Hello all, I bought a new 2024 Ford Escape PHEV from a dealership in Kansas on Friday. I took a 400-mile trip yesterday and have a few questions.
The battery was charged to 92% when I left and had an estimated range of 25 miles. Is this because it was cold outside? (I didn’t get to see how far it actually went on full EV.)
I reset the trip halfway through the drive and got 26.5 MPG on the highway. I was driving between 65-75 mph and using cruise control most of the time. I was expecting something closer to 37 MPG. Is 26.5 MPG too low for this vehicle? Let me know what you think.
Eco mode doesn’t seem to improve things much. Your MPG is pretty low. Were you carrying passengers or cargo? Did you use the heater a lot or go over 90 mph? I usually get at least 37 MPG at 75-80 mph without any battery charge.
@Blake
I drove by myself and had about 50 pounds of cargo. I’ll check again on Friday when I drive back. I was really expecting 35-40 MPG, so I was wondering if something’s wrong with the car.
Howie said: @Blake
I drove by myself and had about 50 pounds of cargo. I’ll check again on Friday when I drive back. I was really expecting 35-40 MPG, so I was wondering if something’s wrong with the car.
Was there a lot of uphill driving? That can affect your MPG.
I recently did a 3300km trip and averaged 33 MPG. A lot of it was Autobahn, so I was driving faster than 75 mph, but there were also roadworks and speed limits around cities. I wouldn’t be surprised if cold weather is affecting your range and MPG. Also, if your battery wasn’t preheated, 25 miles of EV range seems right for this temperature.
My first drive with the Kuga (the European version of the Escape) was on the highway, but I had no battery left. I averaged 35 MPG at 80 mph, but I think it can do better. For highway driving, the sweet spot seems to be around 65-70 mph.
25 miles of range seems low even with cold weather. The car is new, and it takes time for the battery estimate to adjust. After a few cycles, the estimate might improve. As for your MPG, I usually get 35-40 on the highway with a full tank and empty battery. I’m not sure why you’re seeing 26.5. Maybe the gas in your tank isn’t as fresh as it could be?
During winter, the EV-only range can drop a lot. I usually get about 16 miles on a full charge in winter, using minimal heat. As for your MPG, I get around 37 with zero battery left. If I use ECO mode while driving, the MPG can drop. I drive in normal mode on the highway for better efficiency.
Did you reset your fuel economy before starting the trip? If not, the 26.5 MPG might include less efficient driving from earlier. Also, vehicle MPG calculators are often inaccurate, usually off by at least 10%. The best way to know your real MPG is to fill the tank, reset the trip odometer, drive, then refill and calculate the actual MPG.
25 miles of range seems right for cold weather, but 26.5 MPG does seem low for the gas engine. I did a 400-mile trip a few weeks ago in cold temperatures and managed about 37 MPG at 65 mph, so your MPG seems out of the ordinary.
When I’m driving over 55 mph, I switch to EV Later mode to conserve the battery. Your MPG seems really low. I just did a trip to Cleveland and averaged 35-37 MPG. It’s surprising how much the gas mileage can vary.