Hybrid quandry

[noski]

I am ready to trade cars, and have narrowed down to 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid or Ford Escape hybrid. The family discount is too good to pass up on Ford- so I am not really interested in changing manufacturers. I have found nothing negative about the Fusion online. I have driven Fords for 30 years so am happy there.

I test drove both vehicles and love the sedan ride of Fusion, versus the quasi SUV feel of the Escape. I have an Escape now and it's 'ok'- not my favorite vehicle to date- gas mileage stinks for my type of driving (climb/descent) and only 4 miles to work, more city-like driving, little highway.

Quandry is this- do I stick with/settle for the AWD of the Escape for my drive up 3miles of dirt road in the MRV, or do I get agressive tires for the sweet Fusion and muscle my way up the hill? We have a 4wd full size pickup, so I could get a ride to/from work on bad snow/mud days. I drove a Ford Taurus for 6 years with Blizzaks and made it every time. The Fusion sits about 1.5 inches higher than the Taurus, so clearance is decent. 41mpg 'city' and 35 highway mpg. The Escape is less but still very good.

Does anyone know anyone with the Escape hybrid? Fusion hybrid?

 

[RootDKJ]

I have the Escape Hybrid AWD. Love it. I get 32-34 mpg in the spring, summer and fall. Winter drops down to 28.

 

[snoseek]

I don't know anyone but I personally would get the car without thinking twice.

 

[mondeo]

AWD Fusion? I'd think its mileage would be comparable to the Escape.

 

[noski]

Fusion is 41 city/36 hwy, Escape is 34 city/31 hwy. Though we all know the numbers wobble a bit in real life....

 

[RootDKJ]

Fusion is 41 city/36 hwy, Escape is 34 city/31 hwy. Though we all know the numbers wobble a bit in real life....

I can get (at 64mph)
32 - 35 hwy. City (driving in such a manner to keep on battery) I can see around 34 - 38.

 

[riverc0il]

I would take snow tires over AWD any day of the week. Obviously snows and AWD trumps all. 10 MPG difference is 25% so think of the money savings of the sedan over time. If you don't need the SUV for storage, family, gear, pets, etc. I would get the Fusion with snows. Though I am biased against SUVs (but I think they have a place for the right person/family) so take what I would do with a grain of salt.

 

[RootDKJ]

One more reason why I love my hybrid...it's super quiet...at first it's a little weird, but now I love it. In fact, it feels weird being in a normal car sitting at a red light with all the noise and vibration.

 

[Johnskiismore]

One more reason why I love my hybrid...it's super quiet...at first it's a little weird, but now I love it. In fact, it feels weird being in a normal car sitting at a red light with all the noise and vibration.

When I'm riding in my friends hybrid it is so weird, more than once I've asked if the car was on

 

[deadheadskier]

The standard gas version of the Fusion is available in AWD. Is AWD not available with the hybrid engine on the Fusion? Are there any AWD sedans on the road offering a hybrid engine? I'm only aware of two SUV models; the Lexus RX300 and the Escape, maybe Toyata Hylander as well?

I suppose the line of thinking is that most hybrids are really only beneficial in city driving conditions. Most people who desire AWD do so for rural driving.

 

[Hawkshot99]

One more reason why I love my hybrid...it's super quiet...at first it's a little weird, but now I love it. In fact, it feels weird being in a normal car sitting at a red light with all the noise and vibration.

My store owner drives a Nissan Altima Hybrid. Earlier this year I had to drive it to the airport and pick him up from his vacation(driving bosses personal car is scary). When I got in the car I struggled to get going. Nothing indicated that it was working after starting the vehicle(it does not have a ignition, only a button, with the key in range). I must have started it and shut it down a half dozen times before I decided to just put it in drive. Then driving was really weird only hearing the tires turning on the road.

As far as hybrids go, I think they are a waste. Take the Escape for example.
Non hybrid- $24,120 Avg. Mpg-26
Hybrid- $32,120 Avg. Mpg-31.5

At a $8,000 difference between the two, you can buy alot of gas. At $2.70(my prices) that is 2963 gallons. That is the first 77,038 miles without paying for a single gallon of gas.
I am not sure exactly how to figure out how many miles you need to drive to equal out the break even for the hybrid, but it is going to be alot.

 

[snoseek]

Most people who desire AWD do so for rural driving.

I see more little shitboxes in rural areas and way more Subarus/SUV/ect..... in suburbia. Just my observation.

 

[deadheadskier]

My store owner drives a Nissan Altima Hybrid. Earlier this year I had to drive it to the airport and pick him up from his vacation(driving bosses personal car is scary). When I got in the car I struggled to get going. Nothing indicated that it was working after starting the vehicle(it does not have a ignition, only a button, with the key in range). I must have started it and shut it down a half dozen times before I decided to just put it in drive. Then driving was really weird only hearing the tires turning on the road.

As far as hybrids go, I think they are a waste. Take the Escape for example.
Non hybrid- $24,120 Avg. Mpg-26
Hybrid- $32,120 Avg. Mpg-31.5

At a $8,000 difference between the two, you can buy alot of gas. At $2.70(my prices) that is 2963 gallons. That is the first 77,038 miles without paying for a single gallon of gas.
I am not sure exactly how to figure out how many miles you need to drive to equal out the break even for the hybrid, but it is going to be alot.

Probably depends a lot on the driver/conditions in regards to how much is saved. Also some might have a preference for paying extra 'up front' and realizing a savings over time at the pump, by not having to hit up the gas station as much. And I'm sure plenty of people buy them as they feel it is the environmentally responsible thing to do. That last point is fairly hotly debated. I've heard arguments from a carbon stand point that a Prius is actually worse for the environment than a Hummer because of what is required to produce the battery and ship it around the world; though I don't know how much truth there is to that.

 

[Marc]

If your daily commute involves a lot of slow speed elevation change, and driveline efficiency is comparable, look closely at the vehicle weight for fuel efficiency.

 

[Glenn]

I'd do a cost/benefit analysis before plunking my money down on a hybrid. Take the average mileage of both vehicles...figure how many miles you drive a year and get the number of gallons of gasoline used. Start crunching numbers with gas prices: $2 a gallon, $2.50, $3.00 ect. Get the difference is gasoline price per year per vehicle. Now, take the difference in cost between hybrid and regular model. See how long the "savings" in gas will take to pay for the higher aquisition cost of the hybrid.

 

[Philpug]

Todays Hybrids are "feel good technology", what we have now is not what we will see in 5 years or so, there are better systems coming down the road. What that then means, what we have now will depreciate quickly, due to outdated technology and high cost of replacement parts i.e. battery. If you want proven technology and high mileage, look to a diesel like a Jetta.

 

[riverc0il]

Todays Hybrids are "feel good technology", what we have now is not what we will see in 5 years or so, there are better systems coming down the road. What that then means, what we have now will depreciate quickly, due to outdated technology and high cost of replacement parts i.e. battery. If you want proven technology and high mileage, look to a diesel like a Jetta.

LOL. The funny thing is I can get 40+ MPG on my Saturn SC2 Coupe that runs on plain old 89 octane. Tech in 5 years? How about tech 20 years ago? CR-X did better than most hybrids of today. If we have only come so far as to be touting 40 MPG hybrids and diesels (granted, slightly bigger engines), I question what the future has to offer. I think the replacement parts is the best argument for the diesel (which I would take over a hybrid). Though I can't imagine waiting for anything better in the near future.

If you extrapolate current gas costs, I don't think hybrids are a very good buy at the present moment. Though it might be a good hedge on increasing gas prices as cheap gas is going to run out sooner rather than later.

 

[noski]

My driving is roughly 13,500 per year. About 2/3 of that is climb/descent twice daily, then around-town type of driving (stop/go). My 06 Escape gets about 17mpg with that type of driving. I am strongly leaning to the Fusion (no, the hybrid does not come in AWD). I have to make the deal in the next 30 days as I have a lease now that is up 8/16, and am going to buy this time around instead.

 

[mondeo]

LOL. The funny thing is I can get 40+ MPG on my Saturn SC2 Coupe that runs on plain old 89 octane. Tech in 5 years? How about tech 20 years ago? CR-X did better than most hybrids of today. If we have only come so far as to be touting 40 MPG hybrids and diesels (granted, slightly bigger engines), I question what the future has to offer. I think the replacement parts is the best argument for the diesel (which I would take over a hybrid). Though I can't imagine waiting for anything better in the near future.

Over the last 20 years, technology has improved significantly, but the economics of vehicle sales have dictated features and safety. 20 years ago, no airbags, there were still plenty of cars without power windows, locks, and A/C, side impact protection, ABS, etc. During the same time, gas prices stayed low, so nobody cared about mileage. In the next couple years gas prices will rise to at least $6/gallon, fundamentally shifting the focus for carmakers. Right now hybrids are environmental statements (dubious at that,) but overall mileage will be significantly better in 5-10 years.

Heck, once the aviation industry starts really gearing up use of carbon, we might even see carbon fiber in relatively low-end passenger vehicles.

 

[Glenn]

Right now hybrids are environmental statements (dubious at that,)