2008 Ford Escape-Hybrid Safety Review
Based on analysis of 7 Escape-Hybrid reviews and test drives.
Safety - What the Auto Press Says
Favorable cash test scores from the federal government contribute to the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid's excellent safety score.
Later releases of the Escape Hybrid (produced after June 6, 2007) receive four out of five stars for driver protection in frontal crashes, while earlier releases receive only three stars. All models get five stars for passenger protection in those crashes, as well as five stars for the front and rear seats in side crashes. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) did not test the 2008 Hybrid, but gives the non-hybrid model an "Acceptable" rating in frontal offset tests and a top rating of "Good"in side impact tests.
Accident Avoidance
The most oft-mentioned component of the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid's safety features is what it's lacking -- electronic stability control. Reviewers comment that while the non-hybrid models feature Ford's AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control, the 2008 Hybrid does not, due to incompatibility with the regenerative braking electronics. "I hope Ford's pocket-protector squad sorts that out soon," says the Los Angeles Times. All trims of the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid do come standard with four-wheel disc, anti-lock brakes and a tire pressure monitoring system.
Crash Protection
To protect its passengers, the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid has a Personal Safety System ® designed to use sensors to detect proper deployment of its standard dual-stage driver and front passenger air bags, based on seat position, safety belt use and the overall severity of impact. The Escape Hybrid also comes with front-seat side mounted air bags.
In government crash test ratings, the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid receives three out of five stars for driver protection, which "suggest the driver has a 21 to 35 percent chance of sustaining a serious injury if involved in a head-on collision with a similarly sized vehicle at 35 mph," Cars.com reports. "This score is actually lower than the 2007 Escape Hybrid's four-star rating."
