After 14-and-counting wonderful, trouble-free years with my ‘92 Toyota Corolla, I had every reason to stick with Toyota, save one — Toyota doesn’t offer a hybrid that met all of my needs. Namely, I was definitely in the market for something other than another small-size sedan.

The Toyota Prius is *outstanding*, but I neither test drove nor seriously considered one due to wanting to migrate to a larger, more versatile vehicle (my Corolla was subjected to use such as this more than a few times in the past 14 years, after all!)

Toyota’s Hybrid Highlander falls into the too big, “too SUV for me” class of vehicle, and the price tag put it out of contention as well. That, and I believe 2006 is its first model year, which I intentionally avoided in 2005 (the Ford Escape Hybrid’s first model year.)

In terms of fit, function and finish, I think it’s probably unfair to compare my 1992 Toyota Corolla (equipped with low-to-midrange features for the time period: cruise, stock radio, cloth seats, folding rear seats) to my fully loaded 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid. The few annoyances I’ve had with the Ford in the little over 1 month I’ve had it are, I believe, probably normal in any new vehicle — I had a small rubber piece pop off the interior of my rear liftgate window while hand-washing the vehicle, nowhere to be found. I have a few odd squeaks now and then, but they seem to “right themselves” quickly, and some are sounds I’m still learning are normal for the unique hybrid systems onboard (for instance, the high voltage battery pack in the rear cargo area has its own, self-contained, air conditioning system to keep it at peak operating temperature.)

Justin’s had Ford’s since 1990 or so, so I’ve seen the down-the-road costs that may or may not come at me with a Ford, as compared to the Toyota. The Toyota was nearly 100% problem-free, with the most expensive repair ever probably being a new alternator and brake work at 60,000 miles (it’s a low mileage vehicle; 14 years as of this summer, 88k miles as of April ‘06.) Justin’s first Ford had many problems and was traded in shortly after it was paid off, due to a failing transmission and air conditioning system. Justin’s present Ford, a 2001 F-150 pickup, however, has been largely issue-free. One Ford recall due to the much-publicized cruise control fire risk, which has been resolved/repaired free of charge; some minor personality quirks such as a turn signal that occasionally fails to “lock on” or clicks off far too soon when the wheel’s barely turned.

My brother and father have new Ford Mustangs (brother: 2005; Dad: 2005 GT), and I’d been blown away by the quality and workmanship throughout their vehicles, so that greatly helped me consider Ford. And our rental vehicle for 10 days last October in Washington, D.C. was a Ford Escape Limited 4×4 (non-hybrid) which we absolutely loved in terms of ride, handling, features and appearance.

Do I miss Toyota? Yes, but largely for no reason other than it’s what I’d known for 14 years. I never drive Justin’s Ford F-150 — it’s too big for me to comfortably drive, maneuver and park — so the Toyota’s been my baby from day #1 back in 1992. But the Ford Escape Hybrid is definitely my new baby, mostly because it’s a hybrid and so much fun to drive. There’s something contagiously rewarding about knowing you’re not actively burning gasoline and polluting, and are getting superb miles per gallon, in some of the worst traffic that ordinarily would stress and aggravate a non-hybrid driver.

The Nissan is nice, but there are little design and usability features I miss, there was a spate of minor-but-irritating repairs, and – it’s just not the same. I dream of getting a Prius. Did you test drive one? Why’d you go with Ford?

xox