Last month we offered a bumper to bumper hybrid Ford Escape versus hybrid Toyota Highlander comparison and quickly learned that an equally large number of people are interested in the differences between same model gas vs. hybrid sport utilities.
For example, if you’ve decided to buy a new Ford Escape, but now you are also considering the hybrid model, you’re probably asking yourself if escaping to the green side is worth the extra, well, green. While both SUVs look nearly identical when you are more than about 15 feet away, a closer look reveals their hidden differences.
Let’s start with the bottom line - the price difference.
As with most vehicles you can buy today, there are several models of Escape to choose from. (As a side note, this is an issue automakers may soon be forced to address, but we will save that problem for a future article.) Not including destination, tax, or license fees - you can pick up the Escape XLS (manual transmission) for $21,160, the XLS for $22,370, the popular XLT for $24,180, or the Escape Limited for $25,624.
The two wheel drive 2009 Escape hybrid has an MSRP of $29,645 (4wd is $31,395) and is most similar to the XLT in terms of options. Therefore, the price difference is roughly $5,500. A step up from the base hybrid to the Limited hybrid will cost you at least $2,300 more. So, your quick take-away is this…plan on spending at least $5,500 more to get the green Escape, or even $6,500 more due to current incentives for gas only models. Don’t forget to see if you qualify for a 2009 hybrid tax credit on this vehicle!
The benefits of going green.
Say you decide to plop down the extra $6K to get one of the hybrid Escape models. What did you really get for that wad of cash? For starters, the most obvious improvement will be your gas mileage, a benefit that becomes more appealing the longer you own the vehicle, the more miles you drive, and the higher fuel prices climb.
However, if fuel economy was the only difference, you’d have to wait patiently to realize how smart you were to buy the hybrid. The front wheel drive gas-only Escape is rated at 20 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the open road. Your hybrid Escape improves on those numbers, averaging more like 34 city / 31 hwy. While much depends on where and how you drive, let’s estimate that your hybrid decision earns you an extra 8 miles of driving for every gallon of gasoline you purchase. If you drive 15,000 miles per year, and gas is $2.50/gallon, your hybrid fuel savings is only $400 each year. Therefore, at current petrol prices you would break even after 15 years! When is the last time you kept a vehicle that long?
Remind me again why I’m still considering the hybrid?
Good question. Could it be that you’re expecting fuel prices to hit $5 again? Or maybe you are doing lots of things to reduce your carbon footprint, and buying the hybrid is simply an extension of your green personality? Did I mention you might be eligible for a $1,500 to $3,000 tax credit on this machine? And don’t forget, if you do most of your driving in town and especially in stop and go, 25 mph traffic - you could improve your gas mileage by 15 miles per gallon compared to the non-hybrid Escape. Now we’re talking!
So at $5 per gallon gasoline then it will take only 7.5 years to break even on gas! Not very cost effective. At 15,000 miles for 7.5 years means your hybrid will have 112,500 miles on it before it starts paying you back on gas. Of course, nobody know how much repair costs will be on a 112,500 mile Escape hybrid. I would imaging that the batteries will be pretty well shot at that point, but we do know that they won’t be covered by any warranty. So lets estimate a repair bill of at least $5000 for replacement of batteries and parts (the original cost of the additional hybrid parts) or should we make that repair bill $5800 if you calculate an expected inflation rate of 3% a year for 7 years. But maybe you’ll get lucky and gas will go to $10.00 per gallon. Then it will only take you 3.5 years to break even. Thanks for helping me make my decision not to purchase the hybrid Escape, at least until they start charging reasonable prices.
I have 130,000 miles on a Honda Civic Hybrid, with no repair issues of any kind. Replacement batteries were $2,000 4 years ago, and have come down considerably since then. I mention this because the battery issue is clearly overblown and the calculations by Steve are faulty. Also, cost should not be the only consideration when we are talking about saving the planet. If you want to be selfish and you don’t care about anyone but yourself, and you have to have a new car every 4 years, then your days are numbered anyway.
I wish to win a car from stephanie