Ford may not have been first to market with a fuel-efficient hybrid vehicle, but it was first with a full-hybrid SUV. The 2005 Escape Hybrid—also the first full hybrid offering four-wheel drive—was named North American Truck of the year by a impartial jury of journalists at Detroit's 2005 North American International Auto Show.
Hybrid Powertrain
The highly-praised Escape Hybrid compact SUV is a “full” hybrid, meaning it can run on its electric motor only below 25 mph, its gasoline engine only at higher speeds, or the most efficient combination of both, as determined by its sophisticated hybrid system controller. Because it is most efficient at low speeds and in stop-and-go driving, the standard FWD Hybrid rates an impressive 36 EPA city mpg vs. 20 mpg for the V-6 Escape. Ford says it can deliver as much as 50 percent better fuel economy under those conditions, as well as 400-500 miles of range from a tank of gas. Also extremely clean, it meets Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (SULEV II) and in California and states adopting California standards it meets Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) standards.
This remarkable full-hybrid powertrain is a happy marriage of six key components:
- An efficient 133-hp 2.3-liter Atkinson cycle I-4 engine
- A 70-kilowatt electric motor
- An electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (eCVT) that receives power from the engine and electric motor and routes it to the drive wheels
- A second motor/generator for starting the engine, recharging the batteries and helping to seamlessly blend the two power sources
- A 330-volt nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH) battery pack
- An electronic vehicle controller that monitors system inputs, conditions and demands and manages all vehicle drive, engine starting and battery charging functions
Though not identical, this system is similar enough to Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive system that Ford chose to pay royalty rights on elements of it, most notably the transmission, which is sourced from the same Japanese supplier. It provides a total peak output of 155 hp and 0-60 mph acceleration equivalent to that of the 200-hp Escape V-6, mostly because the electric motor supplements the gas engine with an instantaneous torque boost at low rpm.
Inside and Out
The Escape Hybrid looks like the gas-powered models…a good thing, since Escape is America's best-selling compact SUV. Sharp eyes will notice its (Ford environmental) road and leaf badges and a discreet battery-cooling vent in the driver's-side rear quarter window.
Inside is a unique gauge package that includes an economy indicator with a “green zone” that shows when the vehicle is operating on battery power. A separate display shows charge level and assist for the battery pack. The optional navigation system brings with it a premium Audiophile stereo, an energy flow diagram that displays hybrid system operation and a fuel economy display of instant and average mpg.
As in all ‘06 Escapes, there's seating for five with a 60/40 split rear seat and over 62 cu. ft. of cargo capacity with the rear seatbacks folded flat. Because the sizeable battery pack is efficiently packaged as the rear load floor, cargo space behind the rear bench is a respectable 27.6 cu. ft., only 1.7 cu. ft. less than standard Escapes.
Driving Impressions
If you've driven the other Escape, you won't notice much difference during normal driving. You will note that the engine shuts down on deceleration, stays down at rest, then restarts when you lift off the brake, and that the eCVT transmission seeks the engine's most efficient speed, which pushes rpm ahead of vehicle speed during hard acceleration and sometimes uphill. The controller switches the drive motor to generator duty for battery charging during braking (“regenerative” braking), and you won't feel much braking effect from the (shut down) engine while coasting.
Acceleration is about as strong as the V-6, at least to 50 mph or so. The electric power steering provides light effort at parking speeds and crisp feel and response as speeds increase. Except for the (barely noticeable) extra weight, which amounts to slightly more than 300 lbs. over a comparably equipped V-6 Escape, handling is agile for a small SUV and little different from non-hybrid Escapes. Braking is normal except for some (hybrid-typical) low-speed non-linearity as regen braking phases in and out. The optional “intelligent” 4WD is completely transparent until you need it, whenever the front wheels lose traction.
Features and Options
For 2006, Ford's Hybrid Escape gets one new color (Black Clearcoat Metallic) and a new optional Premium Package that combines several luxury and appearance options into one. Available in five monochromatic exterior colors, this package offers leather-trimmed seats and steering wheel, heated front seats, heated side view mirrors, Reverse Sensing System, a hybrid energy display and navigation system, a cargo area retractable cover, rear floor mats and a handy 110-volt outlet.
Standard equipment includes 16-inch aluminum wheels, 4-wheel ABS, air conditioning, power windows and locks, 6-way power driver's seat, steering wheel mounted speed control, front fog lamps, AM/FM/6-Disc in-dash CD player, center console with two cup holders and storage bin, dual vanity mirrors, cargo floor hooks and passive anti-theft system. Options, in addition to 4WD and the new Premium Package, significant options include a highly recommended Safety Package (Ford's patented Safety Canopy system with side air curtains and a rollover sensor and front side air bags), a moonroof and a retractable cargo cover.
At about $29,000, Ford's 4WD Escape Hybrid is roughly $3,300 more expensive than a V-6 4WD Escape XLT Sport, based on Kelley Blue Book New Car Blue Book Price, but nearly $6,000 less than Toyota's Highlander Hybrid SUV. This sophisticated hardware and technology remains expensive, for both the automaker and the buyer, and the price difference will take many years, even at current high gas prices, to recover in fuel cost savings alone. But it will do everything the gas-powered model will do about as well—except match the V-6's available 3,500-lb. towing capacity. And it will make you feel good about your small, personal contribution to environmental responsibility, and especially good each time you pass a gas pump.
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