FORD ESCAPE HYBRID: An S.U.V that won’t hurt U and ME

Yes, an S.U.V is on this list and boy is it a winner. Ford’s mini-ute Escape has been very popular the last few years and deservedly so. It’s a well designed and engineered (with Mazda’s help) family-hauler with available four wheel drive and enough cargo capacity to satisfy the most eager outdoor adventurer or suburban warrior. Now, the Escape Hybrid is here!

With a sportier look, higher mileage and just as much power as the Escape V6, this little, but-big enough for the real world, S.U.V is destined to be the benchmark for all future hybrid 4x4’s. For an extra $3,000 or so you can park the world’s first and currently best green S.U.V. in your garage with a clean conscience and an even cleaner environment. M.S.R.P $25,000 est

NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID: Coming Soon. Japanese “BMW” with a green lean

Nissan has become the front runner in Japanese performance in the last few years, swearing only to build exciting cars for exciting drivers. Thinking of themselves as a sort-of Japanese BMW, Nissan has ignored the hybrid cause- until now. Some time in late ‘05 Nissan will introduce a performance-orientated version of it’s very successful Altima sports sedan with a four-cylinder hybrid motor giving this fuel sipping four-door the power of a V6 but with super-clean emissions and pocketbook-saving high gas mileage. Nissan was so impressed with the success of Toyota’s Prius that it out-sourced its’ need for hybrid technology to it’s mortal enemy for this soon-to-our-shores Altima Hybrid. If your current lease is running out in a year or so, or if you just don’t see yourself driving an Accord, take a look at the Nissan Altima Hybrid some time this fall. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed. M.S.R.P. $26,000 est.

So that’s the green car scene for now. In the coming months, we will see a slew of exciting new rides hitting our shores and I will be here to make sure you hear all about ‘em.

See you on the big screen!

Matthew Goodman