2005 Ford Escape Hybrid AWD 4dr SUV (2.3L 4cyl CVT)
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company Part number: 100407984
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Bottom Line:
- 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.
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CNET editors' review
2005 Ford Escape Hybrid AWD 4dr SUV (2.3L 4cyl CVT) price range: $29,070.00
- Reviewed by: Brian Nadel
- Edited by: Lindsey Turrentine
- Reviewed on: 05/11/2005
The good: Smooth, quick acceleration; solid gas mileage; 110-volt AC outlet option; excellent visibility.
The bad: Expensive; small navigation screen; low-quality stereo; no digital radio or DVD options; loud.
The bottom line: 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.
Under the hood, the Ford Escape Hybrid is anything but conventional. The 2.3-liter Atkinson cycle engine churns out 133 horsepower, boosted to 155 horsepower when coupled with the electric motor. The key difference between Atkinson engines and the Otto engines that power the majority of cars on the road is that the Atkinson uses a modified crankshaft to trade some power and torque for improved fuel economy and lowered pollution. 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. The electric motor consistently fires up at about 30mph and can be gently persuaded to about 45mph before making the electric-to-gas transition. Whenever you start driving uphill or stomp on the accelerator, both power trains kick into gear for lively acceleration. 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. As is the case with the Prius, the Escape has an addictive screen in the middle of the dashboard that shows the power flow as you drive but adds a first-rate fuel economy screen that combines an average for the past 15 minutes with an instantaneous gas mileage bar gauge.
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. That's hardly sports car territory, but it's several seconds faster than the Prius or the Honda Civic hybrid (10.3 seconds and 12.1 seconds, respectively) and is on a par with a V-6-powered Escape. Plus, the Escape hybrid can go from 30mph to 50mph in just 3.5 seconds--plenty of midrange torque for freeway on-ramps. However, it's not entirely a smooth ride. The truck registers an annoying 75dBA (decibels adjusted) at 60mph to make for a bit of a noisy drive that's on a par with the Honda Accord Hybrid but much noisier than either the Prius or Civic Hybrid. The MacPherson front strut suspension and a multilink trailing-arm rear suspension hug the road, but the suspension is also stiff enough for plowing over dirt roads. On the downside, the four-wheel disc brakes aren't up to the competition, taking 163 feet to stop from 60mph, nearly 30 feet longer than the Honda Civic Hybrid. Also, the drive-by-wire system leaves the brake pedal feeling stiff and lacking tactile feedback. That said, the Escape weighs 1,000 pounds more than its sedan cousins, so there's more car to stop, and its range is on target with that of other smaller SUVs. We were able to get 30.4 miles out of each gallon--good enough for a 450-mile trip before requiring a fill-up.
On the outside, the Escape has the aerodynamics of a brick on wheels, especially compared to the Prius's sleek shape. But remember, the Ford Escape Hybrid is an SUV at heart and, thus, offers several advantages. The truck sits high and offers excellent visibility with a commanding view of the road. For those who might feel claustrophobic in the Prius or the Civic, the Escape boasts a spacious interior to seat five adults comfortably, and there's plenty of space for hauling gear such as two-by-fours and bicycles, particularly when the rear seats are folded down (60/40 split). Plus, it can tow a half-ton trailer.
All controls are within easy reach of the driver, but the surfaces have a cheap, plastic feel, and the switches, particularly those for the hazard lights and radio/GPS navigation screen, are stiff, often requiring several tries. The steering wheel has buttons for cruise control but no one-touch access to the stereo or other electronics. Also, the three climate-control dials are crude, the air conditioning wanes when the gas engine shuts down, and using max AC keeps the gasoline engine running. On the other hand, we love the power outlet below the climate controls that pumps out 150 watts, turning the Escape into a power generator for camping trips, parties, or blackouts.
In addition to the AC outlet, our option package included side and canopy air bags, body cladding, a radio/CD/GPS combo, and leather seats. 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. The predictive text entry and the four-way joystick make destination input surprisingly easy. The GPS technology can pinpoint your present location but lacks an emergency screen that shows the closest public safety services--a feature found on the Prius. You can find the nearest Ford dealer in this system, but you'll have to wade through the lengthy points-of-interest database that includes casinos, parks, and dozens of other categories. The navigation system can generate driving directions in seconds and will create routes based on quickest distance and whether you want to use toll roads or freeways, but it lacks the ability to provide a 3D bird's-eye view of the road. Voice directions are read by a pleasant woman's voice who occasionally adds a polite please.
Though our test Escape comes with Ford's Audiophile seven-speaker sound system that has a six-CD changer under the passenger's seat, the audio has a harsh, tinny quality and lacks the richness that comes with strong midrange tones. Unfortunately, the only way to get satellite radio is to order the $565 Mach CD player, but it precludes getting the mapping screen. More to the point, the Escape lacks an emergency communications system such as OnStar, it has no DVD player, and you can't plug your MP3 player directly into the system.
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. It's covered by a three-year/36,000-mile general warranty augmented with eight years or 100,000 miles of coverage for the hybrid parts. Ford includes three years of roadside assistance, even if you run out of gas. The Escape Hybrid's Web site has loads of pages on the ins and outs of hybrid technology as well as a link to arrange a test-drive, but it lacks an interactive maintenance application such as those found on Honda and Toyota's Web sites. Ford runs a toll-free hotline for problems, and a technician was immediately available on the line and correctly answered our query.
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0 to 60mph acceleration | |
30mph to 50mph lane-pass test | |
Braking distance | |
Noise | |
Fuel economy |
Performance tests
To gauge how well the car performs in real-world situations, we put it through a battery of instrumented tests that simulate actual road maneuvers. With an Escort GT2 Vehicle Performance Computer monitoring the action, we start from a level stopped position, calibrate the device before each run, repeat each test at least three times, and average the results.
0 to 60mph
From a dead stop, we smoothly press on the accelerator to the floor as we lift off of the brake pedal to accelerate as quickly as possible. While moving, we take note as to whether the car veers right or left or loses traction.
30mph to 50mph lane pass
To simulate the car's ability to accelerate at speed, we time how long it takes to go from 30mph to 50mph.
Braking
From a steady speed of at least 65mph, we firmly press on the brake pedal to slow the car down to a complete halt while noting if the car veers either way, the level of ABS shutter, and if there is any fading. The computer starts recording the braking distance at 60mph.
Fuel economy
Starting with a full tank of 87 octane or greater fuel, we drive on a variety of roads for at least 350 miles and compute the vehicle's gas mileage based on what's consumed and the odometer reading. While duplicating the driving route and conditions is impossible, we strive for a real-world mix of city (frequent stop and go), suburban (midrange speeds with occasional stops), and rural driving (steady highway speeds).
Noise
Driving at a steady speed of 60mph, we set a RadioShack sound-level meter on the passenger seat. We record an average the measurement over a 15-second period.
User reviews
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Great multi-purpose vehicle, good fuel economy with little sacrifice in use or performance.
by soopah on June 30, 2005
Pros: Fuel economy is good, though variable (I get 7.3 l/100 km and my wife gets around 9.0 l/100 km), nice look, comfortable ride, a reduced guilt SUV :-)
Cons: A little less than luxurious in terms of build quality, this is still a Ford and some squeaks and rattles are annoying but expected.
Summary: If you must have an SUV then this is a good choice. Competitors coming up now are the Lexus RX400h and the Toyota Highlander Hybrid, though these are more expensive ...
Summary: If you must have an SUV then this is a good choice. Competitors coming up now are the Lexus RX400h and the Toyota Highlander Hybrid, though these are more expensive than the Escape Hybrid. I really like this vehicle and love the way the hybrid system makes me a more efficient driver by making me anticipate when to accelerate and brake in a more smooth manner. This would help to reduce gas consumption in any vehicle, but the Escape Hybrid encourages you to improve your fuel economy while driving because, heck, that's why you buy the thing in the first place. It helps you drive more efficiently by showing your average fuel economy. It is fun to see "how low can you go." My wife and I have a little one on the way and this will be our family vehicle, car seats, baby bag, stroller, and all the stuff it seems you need to take a baby on the road these days. I believe the Ford Escape Hybrid will work out well for us for many years to come. No, I'm not worried about the battery life. It has an eight year warranty, and in eight years the batteries will not be as expensive as they are today. There is a Prius taxi here in Vancouver that ran for many many km (>200,000 km?) and is still in use today as that taxi driver's personal vehicle. I'm also looking forward to making this a plug-in hybrid with a bigger battery, but probably not for a few years.
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Impressive
by robbi on May 14, 2005
Pros: SUV and saving the environment!!
Cons: Gas milage not quite as good as I thought
Summary: Just bought my Hybrid this week and LOVE IT.
I was driving a Jaguar before and couldn't stand putting in premium gas 3 times a week.
The Escape is ...Summary: Just bought my Hybrid this week and LOVE IT.
I was driving a Jaguar before and couldn't stand putting in premium gas 3 times a week.
The Escape is solid, classy and yet sporty.
I feel incredibly safe in it. It also has great pick up..no problem passing vehicles when I need to.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great vehicle with little to lose
by trmptr4484 on January 17, 2006
Pros: Fuel Economy (I'm at 28+ mpg), Good cargo space, good ride, gerat handling
Cons: Stock audio system, no place to hold rear headrests when seats are folded down
Summary: I just got my Escape hybrid about 2 weeks ago. I replaced a Ford Focus with it. In terms of handling, road noise, and ride quality it is very similar ...
Summary: I just got my Escape hybrid about 2 weeks ago. I replaced a Ford Focus with it. In terms of handling, road noise, and ride quality it is very similar to my focus. In fact it seems a little quiter on the road than my focus did. The fuel economy is great, I'm currently getting over 28 MPG with a mix of city, country roads and highway. I drive about 300-400 miles a week so the economy is great. In comparison I averaged about 27MPG in my Focus, so the fuel economy has impressed me greatly.
True it is a little pricey, but compare it to the Escape XLT (V6) with all the options the Hybrid includes. There's about a $2700 price difference. May seem like a lot, but with the new Energy Bill that was passed about Septmember 2005 the first 60,000 Escape hybrids sold will receive a tax credit of about $2500, so that makes up the difference pretty fast.
The only downsides is the stock audio is not the best. Also unlike the Excursion there isn't a place to put the headreasts when you lower the rear seats.
Beyond that its a great vehicle and I would recommend it to anyone who wants the cargo capacity of a small SUV with the economy of a small car.
Hope this helps,
Ben
www.benjaminjperthel.comUpdated
I just got my Escape hybrid about 2 weeks ago. I replaced a Ford Focus with it. In terms of handling, road noise, and ride quality it is very similar to my focus. In fact it seems a little quiter on the road than my focus did. The fuel economy is great, I'm currently getting over 28 MPG with a mix of city, country roads and highway. I drive about 300-400 miles a week so the economy is great. In comparison I averaged about 27MPG in my Focus, so the fuel economy has impressed me greatly.
True it is a little pricey, but compare it to the Escape XLT (V6) with all the options the Hybrid includes. There's about a $2700 price difference. May seem like a lot, but with the new Energy Bill that was passed about Septmember 2005 the first 60,000 Escape hybrids sold will receive a tax credit of about $2500, so that makes up the difference pretty fast.
The only downsides is the stock audio is not the best. Also unlike the Excursion there isn't a place to put the headreasts when you lower the rear seats.
Beyond that its a great vehicle and I would recommend it to anyone who wants the cargo capacity of a small SUV with the economy of a small car.
Hope this helps,
Ben
www.benjaminjperthel.com1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Breaks failed 7 times and ford can't tell me why
by Ihatemyford on December 28, 2007
Pros: Nice vehicle when it works
Cons: In the shop 11 times in 8 months
Summary: The escape hybrid is a nice vehicle. Unfortunately, my car has spent too much time in the shop. After owning it for 4 days, the breaks failed and it spent ...
Summary: The escape hybrid is a nice vehicle. Unfortunately, my car has spent too much time in the shop. After owning it for 4 days, the breaks failed and it spent a week in the shop. The car ran fine until about 20 months later when the breaks failed twice on me. They then failed 4 times for the mechanics. Ford can't tell me if they are fixed or not. Their customer service is the worst I have ever dealt with.
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Great vehicle!
by gpman22172 on August 18, 2006
Pros: Good gas mileage
Cons: Little noisy on the highway
Summary: The SUV is well worth the purchase if you love SUV's but hate the cost of gas. I get 33 to 36mpg everytime I fill the tank and have ...
Summary: The SUV is well worth the purchase if you love SUV's but hate the cost of gas. I get 33 to 36mpg everytime I fill the tank and have owned it for a year now. If you drive with a heavy foot, then the gas mileage is lower but if you use smarter driving habits it really pays off. No complaints here!
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The shape of things to come
by bendmac on March 12, 2006
Pros: Excellent handling; good mileage (and getting better); safety features/overall rating, all wheel drive; latest technology; lots of interior space
Cons: "Out the door" price; middle of the road seat quality (materials and comfort)
Summary: If you are considering the Ford Escape Hybrid (FEH), you must compare "apples to apples". The FEH is NOT a car and shouldn't be compared to other economy cars......
Summary: If you are considering the Ford Escape Hybrid (FEH), you must compare "apples to apples". The FEH is NOT a car and shouldn't be compared to other economy cars...certainly not a Prius, Honda Hybrid or other conventional gas-only vehicles. Those vehicles are a better fit for longer, higher speed travels; the FEH does well in city driving, where its technology can be taken advantage of. It is an SUV and as such, should be compared to other SUVs. It doesn't shine quite as much in highway driving, but it does do better than gas-only Escapes, and certainly has V-6 performance. Also consider that you may have to "unlearn" some old driving habits, and learn some new ones...not difficult ones, but with some of the tips I've gotten from various hybrid sites and other FEH owners, I'm already meeting (and often exceeding) the city/highway EPA mileage ratings...and I only have 1500 miles on my '06 FEH AWD. Overall, I'm enjoying my FEH very much and intend on keeping it for quite some time. Shop around, compare, take test drives...the FEH might not fit everyone's needs, but it does fill a niche for a lot of drivers.
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Great all around vehicle. Fun to drive no guilt!
by whberry3 on February 13, 2006
Pros: Good mileage. practical, room for 4 full size adults.
Cons: No control of hybrid system.
Summary: This is a great vehicle!
Also own Denali, Pacifica, Canyon, Grand Prix, this is the preferred vehical for everyone in family.Summary: This is a great vehicle!
Also own Denali, Pacifica, Canyon, Grand Prix, this is the preferred vehical for everyone in family. -
After owning one for 7 months, EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED!!!!
by KeithRich on May 28, 2005
Pros: Good ride and good warranty.
Cons: LOUSY GAS MILEAGE
Summary: Having put over 7,000 miles both cross country and city driving, we got the best average of 30 MPG in the mountains of Wyoming and Colorado. City driving is ...
Summary: Having put over 7,000 miles both cross country and city driving, we got the best average of 30 MPG in the mountains of Wyoming and Colorado. City driving is a miserable 27.2 MPG over 3200 miles. I gave up a 97 Taurus that got 30 city/31 hiway. We had to pay $36K for this and I wish there were a lemon law!!!
4 out of 10 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
- Part number: 100407984
- Bottom Line: 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.
Basic car properties
- Body style SUV
- Trim levels HEV
- Available Engine Hybrid with CVT
Safety Features
- Smart airbags Standard
- Antilock brakes Standard
- Traction control Not available
- Stability control Not available
- Back-up cameras Not available
- Heads-up display Not available
- Collision avoidance Not available
- Steerable headlights Not available
- Roadside assistance Standard
- Adaptive cruise control Standard
- Rain-sensitive wipers Not available
- Lane departure warning Not available
Entertainment
- 5 channel audio Not available
- HD radio Not available
- Satellite radio Not available
- Satellite video Not available
- Video entertainment system Not available
- Multizone entertainment Not available
- Connection for portable MP3 sound system Not available
- MP3 CD-enabled sound system Not available
- Media hard-disk MP3 sound system Not available
- Active noise cancelling Not available
- DIN-compatible bays Not available
- Memory card slot Not available
- USB connection Not available
Climate/convenience
- Multizone climate control Not available
- Smart (set-and-forget) climate control Not available
- Heated/cooled seats Standard
- Integrated interface (iDrive, for example) Not available
- Keyless entry Standard
- Keyless start Standard
- Remote start Not available
- Two-way security system Standard
- 120V power outlet Not available
- 12V power outlet Standard
Drivetrain Technology
- Drivetrain available all-wheel drive
- All-wheel steering Optional
- Steer by wire Not available
- Brake by wire Standard
- Drive by wire Standard
- Active suspension Not available
- Electronically controlled suspension Not available
Navigation
- GPS Navigation system - DVD data Not available
- Trip computer Standard
- Live traffic data Not available
- Touchscreen navigation Not available
- Voice activated navigation Not available
- DVD navigation system (non-GPS) Not available
Communication
- Bluetooth phone interface Not available
- Wi-Fi Not available
- Internet access - cellular Not available
- Internet access - satellite Not available
- OnStar or other roadside assistance system Not available
- Vehicle Web support Not available
- Home automation integration Not available
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