. Instead, it has an additional electric motor for the rear wheels. That means that the rear wheels are limited in the amount of power they can get. Only the front wheels get power from the engine. The problem with this system is that if your front wheels are without power, your rear wheels may not have the power to free your vehicle. The advantage of Toyota's system is that ONROAD they do have stability control whereas Ford still does not offer VSC on their hybrid.

There is also a "flaw" in the FEH system, which may also impact the HiHy. That is power in reverse. The CVT transmission in the Ford has no reverse gear. 100% of the power for reverse comes from the electric motors. If you put an FEH in reverse and place the back wheels against a curb, you will not be able to back over the curb. The motors don't have the power to move the vehicle, and the system has been programmed to shut down to protect itself if the wheels do not move.

All that said, there is no hybrid with a real low range. I think the FEH is closer to being off-road capable and the company even states it is as capable as the standard escape. Toyota explicitly states that the Highlander is not to be taken offroad.

-Tim

2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid AWD
Black with Pebble interior
Premium Package with Nav & Moonroof



Current ODO: 22,909
Typical Drive: 20 min crosstown in heavy traffic (3.5mi there and back twice a day)


457 Gallons of gas saved
That's 9,150 lbs less CO2