2005 Ford Escape Hybrid Reviews
Ford's 2005 Escape Hybrid, the first hybrid SUV, drives off with a winning combo of power and good fuel economy, but be prepared to pay a premium.
The 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid was the first gas-electric sport utility vehicle to hit the streets, and after spending some time in the driver's seat, we're happy to say it's worth the wait. With a base price of $27,400 for the front-wheel-drive model and $29,025 for four-wheel drive, the Escape Hybrid represents a $5,400 premium over the V-6 Escape and costs about $7,000 more than the Prius and Civic hybrids.
Under the hood, the Ford Escape Hybrid is anything but conventional. For most stop-and-go driving, the Escape taps into the 94-horsepower electric motor powered by a 330-volt battery pack under the cargo bed for power. With a larger electric motor than the Toyota Prius, the Escape remains in electric mode longer, and its gas engine shuts down at every stop. Unlike the Prius's undetectable transition to gas power, there's a slight nudge when the Escape's gas engine hooks up. The Escape's continuously variable transmission always has the right gear ratio for fuel economy and acceleration, and the gas engine and the regenerative braking system charge the battery while you drive.
The all-wheel-drive Escape is one of the fastest hybrids on the road today, with the ability to accelerate to 60mph in just 8.5 seconds. The Escape's navigation screen is integrated into the sound system, which simplifies its use, but the 3.8-inch screen is tiny compared to the 7-inch screen used on the Honda Accord Hybrid. Safety-wise, the Escape Hybrid has front, as well as optional side and canopy air bags, and achieves four- and five-star crash test ratings.
We’re poised to give the Escape Hybrid a good workout. What is a hybrid, anyway? Hybrids are really nothing new, although automotive applications are. It’s just a vehicle with two power systems working together, like a diesel locomotive. The railroad engines we see every day are just great big electric generators powered by big diesel engines. Electric motors move the wheels.
The diesel engine just generates electricity. The" Ford Escape Hybrid" has a relatively small gasoline engine supplemented by an electric motor and a big battery. Essentially the electric motor has two jobs. Both the engine’s alternator and the regenerative braking system keep the 330-watt battery under the rear cargo area charged.
The engine idles nicely and runs conventionally until warmed up. Once up to temperature the engine just shuts itself off when we bring the Escape to a stop. Loaded and on the highway the Escape feels sturdy and stable. With front wheel drive and good ground clearance the 4-wheel drive option is superfluous under most driving conditions. The net result is that the Escape Hybrid gets better fuel mileage in city driving than on the highway.
With both sides of the rear seat down 62.5 cubic-feet of cargo space opens up. Fuel mileage is about 30% better. "The Ford Escape is the first hybrid sport-utility vehicle for mass consumption. GM will soon be selling trucks with a hybrid power system".
With its clever Escape Hybrid SUV, Ford Motor Company minimized a popular complaint—that contemporary sport-utility vehicles are hopelessly fuel-inefficient and thus symbolic of the biggest challenge facing internal combustion technology. The Escape Hybrid offers front-wheel drive or automatic intelligent four-wheel drive, along with impressive 31/36 city/highway fuel economy. There's also a 94-hp generator electric traction motor, which provides additional boost to the drive wheels under hard acceleration, an electro-hydraulic brake-by-wire system and even electric power steering. The hybrid system adds about 375 pounds to the overall vehicle weight.
The Escape Hybrid qualifies for the Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) standard.
