Used 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid Consumer Reviews
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Great little hybrid
Have only owned this vehicle for 4 months and 4,000 miles, but so far we are very satisfied. After reading a lot recently about inflated MPG ratings, I was a little worried, but so far we are getting 30-31 mpg which is exactly what it's supposed to get! We love the way it handles and accelerates and the display almost teaches you how to drive for maximum MPG. The nav system is great and the dogs love the room in back. We've gone on one road trip and have used the AWD a few times already with great results. Ford really should build more of these vehicles and do a lot better job of advertising, many people don't even know they exist and some still think they have to be plugged in at night!
Hybrid Synergy
Besides being cold now and the hybrid getting less than the advertised mileage due to that fact, everything else that was hyped about the hybrid is right on the money. I still think I would have bought one if I had known about cold weather affecting the mileage, but we all like truth in advertising don't we?
- Base 4dr SUVMSRP: $5,999410 mi away
- Base 4dr SUVMSRP: $8,895721 mi away
- Base 4dr SUVMSRP: $4,795733 mi away
My Baby
I was amazed at the performance the Escape provided. It is a sharp looking small SUV, just right for me to drive all around town, to the grocery, nursery, and any other place I have a need to haul something. My friends like it too; it is very comfortable for passengers. I will probably keep this car for a long time.
SOME DAY ALL CARS WILL BE HYBRIDS
Actual mpg is just a little less than EPA estimates,very nice to find a suv with over 30mpg!
Love the FEH
I have had mine for almost four months and it is great! I am averaging 30- 33mpg in combination driving. I get closer to 33 when I drive to max out the electric mode and watch my acceleration but even driving more aggressively I get around 30. I have the Premium Package and am very happy with this vehicle.
More fun to drive than my Prius!
We have a 2004 Prius and now a 2006 Hybrid Escape. Our daily mileage is low 30s, but I can easily nurse that up to mid 30s and above with Prius-style tactics. The Escape is more fun to drive and does a better job of moving two adults, a dog, and a baby with equipment than the Prius could. The Prius is still king for mileage, but it's now a commuter only.
4X4 Escape
Very nice functional vehicle. I use it for work everyday; it is very dependable and you hardly notice the transfer from electric to gas while in motion. I get a lot of looks and questions which are also fun to field. May people want to see under the hood. When the truck shuts down in traffic and runs on electric only - took a little getting used too.
Nice Package!
Very comfortable and fun to drive. Lots of space for passengers and gear.
Love this car
Got rid of my tank (Chevy Avalanche) and purchased the Escape with 0% financing by Ford Motor Credit in CA ... what a deal! Finished off the first tank of gas at 32.4 mpg and I'm sure it will only get better since I know how to drive it now to get the best mileage. I recommend putting a little distance between you and the car in front of you so you can coast start the car at lights. This will allow you to take advantage of the electric power for a greater amount of time.
Ford Escape Hybrid
Car is a little less than advertised. Mileage is only in the 29-30 range. Comfort is the same as Mustang in the earliest years; I owned one. Quality is the same. As the car ages in months, the windows sag, the dealer will not return calls for repairs even within the warranty period. Compared to Toyota, U.S. needs help.
Who wouldn't buy this
Getting just under 36 mpg average so far. I can't believe that a car this ample gets better mileage than my Chevy Prism (a.k.a. Toyota Corolla). I actually feel sorry for most car owners when I look around parking lots. One nice trick that I have learned is riding the brakes a little when descending a hill. Keeping the car under 40mph will keep the IC off and you're charging up the battery at the same time. With the federal tax credits and PA state rebate, the car doesn't cost any more than a regular Escape. I was able to get the supplier X discount, which was about invoice for the car. It's better, it's cheaper to own and it costs the same as a regular Escape. Who wouldn't buy this?
Escape for less money
The car rides very nicely. It has as much power as the V6 non hybrid Escape. It is roomy and comfortable.
Happy Ford Escape Hybrid Owner
My wife and I recently purchased a 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid, and we are very pleased with the performance, the ride, and especially the fuel mileage. With the prospect of $3.00 a gallon gas for years to come I think this is an excellent vehicle to consider especially with the tax credits that are available in 2006.
Pleased overall
This vehicle has cut my weekly fuel cost from $80 to $35. Thats a $2600 yearly savings and I did not have to do anything other than change vehicles. The vehicle is comfy with plenty of amenities. My family is very pleased so far. I do not mind that these vehicles are not perfect and I am grateful that manufacturers are finally making a product that uses less fuel, cannot wait for improved models in the future.
bettys hybrid ford cvt
I bought my Escape on April Fools Day 2006 hoping this would not be a joke I would regret. This Ford Escape Hybrid is no joke. It is fun to drive and the gas mileage is great not to mention the quality and design. Mileage so far has been about 30 miles a gallon combined city and freeway. Its a little noisy at higher speeds of 50 plus but I will put up with that for all the other conveniences it has.
Florida fun - getting 30+ miles/gallon
Rented a Prius for a day to "check" out the hybrids - was told that the Ford Escape was similar to the Toyota. Almost bought a Prius - but really wanted an SUV. Searched the internet for local dealer inventory; good experience, good salesman, good finance manager. I think showing up the last day of the month helped - with the Edmunds info in hand. Mileage in city is usually 32. Having trouble getting 30 MPG highway.
SUV But Still Impressive
Did really well for an suv-gas mileage wise. It only dropped about 1 and a half mpg when a/c was on continuous which is impressive considering the shape of the vehicle. You can only get so good of mileage in a suv.
Ford Escape Hybrid is a Piece of Junk
After all the hype, the 2006 Ford Hybrid is a cheaply built piece of junk. For one, the gas mileage is just not what you'd expect from a hybrid. After only 25MPH the engine kicks in. Think about it...even in city driving (which averages 35MPH), your going to engage the engine a LOT. Secondly, when using the air conditioner, the engine is engaged. So, if you live in the south -- you are really out of luck. Lastly, the darn vehicle is a very noisy. Compared to the Explorer, there is virtually no insulation to outside noise. Lastly, it is a rip off. Those I know who own a Ford Escape (non-hybrid) are getting about the same mileage as I with the hybrid -- 27MPH for about $5K more!
Chilton
Drives fine except for accelerating onto highway. I drove Explorers for years, so I'm getting used to a lighter-weight vehicle, but love the improved mileage. Still think the higher price in comparison to an Explorer makes the improved gas costs overrated. I have a problem with paying more (we also bought another Explorer) and receiving a lesser quality vehicle. My Hybrid payment is $100.00 more per month than our new Explorer. So it's give and take.
I was an SUV hater
We are very pleased with this vehicle. Not just because of outstanding mpg, but also because of it being an extremely environmentally clean car. It is also quite comfortable to travel in. We just completed a trim from Iowa to SE Pennsylvania and enjoyed the trip. Averaged 31 mpg highway driving, 65 mph steady with AC on. We had considered a Prius, but because of a bad back my wife was not comfortable sitting so low. The Escape is easier to get in and out of too.
I cant believe its American
Awesome vehicle. Great mileage, performance, and useability. This vehicle has been outstanding and clearly exceeded my expectations. Ford you got it right this time! I love driving by gas stations and waving.
2006 Ford Escape
Gas mileage is not as great as expected but my previous Ford was an F-150 (V-8) so it was an improvement in the pockets.
Would recommend to anyone
I really enjoy owning this vehicle. It has great acceleration when needed and a very smooth ride. The interior has clean lines and is very comfortable. The gauges are easy to read. The gasoline savings in downtown traffic are great.
Love My Escape Hybrid
We needed the all wheel drive feature since we live in the Sierra Nevada mountains where the roads are rough and the weather unpredictable. Since AWD is considered a 'premium feature' the dealer told us virtually all AWD models were factory built with the full premium package. So we ended up with a car/truck that had a lot more 'luxuries' than we wanted. Though not necessary, they make life more pleasant. As a result of the AWD, and our rough environment, we don't get anywhere near the stated mileage, but that's ok. We get about 24 hwy and 27 city mpg. It's a great car excellently put together. The biggest pleasures are the onboard NAV and the continuous acceleration transmission.
Great SUV
Excellent all around vehicle with great versatility and real world fuel economy. Much better than any other competitor I looked at in terms of a complete package for the price.
I LOVE IT
This is the most awesome vehicle I have ever owned. It is a practical size not some oversize behemoth. It handles really great, and you cannot knock the great fuel economy. It has plenty of power and the air conditioning is the best especially in Las Vegas during the summer. I love driving it everywhere
This is number 2
My wife loves this vehicle. Drives and rides nice. Economy 27 to 30 at all times. We live in the rural area with hills and various conditions. It has no lack of power. This is the second one that we have had. The 4 wheel drive is great, even on ice and snow covered roads. The 1st Escape we put 7500 miles on with no dealer service. It only had an oil service at 7000 miles. The present one has 1500 miles with no squawks. We upgraded to the 2006 because of the heated seats and sunroof. There is no difference between a 2005 and a 2006, only the option list. They both drive and handle the same.
great car
Makes me a believer in hybrids. Great mileage (averages 30) and well built. Have had no problems. Only negative is the ride is a little hard but it is a 4 wheel drive small truck.
fully loaded Escape
Moving the seats around to allow more cargo space is a pain; other than that it's a nice vehicle.
Great little SUV
It runs down the road very well: it is comfortable and handles well. It takes a while to get accustomed to using the electric side of the power equation. It makes one very aware of the energy cost of driving at high rates of speed. By using the data provided by the car one can achieve maximum mileage per gallon of gas.
Excellent Vehicle
Our vehicle has so far performed as advertised. We've gotten acceptable MPG though it is very dependent on driver habits. In order to exclusively use the electric motor, you must gently accelerate from a stop. This of course is difficult if you find yourself in front of traffic. The quality, ride, and features are great.
Escape to hybrid SUV'ing!
I had a 2001 Escape V6 AWD. Great car, but gas mileage was not very good. The Escape AWD gets a consistent 28mpg on the highway (that's at 60-80 mph with the a/c on), and about 24 mpg in town, with a full load. (No hybrid ever gets the advertised EPA mileage in town). Performance? Only imperceptibly less than the V6 gave me. Punching the gas and bringing in an extra 40hp from the electric motor lets me pass anyone on the highway. Some people tell me, "sure, you get great mileage, but is it worth the difference in price?" Yes. The difference is tax-deductible, and with gas costing $2.50/gallon, I'll be ahead soon. Also, I'm reducing our nation's reliance on questionable oil suppliers.
Fun To Drive
Best car I ever owned. You must buy the navigation system option. We got the Premium Package. I'm glad we did. It came with all leather interior and heated seats which are great. I'll never buy another vehicle without heated seats and navigation system. The ride and handling is better than I expected.
Nice
I have driven the Escape in downtown Chicago and on the wide open interstate. 30mpg in Chicago and 29.5 at highway+ speeds. Runs very smooth with the CVT transmission. Nice to know I can fill it full of gear and get that good of mileage.
Excellent 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid
I have been achieving 90% mpg that the EPA rates for the Escape Hybrid in city driving. The area I live in has many hills and has a variance of speed limits from 20mph to 45mph. I believe that I would achieve or better the EPA rating if there were less hills and speed limits of 30mph or lower. I also drove 1500 miles on a trip and average around 29-30 mpg and that included mountain driving in Tennessee and North Carolina. So far I am really pleased with the Ford Escape Hybrid.
The great Escape
As owner of a previous v6 Escape i must say there is a big improvement over the old. Love the CVT tranny; it is so smooth and quiet. Ford has done a lot to improve overall quality of the Escape even through I love my v6 and have no problems with it. One thing that most reviewers don't mention is the lack of brake dust on the wheels. This was a constant problem with the v6. And as for gas mileage, this the reason you would buy this vehicle especially if you are in stop in go traffic -- it's great for an suv.
2006 AWD Just bought
Drove a V6 Passat with Triptronic, now a CVT transmission instead. We were looking for a taller vehicle and lower maintenance costs if possible. Being in northern snow climate AWD was paramount. Have a Toyota Sienna minivan that was supposed to get good gas mileage for a van. Then gas prices went from $1.85 to $2.85 and up. Still enjoy our van but avoid driving it and started using the Passat at 20 to 24 mpg ranges. The Tribute/Mariner the only lower cost AWD SUV truck with a car-like ride unless going to the high end Highlander. The costs of hybrid technology made the Escape the clear winner for our next car. Pay under $30K for an Escape or much over $30K - for a Highlander both SUVs.
Best auto yet in my 57 years of driving
This auto is best by far than all the new autos I have owned. Starting is a snap. The gas engine does come on first. If you are willing to give the gas engine a chance to warm up, it's a plus. When you are finally ready to start it glides into motion like a boat does in the water. When you are in a lot looking for a space, the electric engine takes over and you ride effortlessly with no gas engine running, saving on gas. When at a stop the electric engine takes over. Whenever you accelerate it seems to have the power of a 6 cylinder engine; very peppy and then you glide down to a stop. I don't really care what the critics say about it I LOVE MY HYBRID!
Mariner Hybrid
I bought the 4WD Mercury Mariner Hybrid. I find it to be just a little nicer looking than the Escape. It is the same platform and averages 30 MPG. I now have 7K and no problems at all. It fits my family with 2 car seats in the back & still room for shopping or luggage in the back. Also it has front, side & roof air bags. These are great in the snow. As a pick up truck owner all my life I was quickly able to adjust to this little SUV.
So Far to Go, So Little Gas
My Escape is still very new, and still delights me. I bought it for its fuel economy, size, and greenness. Fuel economy was rated at 33 city, 29 highway. Highway and city combined have averaged well over 33 with the majority being highway miles. I lose about 2 tenths of a mile when starting out cold in the morning and evening after work. I then make that up if I can drive far enough. Economy when cold is awful. The engine runs until the engine is warm and the battery is fully charged. At that point the fun begins to see how long I can keep it running on electric alone. Kind of challenging but for a vehicle that weighs 4750 pounds it's great.
Plymouth Rock
The Ford Escape Hybrid has been a totally satisfying experience. Even with full time AWD the gas mileage is excellent. However, it is very important to follow instructions in the manual. Consistency is essential. In fact, using cruise control as much as possible gives significant mileage improvement. The car handles and rides very well, no doubt due in part to the low placement of the large battery between the rear wheels.
New to Ford!
First Ford that I have ever owned, but so far, loving it! It was the perfect car for commuting and fits our family perfectly. If we were all large framed it might not work as well. It is a fun car to drive, and makes my commute much more bearable.
Great little car
Fun to drive, Plenty of power in the mountains. Comfortable seats especially in the rear with good vision out. Plenty of storage space and good mileage.
my new hybrid
Really glad we got it. Good for the environment (eventually we will all have hybrids). Wanted an suv but not the lousy mileage. Getting about 29-30 mpg in the first 1500 miles (pretty much all city stuff). The technology is unbelievable. Could only get $1k off sticker but even that was good comparatively. No hesitation about getting this car.
How to increase mileage?
I am very pleased with the 2006 Ford Escape hybrid, which I have owned for 1 week. I miss a few features I had on my Saab 9-3 (radio controls on steering wheel, day lights and ignition on console) but otherwise am quite pleased. It is peppy and fun to drive. I have not however achieved great mileage - in fact, I would appreciate any tips. I got 27 on the highway and even less in the city, which is opposite of what I expected. I admit to having a little bit of a heavy foot, so I have tried to ease up on the peddle. Do others find that the gas engine kicks in very quickly. I certainly don't drive at 25 mph on the electric engine.
Escape Hybrid
Everything is awesome except that the cruise control is overpowered at times and actually reduced fuel efficiency. A good addition would be to have a cruise control that operates based on rpm's instead.
Not A Bad Choice
I bought this vehicle because I wanted the functionality and style of a SUV but the gas mileage of a car. I have been very pleased so far. The air conditioner only works well when the engine is running, so in the hot summer days of the South you must leave it on max and forgo the electricity. But as the engine is supplemented by the battery you still get great gas mileage with the air on max. It averages about 27.5 on the highway at 75mph. In the city I get about 30 to 32 with the air on max. Overall I am happy with the purchase, but since it is hard to find, dealers WILL NOT give you a deal. You MUST pay the sticker price -- *OUCH*.
Thank you, Ford
This is our third Escape, but first Hybrid. We love it. The quietness, non-pollution in Houston traffic, and electronic read-out system are great! It is a shock to people in parking lots to have a vehicle move without engine noise when in the electric function. I am proud not to be adding to the polluted air in Houston. It does fine on the interstate, also. The gasoline mileage improved after the first month, as we were told it would. The green color is pretty; my favorite Escape color was yellow. With oil uncertainty, I have done my part. It is important to me that we can still carry more cargo than if it were a smaller hybrid. We need that flexibility. No lifestyle change.
LOVE IT!
I absolutely love my purchase. It has been 4 days and I drove over 300 miles July 4th weekend. Transition from electric to gas was not noticeable. It was great to sit in a traffic jam, traveling less than 30 miles per hour and realize the car was in electric mode and no gas was being used. Many stares and questions from other motorists. Savings already noticed. Rides well with luggage and 4 adults.
Couldn't be happier
The vehicle is fun to drive and provides superb gas mileage for a small size SUV -- better than even the 1992 Toyota Corolla it replaced in our family. We have a premium, fully-loaded Ford Escape Hybrid with moonroof, leather seats and the GPS Nav, and we couldn't be happier.