Ford's hybrid SUV goes for a test drive

Inside the Escape Hybrid, the display screen in the middle of the dashboard draws immediate attention. Its graphics display and constant fuel economy calculations aren’t as flashy as those in the Prius but serve to remind riders that stretching every bit of gas is a key benefit.

Fuel display a costly option

Note, though, this display is paired with a navigation system, operates only when the radio is on and is a $1,850 option. In the hybrid cars on the market, fuel-economy and energy-flow graphic displays, sans nav system, are standard equipment.

 

The Ford Escape is the reason I have ordered a Prius. I was researching my alteratives. I have a in at Ford as my brother in law works for Ford and we are eligible for a special purchase plan that would make the Escape attractive but when I found out that Ford had purchased their technology from Toyota and it was the last generation (2nd) I thought it made more sense to use the most recent technology. Also I really don't like the local Ford dealership it was bad enough when it was locally owned but now we have out of town owners and they have had issues with the authorities. I have also had people tell me stories about their purchase experiences that were not good. Service is very expensive although the job has gotten done each time.

 

Is that really true that Ford is leasing "classic" Prius hybrid technology rather than the state of the art technology in the 2004 Prius? If so, it 's a deal for Toyota, making money on semi-obsolete technology; like cleaning your bedroom by unloading your junk on your younger brother who still thinks it's cool. Ford's advertising makes it look like they developed the technology rather than having sat around with their thumbs up their butts. Still, I think it's great that the Big 3 are (finally) getting into the hybrid act and making some solid environmental/fuel efficiency changes. SUV's are an excellent place to install this technology.

 

It's not clear how much of their hybrid system Ford developed themselves - from what I've read here, it could be anywhere between 0% and 100%. It's entirely possible that they developed something very similar to Toyota's technology and then discovered Toyota's patent and had to license it to sell their product legally. Or maybe they did, in fact, buy last year's toys from Toyota.

I think the truth is probably somewhere in between - perhaps they copied the principle of HSD but wrote their own control software, for instance?

 

I read somewhere that Ford developed something simular to the Toyota but could not get the computer control to work right and leased that from Toyota. I could ask my brother in law but probably would not get a answer. Never hurts to ask. Mabe if I get him drunk, though come to think of it I don't believe I have ever seen him in that state, is a straight arrow kind of guy.

 

On Ford's web page about the Escape Hybrid, it refers to "the" (singular) motor-generator, and an electronically-controlled CVT.

Is that a simplification, or is there only one MG? And what sort of CVT does it use? Is it a cone-and-belt CVT like the Hondas, or does it use a planetary device like the Prius (which isn't really a CVT, but which even Toyota refers to as a CVT)?

Several people have compared it to the Classic Prius, but I don't actually know the differences between the Classic and the '04.

 

In this month's C&D they do a little mini review of the escape, and they mention that Ford has put the generator, motor and brain into a much smaller package than toyota has done, suggesting it's use in other cars. Looking at the cutaway view of the engine, the entire hybrid portion of the powertrain is between 1/3 and 1/4 the size of the 2.3L ICE engine.

They really seem to have done a nice job with the Escape.