How does escape hybrid work

For context, the thriftiest non-hybrid Escape is rated at 27 mpg city, 33 highway, and 30 combined. The RAV4 equivalent tops out at 26 mpg city, 35 highway, and 30 combined. Regardless of badging, these hybrids should spend less time at the pump than their gas-only counterparts. In our mixed driving, we averaged 32 mpg in the Toyota and 30 mpg in the Ford. While neither of these crossovers are particularly engaging to pilot, the Escape feels more sophisticated and easier to control.

Its soft suspension soaks up bumps, and its cabin mutes outside noise quite well. It also can tow up to pounds, which is a tad more than the Escape hybrid's pound maximum. The tradeoff for the Toyota's greater capability is a flintier ride on uneven roads and a softer brake pedal that had inconsistent feedback compared with the Ford. The RAV4 hybrid also needed an extra 15 feet to stop from 70 mph at the test track, managing the feat in a so-so feet.

Inside, the RAV4 hides its hard plastics better than the Escape, and its design is more functional and handsome.

The view out the back of the Toyota also is clearer thanks to smaller blind spots. While its front seats are highly adjustable and supportive, the Ford has comfier and wider cushions as well as an excellent driving position and generous legroom. The back seat is a little roomier in the RAV4, but it lacks the reclining and sliding functions that make the Escape's aft quarters more accommodating.

However, since the Ford's 1. That gives the Toyota an advantage in terms of outright volume and luggage storage. Every Escape hybrid is bolstered by ample standard features that diminish some of the extra-cost equipment found on the RAV4.

For several thousands of dollars less, our Escape SE Sport hybrid came with a However, Ford's Sync 3 interface is easier to operate and also includes Android Auto. The RAV4 adds Android connectivity as standard for the model year. The Toyota we tested also featured more driver-assistance technology , contributing to its higher price. Still, adaptative cruise control, automated emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist are present on both rosters.

To maximize power regeneration, be sure to apply the brakes smoothly and gradually. A hybrid is defined as a vehicle with a combustion engine and electric motor that work together. In some hybrids, these powerplants operate at the same time, while in others, they take turns running separately.

The goal of a hybrid vehicle is to combine the strengths of traditional gasoline-powered combustion engines and electric motors, and to eliminate the negatives of both as much as possible. Learn More: How does the Ford Escape perform? The first foray by Ford into the hybrid world utilizes a full hybrid system; this means that the gas and electric motor inside can either operate separately or together.

The hybrid powertrain is a new, specially patented creation devised by the automaker. Some see the Escape Hybrid as a potential breakthrough in hybrid technology. Ever Wonder: Is tax credit available for hybrid and electric vehicles in Wisconsin? When the driver starts up the Ford Escape Hybrid, the electric motor is the first to activate.

That motor then kicks off the gasoline engine. Instead, the Escape uses an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission eCVT. On-board computers set the gearing to the optimum setting for fuel efficiency, resulting in a 30 percent increase in efficiency over a conventional transmission, according to Ford engineers.

To improve efficiency in the gasoline engine itself, Ford used a four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle engine in the hybrid version of the Escape. Atkinson engines are more fuel efficient than standard-cycle engines known as Otto-cycle engines at the expense of horsepower. The Escape Hybrid's 2. The three-phase, permanent-magnet, synchronous electric motor adds 94 horsepower in the 3,, rpm range.

By itself, the gasoline engine can crank out lb-ft of torque at 4, rpm. For comparison, the four-cylinder engine in the non-hybrid Escape generates hp at 5, rpm and lb-ft of torque at 4, rpm. The AWD Escape Hybrid weighs in at 3, lbs 1, kg -- the hybrid components add about pounds kg to the Escape's weight. With a wheelbase of The fuel tank holds 15 gallons. According to Car and Driver magazine Dec.

For anyone interested in buying a hybrid, one of the most important numbers is the fuel mileage. The Escape won't come close to the 50 mpg or more offered by compact hybrids. Ford rates it at 35 mpg in town, 29 mpg on the highway.

For the AWD version, it's 33 mpg in the city and 29 on the highway. With those numbers, one tank of gas should give you a range of to miles to km. A combustion engine is inefficient in taking a heavy car from a stop all the way up to speed -- it burns a lot of gas.

And in a city, you do that every five blocks or so. So a car powered only by a gasoline engine gets better mileage on the highway, where there are fewer stops and starts. A hybrid car can operate on electric-only at low speeds, so it's not burning gas during stops and starts.

Also, every stop recharges the battery. Hybrids therefore get better city mileage than on the highway, where the combustion engine does most of the work. For the most part, driving an Escape Hybrid is like driving a non-hybrid Escape, or any other small SUV for that matter. Ford went to great lengths to ensure that you wouldn't even realize you were driving a hybrid if someone didn't tell you. On the other hand, there are a few quirks that show up on the road, like the aforementioned shudder when the gasoline engine kicks in.

The regenerative braking system also feels different, since the speed is being reduced in a different way from standard disc brakes -- you can feel it when the regular brakes kick in on a hard stop. On the up side, another difference comes from the transmission. Along with the reported increase in fuel efficiency that comes from using an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission eCVT , there is also a smoother ride.

There's no sudden jolt when the car upshifts or downshifts. The only change to the dashboard is on the tachometer, which features a reading below zero that indicates when the engine has shut off and the car is on electric-only power. If the navigation system is purchased, then the display screen has a hybrid power flow graphic. You might think that the batteries needed to power a small SUV would take up most of the cargo space.

In fact, the Escape Hybrid's D-size, nickel-metal hydride cells connected in series lie flat beneath the rear cargo area. That cargo area is smaller than the cargo space in the non-hybrid Escape, but only by a few inches.

The space for driver and passengers is unchanged. It's definitely better for the environment and offers lower fuel costs than any other SUV on the market. Although it isn't as environmentally friendly as a Toyota Prius, rated at 60 mpg in the city and 51 mpg on the highway, it may be better for the planet in the long-term.

By making a hybrid for the average family, which generally needs a bit of room to travel comfortably, Ford could be helping to put millions of hybrids in American garages within a decade. For more information on the Ford Escape Hybrid and related topics, check out the links on the following page. Sign up for our Newsletter!