Make Your Desktop Pocket-Sized
Entered CNET Catalog: 02/03/2006
SKU: 100531498
Manufacturer: Ford Motor
Product summary
The good: The 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid is a full hybrid, with a combination of computer-controlled systems optimizing efficiency and a sealed high-voltage battery allowing electric-only operation.
The bad: The 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid's list of interior electronics options is short, and what is present isn't up to snuff. The efficiency gain doesn't make up for the compromised performance and solidity, especially with the price premium.
The bottom line: The 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid still feels unfinished. Despite a commendably advanced power train, the rest of the vehicle disappoints, and the overall ownership experience won't be salvaged by a few extra miles per gallon.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 02/09/2006
With two electric motors complementing the optimized Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder gasoline engine, as well as an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission to sort out the drive mode and ratio through a set of planetary gears, the 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid needs serious computing. Seven separate microprocessor modules make up Ford's vehicle system controller, which oversees it all.
The result is a seamless, sometimes silent driving experience, but it's not all that different from a conventional drivetrain if one isn't paying attention. The efficiency gains over the gas-only Ford Escape are noticeable, as well as the performance losses, and the extra weight of the hybrid systems is felt in terms of speed, agility, and some unexpected creaks from the rear of the car.
Ford's navigation system, which also includes an energy-flow display, is the only notable tech option in the 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid. It continues to be a disappointment, as in other Fords we've seen, and in fact makes the audio experience substantially worse by monopolizing the in-dash CD slot, as well as precluding the option of satellite radio.
Commanding a serious premium over a comparable gas-powered Ford Escape, our front-wheel-drive 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid came in at $31,080. At this list price, the Escape Hybrid runs into a lot of competition, and the novelty and reduced consumption for its size may not be enough to make it a winner.
The 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid doesn't hide all of its tech in the hybrid drive system but comes closer than we'd like. Ford offers a navigation system as the only real interior electronics option, audio upgrades notwithstanding, and even this modest offering isn't executed very well.The navigation system's 4-inch screen is really too small for this application, a complaint we've noted previously on Ford vehicles, including the Jaguar XKR. Combine that with the always-troublesome joystick-button combination for making selections, and you have a recipe for squinting frustration.
The basic features of the 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid's navigation system work well enough, with GPS acquisition happening quickly and most route calculations taking just seconds. View options are limited to zooming in and out, and we wished for zoom levels between those offered, as getting an idea of one's surroundings using the map was made harder by the small screen. Dedicated buttons for home and current location were welcome touches, but finding mapped landmarks and services required a fair of amount of menu diving.
At our 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid's $30,000-plus as-tested price, we expected better materials inside. The standard cloth interior (leather seating surfaces are optional) was satisfactory, but the rest of the cabin seemed relatively cheap. The rear seat does split 60/40 for some cargo versatility, and total storage capacity is unchanged compared with that of the regular Escape, thanks to the placement of the 330-volt, nickel-metal-hydride sealed-battery pack under the load floor.
Our test car's navigation-system option package ($1,995) also included the Audiophile audio system, which left us cold for a number of reasons. Most important, few audiophiles would be impressed with the sound, which is average at best and uses only four speakers. The two front speakers are in the doors, which is not exactly the optimal placement.
Also due to the navigation system's use of the in-dash CD slot, the six-CD magazine for audio CDs in the 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid is under the passenger seat, a seemingly unnecessary concession. Worse, Ford requires the driver to change the navigation disc depending on location--CDs covering the United States are in the glove box. Leaving a magazine full of the navigation discs under the seat and using the in-dash slot for music would make much more sense. The package does allow for monitoring the drive mode and the energy flow, as well as both current and average fuel consumption.
The 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid comes with a separate seven-speaker, 320-watt audio package available with a six-CD in-dash changer but only without the navigation system. This package also allows satellite radio, which is unavailable with the navigation option. No Bluetooth integration is offered, nor is an auxiliary audio input for portable music players.
On the road, the 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid's drive system requires no special operation and is mostly transparent to the driver. With moderate pressure on the drive-by-wire throttle, the gasoline engine remains off until the vehicle reaches about 20mph, at which point it kicks in to augment the electric motor in hybrid mode for further acceleration.Off the line, the 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid feels fast enough for a vehicle of its size, although it's doubtful that initial acceleration is directly comparable to that of the V-6 Escape, as Ford advertises. Part of this is due to the throttle itself; there's a noticeable beat before pedal pressure translates into forward motion. Under heavier acceleration with the gas engine active, engine noise can seem intrusive, as the CVT holds the engine revving at about 4,000rpm until the driver backs off. The Atkinson-cycle modification to Ford's in-line four-cylinder engine trades power and torque for efficiency by keeping the intake valves open slightly into the compression stroke, allowing some of the fuel-air mixture back into the intake manifold and thereby lowering the effective displacement of the engine.
Compared with those of the regular front-wheel-drive Escape's four-cylinder gasoline engine, the 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid's fuel economy ratings are substantially improved. The regular Escape is EPA rated at 22mpg in the city and 25mpg on the highway, while the Escape Hybrid gets 36mpg and 31mpg, respectively. However, we observed in our real-world experience that the Hybrid averaged just more than 27mpg in combined driving.
Keeping an eye on the 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid's fuel-efficiency readout can be entertaining, trying to maximize mileage with judicious throttle use to stay all-electric as long as possible. On downhill stretches, we sometimes saw 30mph before the gasoline engine switched on. One downside to the silence of low-speed driving is the magnification of various squeaks and creaks from the rear of the vehicle. Some of these are merely the operation of the complex drive systems, but others sound more like the groans of an independent rear suspension carrying a few hundred more pounds than it was originally designed for. Our particular car also had a rear-brake squeak, furthering the overall impression of low build quality.
Ambient interior noise as measured at a constant 60mph was between 70dB and 75dB, depending entirely on the road surface, since at this speed, the 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid is in hybrid-drive mode and the engine is quietly turning at just more than 2,000rpm.
The 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid offers standard front dual-stage driver and single-stage passenger air bags, with a passenger-sensing system. Four-wheel antilock brakes are also standard, as are three-point belts for all five seating positions, with height-adjustable front seat belts.Our test car came equipped with the $595 Safety Package, which consists of rollover-sensing side air curtains and front side-impact air bags. The usual antitheft perimeter alarm is standard as expected.
Ford's standard warranty applies to the 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid, good for three years/36,000 miles. According to Ford's Web site, the Escape Hybrid's battery pack is warranted for at least eight years/100,000 miles.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11out of 11 user reviews
Pretty Good, But not Great
Pros: 4WD, Gas Mileage
Cons: Transmission, Noise, Ride, Sound System
out of 11 user reviews
Another great car from Ford!
Pros: Great mileage, headroom, legroom, and handling.
Cons: 4WD should not be all-time 4WD to increase mileage.
out of 11 user reviews
OMG! WHAT A HORID CAR!!
Pros: ITS HARD TO THINK OF 1 BUT I LIKE THE LEATHER INTERRIOR
Cons: POOR MILAGE, OURS FAILS EVERY MONTH. WE HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES SINCE JULY 8TH 06. POOR PICK UP SPEED.
out of 11 user reviews
Would give it a ten but the one I wanted was sold out!
Pros: Milege, space, everything.
Cons: limited supply
out of 11 user reviews
After one year, still excellent for the money
Pros: Gas savings, comfort, navigation, versatility, quietness, overall size
Cons: AC a little weak at first in 110+ Vegas heat, would like an adjustable lumbar option
My husband is 6'4", 280#, and has a bad back. He loves this car and drives it everyday.
I've driven most of the hybrids. Sure, the Highlander has more gadgets, is faster, and has a bit better fit and finish, but it does not get 34mpg. In 05, Highlander was going for $47k w/o nav or 4WD. Still, the Escape is a better value and I would buy it again. If you want a great hybrid sedan, buy a Prius. Mileagewise, there is no comparison.
out of 11 user reviews
Great SUV, remember it's a SUV
Pros: Room of a SUV with mpg of a car
Cons: Limited electronics options
I drove Escapes middle brother, the Explorer for 4 years, so have a great comparison of this hybrid to another SUV. As far as handling, it is just as good, if not a little quicker on the turns since it's a little lighter. The brakes are spongy. Believe me they do stop (after being cut off twice on the freeway this weekend.) They just feel a lot softer than what I'm used to. The noise is actually less than the Explorer. I'm coming to find out that Hybrids in general are quieter cars. So, if you were not used to the noise level of a hybrid, you would find this an acceptible db.
Although I wanted the Navigation system, I wasn't able to get it -- these cars are in great demand. However, I have to say, Ford did a great job of keeping you informed without spending extra money. There is a battery state window that lets you know when the battery is charging vs. dischargin. Using this I learned the right pressure on the brakes to charge the battery the most. The tachometer has an 'EV' region below 0 that lets you know when the electric engine is running solo. Using this, I saw that I was able to get up to and maintain 30mph only on electric (better than Ford promises.) Lastly, the information center gives some great data. First, it tells you the average mpg up to that point. I saw this go from 23mpg when I picked up the car to 30.6mpg in three days -- already almost 10mpg better than the Explorer, and that was mostly highway driving. The info center also lets you know how many miles to empty, and automatically senses when you fill the tank. It also has an instant fuel economy in a bar graph, as well as tells you when the next oil change is due, and the status of many systems.
I don't need fancy graphics in my car when driving. I like, however, pertinent facts like when I may need to fill up for gas, and the savings I'm getting with the Hybrid.
Yes the hybrid costs more than its sibling, it is newer technology that is still not mainstreem. However, you get the satisfaction of saving money at the pump, saving a limited resource (gas products) and not polluting our air more than others do.
I appreciate the fact that Ford has created a bare bones SUV Hybrid for those of us who really need and want the space but don't want to pay $33,000+ for it.
out of 11 user reviews
This is an amazing car for all. Ford has broken through!
Pros: Now I can drive around the neighborhood on battery power and four wheel drive on rough terrains. Complete system check whenever I want and very low emmisions. Easy to drive and plenty of room.
Cons: Can not manually change to four wheel drive and no CD storage space. Battery takes short time to charge but still very good.
out of 11 user reviews
Ok for round the city & also ok for long trip's,especially if stuck in traffic,except a/c dies
Pros: Great mileage in hot slow traffic or if everyone did the speed limit on back roads
Cons: Drop in mileage during cold months or when using defrosters or high ac setting
out of 11 user reviews
Great vehicle and it's American
Pros: Good MPG, good in the snow, good interior fit and finish
Cons: High ineterior noise
out of 11 user reviews
Solid vehicle , good performance
Pros: Not Available
Cons: Not Available
out of 11 user reviews
Middling performer, is it any wonder Ford is going under?
Pros: Not huge SUV = mediocre gas mileage
Cons: Cheap interior, lousy AWD, small interior space
As for the rest, in fair weather it handles very much like a truck with solid body lean and lots of interior noise at highway speeds. The interior materials are worse than I've seen on $12K econocars (albeit Japanese ones) in terms of poor fit, texture and usability. The engine is sadly overmatched by the weight of the heavy lug and the "All Wheel Drive" doesn't help matters.
I guess you could live with all the issues above if it were cheap - but it's not. For the same money I'd suggest checking out the Hyundai SUV's, Toyota RAV4 / Highlander or even the BMW X3 for a few grand extra - all of which come with real four-wheel drive and much nicer interior fit / finish.
Is it any wonder Ford is going bankrupt?
