You know this hybrid business is getting out of hand when the Big Devil of the automotive community, those gas-sucking, lane-hogging, sun-blocking SUVs, have a hybrid to call their own. Ugh.
And now it's official: it really is great to be an American, and to drive a Ford. If we eat too many fries, we can suck the fat off our thighs. If we want to drive an SUV, we can buy a 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid and feel good about ourselves, all thanks to Ford and their earnest, hard working engineers. They may well save the world before they're done, with no help at all from the ever expanding, expectant and petulant group called American consumers.
Thanks, btw. If the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid saves a tree, thanks. If it reduces our dependency on foreign oil, hey - way to go. And if keeps us from frequent visits to the gas station, that's even better. And if it costs a little - or a lot - more to do something so good, well, we can always put it on the credit card.
It's the American Way.
The fact is that hybrids, this one included, do save dollars at the pump. Just not as much as we thought. We seem to want to drive them, too, as evidenced by the popularity of a certain Toyota Prius. And surely, as the number of hybrids on the road and for sale increase, so will the influence and effectiveness of this powertrain system.
Up to now, though, hybrid vehicles were designed for commuters who had fuel economy top of mind. You know - small cars and such. But then along comes the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid, and the first SUV built with a hybrid powertrain makes this technology available to everyone. Ford labored long and hard to deliver this vehicle, even got a little help from, ahem, another automaker, and the fruit of its work is a fine vehicle that features a full hybrid system - you can actually roll forward with electric power only, derived from its own source of energy, courtesy of regenerative braking power.
That's a different kind of power than what we're used to - and come to think of it, that really is what the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid offers: a new kind of power called choice, choice for conservation, for fuel economy and for doing the right thing.
Value At around $30,000, the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid is a good buy as long as you place value in having a hybrid powertrain, don't mind seating for five and aren't worried about towing much more than your kids and a few sacks of fruit. But watch out: estimated fuel savings are traditionally bloated, and getting your money back just in fuel efficiency is a fantasy - though the Ford Escape Hybrid is miserly for an SUV. Where you get that $3,000 back is in a combination of improved fuel economy, the good feeling that comes with significantly lowered emissions and in the convenience of not having to go to the gas station every three days. The government can also help make hybrids a more valuable proposition by keeping the tax credit of $2,000 and allowing full hybrids such as the Escape into car-pool lanes.
The interior and exterior of the Ford Escape and the Ford Escape Hybrid are virtually the same, with a few minor changes to the hybrid version. Mechanically, the Ford Escape Hybrid comes with a continuously variable transmission, a powertrain that generates 155 horsepower and your choice of drive type: a front-wheel-drive model with a sticker price of $26,380, or a $28,005 all-wheel-drive Escape Hybrid.
For the 2005 model year, manufacturer options include a $575 leather package, an appearance improvement package for $625, and a $595 safety package that includes side-curtain airbags for all rows. There's also an audio and navigation package that tops the charts at almost $1,900. Interesting: for $1,850, you can see where you're going, and how many pennies per mile you've saved by getting there in hybrid style. Additional options include a 6-disc in-dash CD changer for $565, a 110-volt AC power outlet for $110, a retractable rear cargo cover for $75, and carpeted rear floor mats for $25.
This is not a base model drive-away vehicle, for at least one reason: side-curtain airbags. This safety device protects both rows in case of an accident and is a crucial piece of equipment when it comes to rollover incidents. So if you're interested in protecting the occupants of your vehicle, add another $595 onto the price of the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid. A must-buy is also the 110-volt AC power outlet - after all, you ARE driving an electric vehicle. All told, this means that an all-wheel-drive Escape Hybrid - with just the side curtain airbags and the power outlet - is pushing $27,000. At that price, it's definitely an upscale Escape and as a result, dealers may well stock Escape Hybrids with most of the options - thus requiring you to buy a vehicle with more options than you initially wanted - and get close to that $30,000 price tag.
The bottom line: if you're in the market for a base $20,000 Escape, stop dreaming and pass on the hybrid. Comparably equipped, the front-wheel-drive Escape Hybrid is about $3,000 more than the regular 2005 Ford Escape. That's assuming that your local dealer doesn't tack on some extra fees to take advantage of your early craving. If you can't buy a hybrid at a fair price, based on the prices suggested by the manufacturer - if not lower - go buy another SUV and wait for the buzz to die down.
PowertrainThe 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid does not need to be plugged in.
Honest. Really. It does not come standard with an extension cord. Hybrid powertrains are exactly what the name implies: dual powertrains, one for internal combustion and one for electric power, that work together to use and regenerate energy while you drive. Just as the Escape Hybrid's 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine has a gas tank, the two electric motors have a 330-volt nickel-metal-hydride battery pack that's located under the rear load floor of the vehicle.
These electric motors do different things: the first, a 65-kilowatt motor, serves up energy when maximum acceleration is needed. There's also a 28-kilowatt motor that recharges the batteries, starts the engine and helps regulate how the two propulsion systems work together. The addition of these electric motors enables the use of a smaller, more efficient gasoline engine - the 2.3-liter four-cylinder produces 133 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 124 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,500 rpm - numbers boosted by the electric motors to a combined rating of about 155 horsepower.
The electric system also enables the Ford Escape Hybrid to essentially turn off the gasoline engine when at a stop. This is where much of the Ford Escape Hybrid's fuel savings - and emissions reduction - come into play. You arrive at a stoplight and, as the vehicle stops, the engine clicks off, unless you're running the air conditioning full blast. Then, as the signal turns green, you step on the accelerator and whoosh - you're once again on your way. Sounds like any other vehicle, and it is - except that it doesn't sound like any other vehicle, thanks to the absence of an idling engine. Add to that a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which saves fuel by eliminating traditional gear changes, and you get around 35 miles per gallon - according to the EPA.
For the front-wheel-drive Escape Hybrid, the EPA rates gas mileage at 36 city, 31 highway; the all-wheel-drive version comes in at 33 and 29, respectively. Compared to the regular Ford Escape XLT V6, which is rated at 20/25, this boosts fuel mileage a whopping 16 miles in the city - where the hybrid powertrain does most of its work - and 6 miles on the highway, where the four-cylinder engine takes over.
As far as the reduction of harmful emissions, here is what Ford claims: the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid creates "97 percent less hydrocarbon and oxides of nitrogen emissions than vehicles that meet today's nationwide Tier I emissions standard." The Escape Hybrid qualifies for the Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) classification, and according to Ford produces as little as half the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2).
In other words: there ain't no smoke coming out of the tailpipe.
An important aspect to achieving these reduced emissions is the "full" hybrid technology used in the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid, which means the vehicle can move solely on the grunt of electric power. There's no switch to flip or cord to use: when accelerating from a standstill, the electric system powers the vehicle forward until the four-cylinder kicks in - usually around 1,500 rpm. Unless you're paying attention, it's likely that you'd miss the changeover altogether. What you won't miss when driving the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid, however, is its seamless operation, smooth acceleration and quiet ride.
Look & FeelUnless you've got a jones for leafy badges, the exterior styling of the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid is a secondary reason for your purchase. From a distance, you will look like most any other SUV hog on the road.
Point is, the look of the Escape Hybrid is just like the regular Escape; pleasing to view, not weird or strange. It looks like what it is - a comfortable SUV that gets the job done and looks nice doing it. Minor changes include that leafy insignia, an air vent in the D-pillar on the driver's side of the vehicle, and 16-inch wheels with exposed lug nuts. There's also an appearance package, should you need the attention, which offers silver body-cladding and bright trim.
Design changes to the 2005 Ford Escape lineup include a new face with jeweled headlights, and an updated interior that improves on the Escape's reputation as a capable, comfortable SUV. Cloth material for the seats is standard, comfortable and has a feel of durability - there is also a leather option package available. The spare tire has been moved from the inside to the outside, under the floor. Differences between the regular Escape and the Escape Hybrid are few and mainly found in the instrument cluster. The hybrid model has gauges designed to report on the hybrid powertrain, and the optional navigation screen - a 4-inch liquid-crystal setup - includes a visual display of fuel use and the operating status of the system.
It makes you feel like Flash Gordon, too - an added bonus.
Closer to Earth, there is seating for five and a 60/40-split folding rear seat. The battery pack is under the rear load floor, and it barely reduces cargo room because it's thin. Ford's tape measures indicate that there is 27 cubic feet of available cargo space with five people in the car, which means that there is room for groceries, golf bags and the other things we need to stow in back.
DrivabilityListen carefully to what Ford says about performance, and you will quickly hear the whine of a smaller engine:
The powertrain provides 0-60 acceleration performance comparable to the 200-horsepower V6 engine in the conventional Escape.Ah. Yes.
The acceleration is, indeed, remarkable for a hybrid - and an SUV at that. Step on the gas when the light turns green and you barely notice the smooth hybrid-combustion exchange. But comparable is a big word - and it covers a lot of ground. Consider that the Escape Hybrid has combined power ratings of 155 horsepower and 124 lb. ft. of torque. Together with the electric-assist steering and the CVT, you get a creamy cakewalk of a ride.
That's nice, seeing as just about everybody likes cake. Most people also like it when they can get from one place to another in comfort, and at the least possible cost per trip. In that way, the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid delivers. When it comes to stop-and-go traffic, errand driving and suburb commuting, the Escape Hybrid saves money and serves as a capable and comfortable valet. But before you buy into the idea that the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid is as good a performer as a regular-strength and comparably-priced Escape with a V6 engine, consider the weight variance - over 300 lbs. - and combine it with a horsepower disadvantage of 45 and a towing inequity of around 2,500 lbs. The difference is noticeable when you travel up steep hills or need power under load. The vehicle pulls through just fine, but you can hear that little four-beater start to complain, even though the powertrain utilizes the electric motor to help with acceleration under load. The optional 4WD system is able to get you down a rutted dirt path, and maybe a bit more - but should not be confused as a full range 4WD system.
Altogether, the Ford Escape Hybrid is like a fat boy riding a pony. Probably should think twice about galloping up that hill, but a perfectly wonderful experience for around-the-town prancing.
Wrap-upIt may well be that the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid is the perfectly-designed SUV for real world uses - at least until the seven-passenger
Toyota Highlander Hybrid makes its way to our roads. But even as a five-man utility vehicle, the Escape Hybrid is a thoroughly capable SUV with a powertrain built for today's boulders: commuting, errands and other types of stop-and-go driving. Price, sadly, is another matter. At a realistic price of around $30,000, the Escape Hybrid may very well end up picking a fight with some bigger, and very different SUVs - think Pathfinder, Pilot, Pacifica and Durango. Boy, that hybrid powertrain better be worth the coin.
It is, if you're committed to more than saving a little at the pump. With the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid, you can forget aggressive off-roading, or towing something more than a rowboat thanks to a meager 1,000-lb. tow rating. And forget gunning it at the line. This is not that kind of SUV.
What the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid does, however, is give American car buyers a valid choice on the market. Finally, here is an SUV that saves gasoline, makes driving a more quiet, pleasurable experience and reduces emissions down to nearly zero. For the vast majority of Americans out there, those are benefits hard to pass up, and a choice they may very well be willing to make - finally - even if the sticker is a little higher than they'd like.
FAQs & SpecsShould I buy the Ford Escape Hybrid or wait for the
Toyota Highlander Hybrid?
Waiting for the Highlander is a feasible option, as it will have three-row seating and be the beneficiary of Toyota's complete Hybrid Synergy Drive setup. After driving the
Lexus RX 400h, it's clearly more refined and powerful than the previous Toyota hybrid drive system. Initial impressions, compared to the Escape Hybrid, were of an increase in torque and better performance overall.
What kind of gas mileage can I expect from the Ford Escape Hybrid?
It depends on the way you drive and the characteristics of your commute, but most people report that real-world hybrid gas mileage is not as good as the EPA's estimates. In this case, the government contends that you will get 36 mpg in the city, and 31 mpg on the highway for the front-wheel drive model. The all-wheel-drive version comes in at 33 and 29 mpg. We found our average fuel economy to be closer to around 28 miles, through a week of hard driving and some off-road exercises.
Other than fuel economy, why buy a hybrid?
To save a tree or two, and decrease the number of times you have to fill up. The powertrain is ideal for city driving and gridlock commuting - which is where most of its fuel savings occur.
Specifications
Test Vehicle: 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid
MSRP Price Range: $26,380 - $28,005
Engine Size and Type: 2.3-liter four-cylinder; Permanent Magnet Electric Motor Engine Horsepower: 155 combined
Engine Torque: 124 combined
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
EPA Fuel Economy (city/highway): FWD: 36 city / 31 hwy; 4WD: 33 city / 29 hwy
Warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles basic/powertrain/roadside
Competitors:
BMW X3 2.5i,
Chevrolet Equinox,
Honda CR-V,
Hyundai Santa Fe,
Hyundai Tucson,
Jeep Liberty,
Kia Sportage,
Kia Sorento, Land Rover Freelancer,
Mazda Tribute,
Mercury Mariner,
Mitsubishi Endeavor,
Mitsubishi Outlander,
Nissan Murano,
Nissan Xterra,
Pontiac Aztek,
Saturn VUE,
Subaru Forester,
Subaru Outback,
Suzuki XL-7,
Toyota 4Runner, Toyota Highlander, Toyota RAV4
Photos courtesy of Ford Motor Company
