Ford Escape Hybrid Extended Review

Handling and Performance

With a weight of 300 lbs the Ford Escape Hybrid’s handling is able to take-on sharp and lengthy bends. This enhances the maneuverability when considering other SUVs that are less size and by this it lessens the amount of agility while taking a turn or bend. Without stability control, and considering that the brakes are stubbornly rigid at certain times the car needs to be well-handled.

In terms of performance the Ford Escape Hybrid, equipped with an electric motor that pushes out 94hp and an I-4 fuel engine that produces 133hp results in a very powerful vehicle. Considering that Ford’s preference of engines in its Escape all-fuel models is the usual V6 motor which outputs 200hp the Ford Escape Hybrid can be relatively compared.

On the electric motor the SUV can attain speeds of around 39mph and 40mph could be achieved on the fuel engine – and ultimately the changeover between fuel and electric is a convenient feature incorporated on-the-go for when this feature is required while driving. The Ford Escape Hybrid accommodates a top speed of around 102mph, and thus the fuel engine kicks in once the temperature reaches under 50° F to better performance.

With an engine capacity of 2.3-liters the Ford Escape Hybrid and avoiding the predominant use of the Otto cycle method it runs basically on the immensely different Atkinson cycle – ultimately increasing efficiency and performance with less air and gasoline if need be.

Incorporated into the Ford Escape Hybrid is a feature called CVT, which stands for continuously variable transmission, however with a more complex electronic design and this regulates power-requirements between the various engines. This enables the engines to switch off in-turn to accommodate the use of the required motor only.


Environmental Impacts and Fuel Mileage

With the Ford Escape Hybrid as the most cost-efficient SUV boasted by Ford Motor, it would raise phenomenal interest from car buyers particular when keeping in mind the soaring prices of fuel. The idea Ford Motor introduced is a step ahead, proving that even for a car of its magnitude the Ford Escape Hybrid is an economic and dynamic vehicle.

This SUV’s front-drive model can attain a height of 30mpg in terms of fuel-efficiency. The four-wheel drive model produces 27mpg on highway driving and 29mpg in the cities.

The Ford Escape Hybrid has managed to meet the regulations placed by Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle, a Californian company – as well as the Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle – noting with this that the vehicle out-performs its hybrid rivalries. With an emission-rate of ninety-percent less, the tailpipe of the Ford Escape Hybrid also outperforms the new car and near zero evaporative vehicles.


Ford expects to develop a successor of the Ford Escape Hybrid, or at least a prototype for now that would use ethanol to undertake most of the vehicles performance. This creates way for future models of the fuel-efficient SUV with even better environmentally-friendly models.


Other Features

Looking at the Toyota Prius and Ford Escape Hybrid on a comparative scale there are much similarities, even though announced by either companies that they were strict not to intervene on each other’s patents respectively. This lead to an agreement by both companies – whereby patent-sharing was to be permitted within both parties, and this would be the eventual usability of Ford’s diesel and direct-injection features and Toyota’s fuel-efficiency methods in either vehicle.

The battery, developed by the Sanyo Electric Company along with Honda, consists of a two-hundred and fifty cell with nickel-metal hydride. The battery pack supplied with every Ford Escape Hybrid weighs around 50kg.

The safety features include anti-lock brakes, airbags located on the front seat’s sides and of course full-length curtain airbags. The airbag’s rollover sensors come standard and the Ford Escape Hybrid SUV incorporates the Personal Safety System with sensors that detect the neediness for airbag release. These sensors are intelligently placed on various criteria involving seat-positioning, safety-belts and crash intensity.

The Ford Escape Hybrid acquired a four out of five star rating in the NHTSA crash test on front-side impact. The rear of the vehicle along with the front-seats managed five out of five stars. Rated by the IIHS the vehicle maintained ‘good’ at side-impact crashes and ‘acceptable’ for the vehicle’s frontal.

The Ford Escape Hybrid can be purchased in two different models, the front-wheel drive – priced between $26500 and $27000 incorporating a $3000 tax claim, and the four-wheel drive at $28000 with a $2200 tax claim. Car buyers find this to be an interesting ratio especially considering your average conventional fuel cars.

Car buyers may review the warranties provided before purchasing to note that the Ford Escape Hybrid includes 3-year bumper-to-bumper coverage. This is also met by a mileage cover of 36000 miles and an incorporated warranty to the drive train of 60000 miles or five years. A five-year warranty is also implemented for corrosion safety apart from mileage.

Being one of Ford’s bestsellers, the Ford Escape Hybrid had been hugely produced in 2004 as opposed to originally-proposed figures. Even with rise of sales car slumps shortly after, the Ford Escape Hybrid maintained a sturdy seller on the market, making it one of the most admiringly anticipated SUVs.