We Purchased an 06 Escape late last fall. We bought a six cylinder with the sport package, moon roof and all the bells and whistles, we love it by the way. It has alot of spunk and dose well on the mountain passes and long uphill grades. We are getting around 14 mpg in the city and close to 20 on long trips. I am considering buying another. This time the Hybrid. I have heard stories that the hybrid doesnt do well in hot climates. I have also heard that the a/c only works with the gas engine running. Last summer we had a few weeks where the temp was 110 plus and several days of 114, 116, and stayed there for a while. We average 80 days a year with temps above 100, (sometimes consecutively).

What's up with these hybrids? what have you all heard and seen about them. I am hesitant to make the leap. Thanks

 

well, our family a few weeks ago bought a 2006 Mercury Mariner Premier 4x4 V-6 (same as an Escape pretty much) Mercury did come out with the Hybrid as well for the Mariner, but we did not choose the Hybrid after reading and test driving one.

If you have a heavy foot, the hybrid isn't going to be good for as you will pretty much be using the engine which uses gas instead of off the battery in the rear. If you drive like a grandma, it will do very good for you and get decent mileage.

I don't trust the Escape hybrids yet, there brand new and have not yet been proven at all. I don't know how they act with climate changes as hot as yours, but the gas engines in these things are the ones I trust, not the Hybrid ones.

I have read reviews on the Hybrid owners, and most complain they don't get as good of gas mileage as they expected out of the hybrid. Our salesman also was telling us people are better off with the gas engines as you will spend more to pay for a Hybrid then it will to fill up your tank with a regular gas engine.

Just my opinion and advice, stay away from the hybrids for now until they get better high teck and perform better.

 

Well snorkle let me give you another opinion. I work at a Ford dealer and the hybrid is a big seller for us. They pretty much go away as soon as they come in. Where people get disappointed in them is highway mileage. They are rated and acheive much better mileage in town driving than highway driving. The whole idea is that they operate on the electric motor much more in city driving and pretty much never in highway driving. As far as the a/c usage, if you run the a/c on max all the time then yes the gas engine will run more but it will still get better mileage by far than your V-6 Escape. We have had NO problems with them in the shop so I really believe Ford has the technology figured out. Just my .02 and good luck!

 

We did a fuel economy test on a Hybrid Escape today for a customer. After driving 47 miles total ( 25 city, 22 highway), it averaged 35 mpg. And don't be fooled. The Hybrid is just as powerful as the V-6 model. The do cost more up front, but I hear that there are some great rebates that brings them closer to the cost of the V-6. They are really a good vehicle.

 

What's the life expectancy on a set of the batteries in one of those?

From what reading I have done on any hybrid vehicle (and even a public statement made by the feds that I saw on TV), the out of pocket costs for one of those vehicles are still higher than their gas only twins during their life.

I've heard battery replacement costs in the several thousand dollar range for them. That's pretty steep if a set of batteries only lasts around 5 years or so.

 

You are correct!

I was also reading on the Internet a few days ago, that Hybrid cars and SUV's loose more depreciation of 3-5 percent over the same car or SUV. You spend more to own a Hybrid then it would be for a regular gas engine.

The article was saying the only Hybrid cars out there that would save you some money would be a Honda civic hybrid and the Toyota Hybrid cars. Even those cars would only save you only a grand over 5 years of ownership that estimated.

 

You are missing something. Think of all the oil and gas you are saving and all the pollution you are not spewing. That leaves more gas for the rest of us!

 

personally for me, if i were to get a hybrid, i would only go with a toyota prius.

sure its not a beautiful car but its just a daily driver..

The first generation of the prius toyota had out for two or three years, and then farmed off the technology to honda for them to make the ensight ( i think thats the right car) Then toyota had their second gerneration out the next year, and honda just tweaked the system a little to put the first generation system into they hybrid civic.

So unless you want old technology, i would stay away from the honda, and head over and take a look at the toyota dealer.

You also get a tax deduction for having a hybrid or a "fuel super efficient" vechicle.
just my thoughts and 2 cents,
-Patrick

 

14mpg on an Escape? Thats crap!

 

Yeah, here in Las Vegas the traffic is horrible! Start and stop is the rule of thumb and the highway aka "express way" is a joke. 14 mpg is pretty crumby to say the least. I wonder just how realistic the mpg estimates for the hybrid Escape are for us here in LV.

 

Just bought a 2006 Escape Limited with everything but a moonroof. Our first tank of gas netted us 19.9 mpg. And Yes we drive easy - no tickets, just the speedlimit or 5 miles above. Amazing how much better the mileage is from our 01 Explorer Eddie Bauer with a six banger. The car was for my wife's birthday. My vehicle is the 01 Screw you see in my signature below. Best truck I've ever had.

 

About how many miles does a hybrid escape go to the tank? Anyone own one that has some thoughts about the battery pros and cons of being a daily driver? Does the factory warranty on the car offer any coverage for the batterys? Gas at $2.70 a gallon in Dallas Texas has me looking at possible a better mpg car. Thanks

 

Just got a Post Card from the dealer yesterday offering 0% interest on Hybrid Escapes, no thanks, the wifes 2003 escape is damn near paid off.