Ford Escape Hybrid
The
world's first hybrid SUV |
 |
Ford Escape Hybrid
-->
add a Ford Escape hybrid
testimonial
The 2005 Escape hybrid is
the first commercially available Hybrid SUV, as well as the Truck of
the Year at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in
January 2005.
Combining two electric
motors - one to drive the wheels and one to turn over the gasoline
engine - with the standard Escape 2.3-liter four-cylinder gas engine,
the Escape Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) is achieves almost 35 mpg and
performs as well as the 200-hp V-6 version.
Ford plans to sell about
20,000 of the hybrids in 2005. As of January, about 3000 Escape
hybrids had been sold. Ford was prepared to produce as many as
45,000 of the SUVs this year, but such plans have been hampered by
limited hybrid battery components.
Do you drive a Ford Escape
Hybrid?
If so, let us know how your
Escape hybrid experience is going. -->
add a Ford Escape hybrid
testimonial
Escape
Hybrid Testimonials / Rate My Escape hybrid
Dear
fellow hybrid owners,
At
first I was disappointed that my 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid
SUV purchased in May in Florida was getting only
23.5mpg. I realized, however, that when the Fall
came I did not use the A/C so much, and my economy is
now pretty consistently to 30.8 mpg around town,
etc. So I am delighted. On a 1250
mile trip in October to Charlotte, NC, and around
town there and back I got up to 29 but mostly
around 26 or so.
I
know not to trust the car-makers advertising 36 around
town and 31 otherwise for the Ford Escape Hybrid.
They have been doing that ever since I bought my first
new Ford in '53. They can drive the test car
on a track at reduced speeds that we could never repeat
to get that mileage out on the highways. I accept
30.8, since my car before it was getting 16.3 mpg
(2001Chrysler Town and Country with a V6 in it.)
H.
B.
DeLand, FL
How you drive plays a
VERY important role in your MPG. I have a 2wd Escape
Hybrid and live at altitude near Denver. When I was
"green" I got 34 MPG right from the drive
home. Now, with practice and experience, I can get 45-54
MPG around town ( speeds under 35 MPH ) and up to 41 MPG
over the highway ( speeds up to 65 MPH ).
I always get 500 miles per tank, and a few times, 600
miles. All from a 14.5 gallon ( usable ) tank. Absolutely
fabulous.
John
Here's my comments after
owning a Ford Escape 4WD Hybrid for one year.
The performance of the
4WD (really AWD) is considerably less than the 2WD
version. 26 mpg (4WD) versus 32 mpg (2WD) in the
city. I believe Ford should offer a 2W/4W version to
allow switching manually in either mode. This
should increase gas mileage by disabling the
driveline. I've been thinking of disabling the
driveline myself except for the warranty issues or
looking for someone who may develop a kit that
disables the driveline except when needed.
Ford should also
consider having a similar Hymotions' plug-in
option for almost doubling gas mileage and driving on
batteries at higher speeds in the city.
Also believe the ECV
transmission should be adjustable for smooth
city/highway conditions versus hilly/mountain driving.
Hope this helps,
B.L.
I drive my Hybrid in
the canadian winter. The truck performs above my
expectations, but the transition gaz/electric is a
little harsh at minus 20 and colder...
Its an AWD and it drives A-1 in snow and on ice.
I am proud to help preserving our planet by using a
hybrid, but in numbers, i will never save in 5 years the
hybrid costs...
But it's my small contribution for life quality...
Nice job FORD, keep on that way!!!
Robert
Are
you the owner of a Ford Escape hybrid? Tell us about
your experiences with the Escape hybrid. What kind of
gas mileage do you get in your hybrid Escape and in what
kind of driving?
Add
your Ford Escape hybrid
testimonial.
-->
More
on the Ford Escape Hybrid
-->
Test
Driving the Ford Escape Hybrid |