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Ford Escape Hybrid Test Drive: What Did You Think?
If you've taken an Escape hybrid for a test drive, this is the place to let us know what you thought.
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While the Nav system can display this info instead of the Message Center, IMHO, it would surely have been nice if I could use the Message Center to monitor my mileage, while the Nav system displays, well, Navigation stuff.
I'd been considering a Highlander, but after my experience with the FEH, I'll be back at the dealer with my wife to finalize the deal next week.
If you don't need the size, then you have the FEH and numerous other small SUVs to choose from...including non-hybrids (Subaru, etc.) that get rather decent FE.
Looks like you have already started to appreciate the job Ford has done (not perfect) on the FEH. I have had mine for just over a year and it never ceases to impress me. Don't kid yourself into thinking Ford has performed any significant engineering changes to the hybrid drive to increase the EPA numbers....the drive train design and components are virtually the same as the 05/06/07 FEH models. enjoy :shades:
I love this vehicle, and want to purchase one.
Its very easy to handle, it has excellent pick up if one needs to pass, its amazing on fuel ( fill it up every 2.5 days, but remember this "truck" is running for 8 hours straight per day, every day) however, this does change when you use your air or heat, the gas motor does not kick off.
It gives you wonderful sence of helping the environment while stuck in construction or bad traffic issues.
There are a few cons I have for this truck.
REVERSE, is useless up the slightest incline!!!!! I wouldnt want to attempt to haul a trailer with this SUV and if ever you get yourself in a tight situation ( camp roads that you arent familiar with) and have little or no other option but to back up a hill, you better just get out and call a tow truck, your not going to get out, trust me.
Fortunately the wheel base is short enough that you can amazingly turn it around in some pretty tight spots.
Back to the pros of the escape hybrid, it does do well in reasonable mud conditions, substantial snow fall doesnt affect its ability to manoever and remain where its supposed to be on the road, it also off roads decently ( as long as you dont have to reverse) and is a very comfortable ride.
I am not a ford fan, but I give the Escape Hybrid 2 thumbs up.
And if your someone like me that likes to know whats happening with your vehicle while your driving, the gauges can be a bit distracting ( looking down at the "assist" and "charge" guages)
The ("handling") steering and the brakes are independent of whether the vehicle is being powered by the battery/electric motor, the ICE, or a combination of both. A computer decides which brake system and how much to use based on pedal input and vehicle speed, etc. After a few months of driving the FEH you can learn how the computer decides what brake to use and push the pedal and shift gears between "L" and "D" accordingly.
You can buy a lot of gas for $8,000...about 7 years worth for the Focus.
Mark
Don't compare the FEH to Government (not-Ford) estimates.....compare it to the other vehicle you would be driving instead. [None of them get EPA estimates and all of them show drop in FE in cold weather] Everything else being the same, the FEH uses a lot less fuel and creates a lot less pollution than the alternatives.
Many forums post tips for how to drive the FEH to get 30mpg....lots of examples of folks who get more than 35 mpg.
Go to CA and see if you can find a Tribute Hybrid, their production is ramping up, and their still pretty unknown. Or hound Mercury dealers and see if you can find a Mariner hybrid, but be prepared to pay ~$5000 in electo-glitz to get it.
Just joined the forum and I need some advice. I currently drive a 2001 Escape V6 FWD with every option except 4WD and it's a great vehicle. I've taken it, fully loaded with all my gear, to Big Bend Nat'l Park(offroad) and many other camping trips in Texas and it has always performed great, even offroad.
I've had my heart set on purchasing a 2009 FEHybrid sometime this summer. I've read that a new 6 speed engine, getting a bit more gas mileage, and stability control will be added in 2009 model.
Most everything I've read so far about the FEH is positive--that is until today, when I read z28gurl's post on here (post # 10 from June 25, 2007).
z28gurl's post stated:
"REVERSE, is useless up the slightest incline!!!!! I wouldnt want to attempt to haul a trailer with this SUV and if ever you get yourself in a tight situation ( camp roads that you arent familiar with) and have little or no other option but to back up a hill, you better just get out and call a tow truck, your not going to get out, trust me.
Fortunately the wheel base is short enough that you can amazingly turn it around in some pretty tight spots."
This statement is making me think again about buying a FEH. If this is true that reverse drive is useless up an incline, then I would have been up the creek last year at Big Bend cause I had to backup MANY, MANY times at the places I camped--and with a full load of camping gear! My Escape V6 did fine, but if the Hybrid won't backup right, I can't use it.
Even though most of my driving will be in town, I'll still do a lot of camping in tight spaces where REVERSE DRIVE IS A MUST.
So can anyone please help me out on this issue--what's the scoop on this Hybrid not being able to backup properly??
Thanks,
Patmck
The 2009 does not use a 6 speed transmission. It has the same planetary gearset as the current model.
The reverse power is provided only by the electric motors, which have about 40 HP. There is no capability to directly harness the energy of the gasoline engine to move the vehicle backwards. So if you are trying to back a trailer up an incline, the FEH would be rather under powered.
If you are considering towing, the FEH is not the best choice in any case.
Honestly, until I read z28gurl's post, it never crossed my mind to even think of a 'backup problem' with the FEH! I'm still in shock about this discovery as I now can't buy an Escape Hybrid like I'd planned to do this summer. I'd be outraged to be stuck in the middle of nowhere because I couldn't back up an incline! I'm amazed that Ford would even sell a vehicle that can't drive in reverse properly. And I'm not talking about towing anything behind me--just a normal backup going uphill!
None of the so-called expert reviews that I've read on various sites mention this major design flaw(or omission) and the consequences it would have for a driver under certain driving conditions.
Since posting my question I've read some other posts by Escape Hybrid owners who have had the same backup problems(http://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/f26/reverse-steep-driveways-6441/).
Do you think Ford will correct this problem in the future or is this problem something that will always be a part of the FEH??
Thanks
I have never had a problem having enough power to move the FEH backwards up steep hills. I have not tried it backward over rocks or curbs - on hills.
If towing or offroading is a top priority - stick with the V6 and the 19 mpg.
I hope you noticed that while the ICE cannot power the wheels directly, it can provide electric energy to the motors that reverse the FEH. So the situation is not as bad as my first post may have indicated.
As to the technical question, I'm not sure if it could be changed. However, I imagine not so long as they continue with the current "planetary gearset" design. If the ICE could have spun the wheels in reverse I'm sure they would have implemented it that way. Electric motors are easy to reverse - just reverse the current - but it may have been difficult or impossible to directly power the wheels in reverse.
Good trade off in my opinion. Future designs may address this - but not with this eCVT concept.
Of you who already own them, do you have any advice or words of caution about anything I should be aware of? (I'm not a mechanic, so this gets a bit overwhelming rather quickly.)
Thanks in advance.
I enjoy driving my 2008, but I would only recommend buying a new one if you like the technology and want to have fun trying to get the most MPG out of the vehicle. If you are looking for a small SUV, the 4 cylinder Escape will cost you significantly less (around $5,000). It won't get the same MPG in town or on the road, but you would have to drive the FEH for many years before even breaking even just on the MSRP difference - and that is assuming you put effort into trying to improve MPG. If you drive the FEH hard, it won't get nearly as good gas mileage.
There is also the fact the Ford won't put any incentives on the hybrids, but there are generally incentives on the conventional engined models.
They seem to have gone up in price quite a bit since I bought mine. My MSRP was 31K, and a similar 2011 model would be about 35K.
If I were shopping right now, I would look at the Mazda 5. It isn't an SUV, but it is very economical, has good parking characteristics, and can carry way more people and cargo than an Escape. Assuming you don't need the AWD.
Mine is a 2008 FEH AWD with the "luxury" package, as it was called back then. I get just under 30 MPG most tanks.
"Ford Escape Hybrid Battery Pack Questions"
http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/WebX/.f16fe2e/50
I keep pretty close tabs on the FEH, and I don't know of any specific battery issues, except that the pre-2010 models have a tendency to have problems with the blend door actuator. The latest models do not use the external door.
Battery pack fans are covered under the federal extended hybrid warranty, since they are inside the battery pack.
Many thanks...
You can find some known issues about EHB system here:
You can find some known issues about EHB system here: "
Your link did not get through, but so far I've not had any problems with brakes on my 2008 FEH. Nor have I read of any problems on the various site I watch.
The stuff I've seen about the Gen 2 FEH is that they programmed the brake to feel more like a "normal" brake, isolating the feel of the regenerative braking. And they had to recall the system to reprogram it on some of their hybrids, I don't know if the FEH was included in that.
Glen Beanard's article Tech Feature: Ford Hybrid Braking on June 22nd, 2009. >> link
Glen Beanard's article Tech Feature: Ford Hybrid Braking on June 22nd, 2009. >> link"
Thanks for the links. The "Brakes Broke The Bank" story is the only one I have seen. I don't consider a single instance on the first year of production to be an indicator of a general problem with the Gen 1 FEH mechanical system.