Got to test drive a Ford Escape Hybrid!

Discussion in 'Other Cars' started by seeh2o, May 16, 2004.

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    seeh2o Prius OG

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    I was asked to participate in a marketing research study - I guess they got my name because of my new car. I got to test drive a Ford Escape Hybrid :clap: along with three other like-sized SUVs (all the rest were regular gas engines). I know I'm biased, but the Ford Hybrid handled a lot better than the other SUVs. I'm glad I got to test drive it, I thought I might want one, but I'll stick with my Prius.
    seeh2o, May 16, 2004
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    efusco Troll Slayer

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    Would love to read a more extensive review of your test drive. How well did the hybrid system work, what was the layout of the display? How was your mileage? Power and flow of the battery. Could you engage stealth etc.
    efusco, May 16, 2004
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    Brian New Member

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    Does their (Ford) Hybrid have a Screen like in our Prii?
    Brian, May 16, 2004
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    seeh2o Prius OG

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    Yes, there is a screen, but it is much smaller than ours, that made it hard to read. I wasn't allowed to touch any of the dials, buttons, etc, and the screen that was up did not show my mileage, so I can't tell you what it was.

    The transmission was very smooth, and transitioning from stealth to ICE was very smooth also.
    seeh2o, May 16, 2004
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    Brian New Member

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    Did you get any glance at all to see if the screen was a touch screen? I know you couldn't touch it but did you notice any buttons on the screen you could touch.
    Brian, May 17, 2004
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    seeh2o Prius OG

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    No buttons on the screen, it was too small. However, there were buttons located around the outside of the screen, but they weren't marked. In addition to being small, the screen seemed a bit dark and the animation so small that it was hard to read while driving.
    seeh2o, May 17, 2004
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    eak354 New Member

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    wow, cool! i guess not much of a difference (except for larger ICE) in the way the engine transitions feel since they are using patented toyota technology. sure would've been great to know what your mileage was. :wink:
    eak354, May 17, 2004
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    Dauth New Member

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    Dauth, May 17, 2004
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    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    Actually it seems not. I thought so at first also but have been told through email that Ford developed a very similar system independently. They licensed Toyota's patents to avoid legal problems, which is not unusual. (Ford engineers are proud of their work and were miffed by speculation that they merely bought Toyota's system.)
    richard schumacher, May 17, 2004
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    seeh2o Prius OG

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    There is an ad in Sunset magazine, page 2 and 3 behind the cover, for the Ford Hybrid. The one in the picture is exactly like the one I test drove.

    The guy told me that the lastest averages were about 43mpg overall. The list price for the one I test drove (with leather seats and all the bells and whistles) was $29,000 + change.

    I think I forgot to mention that the screen did not appear to be interactive as it is in the Prius.
    seeh2o, May 21, 2004
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    slowpoke New Member

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    It's still a Ford
    slowpoke, May 22, 2004
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    Wolfman New Member

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    Yes it is, and my folks have owned several Ford products. They are currently the best domestic automaker.
    Wolfman, May 22, 2004
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    bookrats New Member

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    But on the bright side, it's not a GM.
    bookrats, May 22, 2004
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    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator

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    I went to the Ford site to see if they would have pictures of the info screen.

    http://www.fordvehicles.com/escapehybrid/g...ndex.asp?bhcp=1

    That is one tiny screen compared to the Prius. The Prius gets criticized occasionally for the screen forcing drivers to take their eyes off the road to look at it. But holy smokes. The Escape's looks so tiny, I think the driver will have to take their eyes off the road, adjust their glasses, and then find what they are looking for.

    I'm glad that an American manufacturer is getting onboard. But can Ford declare the first hybrid SUV? Wasn't the hybrid Highlander announced quite some time ago? On the Escape home page, they say, "...the first vehicle to combine SUV capability with the outstanding fuel economy and low environmental impact of a full hybrid. "
    TonyPSchaefer, May 23, 2004
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    seeh2o Prius OG

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    Yes it is and so was my last car that the Prius replaced. A 1996 Explorer Sport with 137,000 miles and not one trip to the mechanic. I only replaced it because I really wanted the Prius. I can't dog Ford at all, they sold me a great product and I bought it from a great dealership.

    FYI, there was a big article about the Escape Hybrid in the Phoenix newspaper today, it also showed pictures of the screen and front interior of the car.
    seeh2o, May 23, 2004
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    bookrats New Member

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    bookrats, May 23, 2004
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    bruceha_2000 New Member

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    I guess so! And there is a Nav button. Darn well better be voice directions only. That sucker doesn't look much bigger than my kid's GameBoy screen and you are a good 2.5 feet away from it at least.

    Overall, seems like a good thing for people who need to carry more stuff, have taller rear seat passengers and/or tow a light trailer. Though (sorry Ford fans) I'd be even more nervous buying this as a first year model than I was a 2004 Prius. ALL new technology for Ford, 2004 Prius was a refinement of what they already had on the road for several years.
    bruceha_2000, May 24, 2004
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    seeh2o Prius OG

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    I totally agree. FYI, the view from the interior rear view mirror was terrible, the back seats sit up very high and the headrests (which were all the way down) really obstruct the view, it seemed like a real design flaw.
    seeh2o, May 24, 2004
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    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    Whew!! 200 pound battery pack...
    DaveinOlyWA, May 26, 2004
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    Dauth New Member

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    Edmunds did their "First Drive" of the Escape. Looks like Ford may have done a nice job. Personally, I hope so. Not that I am a Ford fan but, rather I don't want Hybrids to get a bad name. We seem to be fighting enough "negative" articles in the some of the magazines (Forbes et al) without having to fight the image of another brands ill done work.

    Edmunds
    Dauth, Jun 9, 2004
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