2009 Ford Escape Hybrid Consumer Reviews

Great SUV

Written by: jgimp123 on 08/04/2009

Vehicle

2009 Ford Escape Hybrid Limited 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

Review

This is my first SUV, but I LOVE it! It is roomy inside and has a lot of neat gadgets. The ride is smooth, although the gas engine is a little loud. The sync feature is nice, except when it doesn't understand your commands. MPG is pretty good. I've had mine for a few weeks and average 30 mpg. The faster you drive, the more it decreases. It is a bit touchy at first and takes some getting used to transitioning from gas to electric. The more I drive it, the easier it is to use the electric motor under 40 vs the gas. If you run the AC, it is difficult to get the electric motor to kick in. Overall, great car and highly recommend it! One nice thing is that maintenance is not required often.

Favorite Features

Not much maintenance. It only requires an oil change every 10,000 miles or every 12 month. 0-40 on electric motor.

Suggested Improvements

Getting sync feature to better recognize voice commands. Making it so AC does not affect electric motor.

11 out 11 people found this review helpful

Report inappropriate post

Got a great deal - cash for my clunker

Written by: George on 07/18/2009

Vehicle

2009 Ford Escape Hybrid 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

Review

Wow, with a Cash-for-Clunker deal already from the dealer for $4500 (my 1991 Ford Explorer), and $958 tax credit Federal and $3,906 tax credit (yes!) Colorado, I got a great deal, so this Hybrid wasn't so expensive for us. Being a "Full Hybrid", both the Electric Motor and gas Engine drive the wheels at the same time, and usually electric-only under 40 mph unless you step on it. When coasting downhill over 40 mph, the gas engine is on, but not using gas, as the fuel injectors close. Amazinghow it all works. Great gas milage so far - 32 mpg mostly city so far and have driven less than 1,000 miles.

Favorite Features

Large wide center console for both our elbows. Smoothness of ride and a very solid car, inside and out. Like sitting high. Great radio/CD sound and dash layout. Michelin Latitude Tour tires are specially made for hybrid, giving 1 more mpg.

Suggested Improvements

Rear disc brakes would be better than the drums, but have no braking complaints.

8 out 10 people found this review helpful

Report inappropriate post

Great Car

Written by: amtravco on 06/26/2009

Vehicle

2009 Ford Escape Hybrid Limited 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

Review

We love this car. In the summer we're averaging 38 mpg in city driving (with some stretches of county roads mixed in). On the highway, it's closer to 32 mpg. My major complaints are a) the engine is very noisy, and b) the Sync system from Microsoft stinks. I'll elaborate on the latter. #1 complaint: Can't set Nav system while you're driving. If we want to find an upcoming restaurant while on the freeway, I guess we need to pull over to the side of the road? The fonts are hard to read (orange on light blue??) The LCD is polarized such that when wearing polarized sunglasses it's very dim. Basically, when we use our cheap Garmin it's easy and reliable to find locations; with Sync it's frustrati

Favorite Features

Mileage. Overall package is nice. Styling, color, seating, all are good. Sync radio and satellite radio are fine. It's the nav that stinks.

Suggested Improvements

Tone down engine noise. I wish we could have Garmin do the nav. We'll probably buy a separate Garmin for use in this car.

22 out 22 people found this review helpful

Report inappropriate post

No wonder Ford leads the Big 3

Written by: detroit ex-pat on 06/23/2009

Vehicle

2009 Ford Escape Hybrid Limited 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

Review

I had been looking at the FEH for a while and happened to find the one I wanted a dealer nearby, so I went to check it out. Anyway two hours later I had traded in my 2004 Chevy Malibu Maxx for my new FEH. So far I have put about 8600 miles on it in the 4 months I have had the car and I love driving it. I've got a 35 mile commute from the north side of Chicago to the western suburbs (a mix of city, freeway and horrendous traffic), and I feel as though the FEH must have been designed to drive my commute. Long haul trips are a breeze as well with the sync system to entertain (or distract) during long hours behind the wheel.

Favorite Features

Love the sync system and drivers cockpit layout (wish the seat had a lumbar support). Living in Illinois I love the integrated speaker phone, so that I don't have to be one of those people wearing the stupid BT earpiece.

Suggested Improvements

There aren't any hooks to hang dry cleaning in the back seat, the one hook is in the cargo area and can barely hold two hangers. Allow the nav to do more things while it is in motion (especially if there is someone in the passenger seat). Allow sync to load mp3 from usb thumb drives, vs cd only.

11 out 11 people found this review helpful

Report inappropriate post

Great design by Ford

Written by: Meatwaggon on 06/21/2009

Vehicle

2009 Ford Escape Hybrid 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

Review

I ordered this vehicle back in June of '08, and picked it up in October. I have to say this vehicle is a blast to drive once you learn how to coax the electric drive into action. I really like how this car can sneak up on people in electric mode and make them turn heads as you drive past them at 30-40 mph with only the sound of the wind and the tires on the ground to cue them in to the fact that there's a car nearby. So far I haven't had any reliability issues, the car delivers the promised mileage, and the features that I got on this vehicle have all been very satisfactory and helpful (Nav system, step bars, cargo rack bars). The interior design is however a bit clunky.

Favorite Features

The Nav screen and its features. The ability to use electric drive all the way up to 40mph. The adjustable driver's seat. The night lighting. The exterior design (much more muscular/beefier than the earlier FEH model years).

Suggested Improvements

Decrease engine noise; it's too high at both street & highway speeds when accelerating. Move the Nav screen up higher to be above the vents so that you don't have to look down so far to read the screen while driving. Modify the back seat design to make it easier to fold down for extra cargo space.

10 out 10 people found this review helpful

Report inappropriate post

2009 Escape Hybrid 4WD

Written by: BrionL on 05/25/2009

Vehicle

2009 Ford Escape Hybrid Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

Review

1,000 miles and very pleased with the vehicle. Getting an honest 32mpg with mixed hwy/city driving which is great for an AWD vehicle. Excellent regular performance when needed.

Favorite Features

Excellent mileage. Interior comfort. Lots of gadgets. All-wheel drive.

Suggested Improvements

1. Road noise is high on rough roads. 2. The Microsoft Synch system is like all things MS, great and maddeningly frustrating. Navigation can't use the Bluetooth phones address book for nav.

12 out 13 people found this review helpful

Report inappropriate post

Ford Got This One Right

Written by: Ed on 05/05/2009

Vehicle

2009 Ford Escape Hybrid Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

Review

I ordered this vehicle back in June and finally received it January 19, seven months later. It was worth the wait. I have bought many of Ford’s trucks, thunderbirds and other models in the last 30 plus years, but this is the most fun to drive. I have about 4000 miles on this so far and by learning to hyper-mile, I have been able to get up to 35 mpg per tank, driving in the foothills of SC. The technology in this SUV is great.

Favorite Features

Mileage, Sync & navigation system, Sirius radio, 120 volt electrical outlet, heated leather seats, moon roof, ambient lighting in 7 different colors, handling, back-up sensors, 4 wheel drive

Suggested Improvements

Wish it would go faster than 40 MPH in full electric mode.

16 out 16 people found this review helpful

Report inappropriate post

Good SUV. Great Hybrid.

Written by: CaesarTheDay on 05/04/2009

Vehicle

2009 Ford Escape Hybrid Limited 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

Review

Two days of driving - so this is a first impression. The car is well designed inside and out. Microsoft SYNC is very impressive and I find this feature the best of all in the car. Acceleration is sluggish - but the car does fine on the highway. I'm still in the burn in stage - so the MPG is around 27 but I'm hoping it'll improve with time and driving. The car is surprisingly roomy for the over 6' driver and is accommodating for kids in the back including a car-seat. Rear cargo room is ample, but there is no cargo net, or tie-down hooks to install one.

Favorite Features

Microsoft SYNC with voice commands, DVD player and music integration. Fuel economy On the road quietness

Suggested Improvements

Homelink garage door opener. Cargo nets or at least loops for after-market nets. Single-motion fold down rear seats.

4 out 4 people found this review helpful

Report inappropriate post

traded my honda fit for this :)

Written by: rob on 04/29/2009

Vehicle

2009 Ford Escape Hybrid 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

Review

I had my honda fit 2008 for mpg savings after my toyota highlander. However, the gas savings on the fit werent there. I started to investigate the ford escape hybird and I was impressed. FORD is back ! I had soooo many more features with the hybird. I bought a 20009 escape hybird (pre-owned) with about 6k miles on it. Its been really good to drive the car and the gas savings are great.

Favorite Features

1)MPG and the ecogauge 2)Sync 3)Handling 4) more room and space 5) huge center console 6) Lighting

Suggested Improvements

1) Make improvements to fold the back seat easier instead of a two step process. My 2003 highlander was able to fold down in 1 easy step!. 2) Cupholders on the side on the door panel.

10 out 12 people found this review helpful

Report inappropriate post

09 escape hybrid--what an improvement

Written by: jrs3 on 04/23/2009

Vehicle

2009 Ford Escape Hybrid 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

Review

I just traded in a 4WD 07 escape hybrid for a 4WD 09 hybrid--what a huge difference--the driving experience, quality and comfort much improved. The vehicle has become a class act rather than a noisy bare bones 4X4. Other improvements include a much better tuned switch from gas to electric and the mileage is better (31 average in mixed driving and it is not yet broken in).

Favorite Features

drive smooth, mileage, solid feel

Suggested Improvements

Minor complaints include chunky exterior styling (go European for god's sake) and the shift lever which is a tacky square silver plastic thing with a sharp edge that catches your finger in the front--Ford just put the fusion shift lever in and make the interior the same.

3 out 3 people found this review helpful

Report inappropriate post