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C.E.O. Pimp My Ride
After the chief executives of Detroit's Big Three were ripped to shreds last month for flying corporate jets to Washington in search of government funding (the public relations departments must have been out sick the day that decision was made), you can bet that for the latest round of begging, they made arrangements to get themselves to Capitol Hill on four wheels.
With so, so many car models to choose from, which did the auto chieftains decide were the worthiest to show off to Congress? No word on what Chrysler C.E.O. Bob Nardelli drove to Washington, but Ford C.E.O. Alan Mullally chose an Escape Hybrid for the road trip, while Rick Wagoner of G.M. took a Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid Sedan.
Let's see how the two stack up.
Fuel Efficiency. The Ford Escape Hybrid is touted as "the most fuel efficient SUV on the planet," getting 34 MPG city and 31 MPG highway. By contrast, the Malibu is one of the least efficient hybrids on the market, with gas mileage of 22 MPG city/ 30 MPG highway - barely better than your average sedan. No contest here; point to Ford.
Price. The Escape Hybrid starts at $21,880, while the Malibu hybrid is slightly pricier at $22,275. Edge to Ford.
Style and Comfort. Neither car is exactly a style statement, but the Malibu is praised for a smoother, quieter ride, superior interior design, and sleeker exterior styling. Edge to G.M.
Popularity. The Escape Hybrid was the first hybrid SUV to hit the market in 2004, and as of mid-2008, it was the best-selling SUV in America. While the standard Malibu sedan is one of the best selling mid-sized cars on the market, the hybrid version is new and not widely available. Edge to Ford.
The verdict? With its superior fuel efficiency, slightly lower price, and general market appeal, Alan Mullally had the sweeter ride to D.C.
Liz Gunnison
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