Newer Toyota Rav4 vs. Ford Escape Hybrid? Which is the better small SUV?

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unplugged-Pro-Peace

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even though i'm a HUGE toyota fan (toyota is my fav car make), i'd rather go with a hybrid.

but you can always go with a highlander hybrid. but w/e its your choice.

maybe your talking about the highway milage. in regular cars, highway milage is better than city. but in hybrids its the other way around. maybe that's why the escape isn't much better. plus, at low speeds, you don't use any gas at all. this is perfect for city driving, like in the downtown core, because its usually traffic, and your not going fast at all.
 
I'm speaking of the newer automatic 2WD 4 cylinder Rav4's ('05 and up) and the 4 cylinder 2WD automatic Ford Escape hybrid. Does the Escape hybrid have as good of a reputation as the Rav4? What are the pros and cons of each model? They say the Escape hybrid gets 30 MPG, but doesn't the 4-banger Rav4 get 27-28? Which small SUV would give me the most bang for the buck in the long run and gas mileage wise?
 
I agree with buttplugg, the Escape Hybrid is great. The Escape Hybrid has an excellent reputation for reliability.
 
It depends on where you would be driving. If your job is only 10 miles away and you take start and stop city roads to get there, then the Escape is probably what you want. Part of the smart hybrid system is to shut off the engine completely so when you sit at a red light for two minutes, you don't burn a single drop of gas.

If you are say 40 miles from work and take the expressway every day, then maybe you still want the Escape because it gets a few more mpg than the Rav4. If you do get to work this way though, the Rav4 might make more sense because the hwy numbers aren't that much lower.

I personally would pick the Escape because I just like to support American companies and have looked into purchasing one before, so I know what's good about it. I haven't looked into the Rav4 and really don't plan to, but people say the same good things about those as they do with the Escape.
 
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