2005 Jeep Liberty CRD 4WD Diesel Vs. 2005 Toyota RAV4 L Internal Combustion Vs. 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid AWD Hybrid performance, EPA Stats

In city driving, the Escape Hybrid trounced the Liberty CRD, 34.0 mpg to 21.7 mpg, and even the RAV4 topped the Jeep, with 26.7 mpg. Credit the Ford's ability to run on pure electric at stoplights and from a stop up to about 20 mph before its gas engine kicks in. Use the heater, defroster, or air-conditioning continually, and your mileage will drop because that forces the engine to continue running at stoplights. In addition, the Escape Hybrid also won the highway contest, although not as handily, with 25.7 mpg versus 22.8 mpg for the Liberty CRD. The RAV again split the two, with 23.8 mpg.

Overall, the Escape scored best again at 27.5 mpg on the combined loop, with the RAV4 at 24.5 mpg (slightly trumping its EPA rating) and the Liberty at 21.7 mpg. You pay a price for such economy; the Escape, as equipped, is a hefty $7000 more than the Liberty Sport CRD. The Jeep's Italian-built turbodiesel is a $1950 option on the Sport's $21,385 base, plus $1220 for that required five-speed automatic transmission. If you buy the hybrid this year, you can cut into the Escape's seven-grand premium with a $2000 tax credit, still not enough to drop it below $30K with the optional in-dash fuel-mileage monitor. The credit was to be phased out, dropping to $1000 in 2005, $500 in 2006, and zero in 2007, but it was extended as part of last year's federal tax-cut bill.

Why is the diesel thirstiest? The Liberty's CRD doesn't represent the latest in turbodiesels, and it does have clatter and vibration below 2000 rpm, where it spends a lot of its time. Idle is downright rough, like diesels from the pre-electronic fuel-injection days. It's almost the exact opposite of the Escape Hybrid, which can be perfectly still and silent at idle. We imagine some would prefer the Jeep's more rugged, big-truck rumble as an alternative to the golf-cart putt-putt feel of the Escape and RAV four-bangers.

In contrast to the old-school feel of the turbodiesel, the Escape's hybrid engine is state-of-the-art. It's an Atkinson-cycle full-hybrid like Toyota's: it'll run pure electric, but also uses the charged electric motor to give the SUV extra oomph for acceleration and passing. Our track tester was amazed at how quickly the gas engine recharged the electric motor. A gentle return run down the drag strip nearly recovered the battery, and, after two runs, it was back up to full charge, helping aid the engine with acceleration.