Hybrid for predominantly highway driving?

[ttthhasdf]

Uh, does being in Indiana mean being, well, dumb? I'm really not trying to be rude, but couldn't think of another word to explain passing on what is clearly the best deal out there if favor of gaining a second of the line. The OP says he doesn't care about that. Again, sorry for my language.

I think he means flat.

Sponsored

 

[Spook]

Here is an observation I haven't seen on this site yet. I am driving my second hybrid, a 2018 Honda Accord. I noticed that in the summer I get higher mileage figures. My analysis tells me that's because of the air conditioner that runs on battery power, not engine power directly. In the winter, the heater needs warm or hot water to make heat. That requires the engine to run longer to get up to the level to produce heat according to the settings you have. That gives me a few MPG less in the colder months. Watch yours and see if you notice the same thing over time.

 

[James D]

My daily commute is about 30 miles each way. First 5 miles or so are country road, then a 65 mpg highway for about 19 miles - this road is 99% of the time clear and not traffic jam stop and go, then about 4 miles city. Any errands I run are mostly city departures from daily commute, camping and stuff is mostly highway or country roads going the other way. I drive a hybrid now and would not ever consider the ecoboost. The only reason I got interested in the mav was because it had hybrid. The hybrid will be a little better on the highway and a even more better in the city and town and country. Anyone who says ecoboost will be better hasn't driven a hybrid much. I only wish it was plug in.

Hybrids are sold out until 2023 model so it is a moot point unless you want to wait that long for a Mav.

Here is why I ordered an eco now. This will be my road trip vehicle. Only 4 MPG hwy less to me justifies way more power and capability. It's more fun to drive in sport mode, safer passing, more towing, a transmission cooler and better response even when not towing with its lower final-drive ratio on the 4k tow package, AWD is much safer on wet or snowy roads plus not forced to chain up.

Adding AWD at $3303 includes the eco engine and an upgraded suspension. Adding the tow package is only $745. A Mav eco with all this extra capability for only 4mpg less hwy makes sense. I did not buy FX4 because this low profile truck is really for dirt roads to the camp which AWD handles fine (plus I did not want to lose sport mode on a 250hp engine).

I am not Ford sales rep but here is an idea...
Buy the eco now, the line is a lot shorter for this version. Use it for vacations. Then buy a hybrid in 2023 and use it as a daily to save mpg city driving. The cheap XL will be fine in the city since it is almost impossible to use cruise anyway.

You will have 2 trucks for the price of 1 full size. And the trucks will last longer because you are not putting all the miles just on one.

 

[James D]

My daily commute is about 30 miles each way. First 5 miles or so are country road, then a 65 mpg highway for about 19 miles - this road is 99% of the time clear and not traffic jam stop and go, then about 4 miles city. Any errands I run are mostly city departures from daily commute, camping and stuff is mostly highway or country roads going the other way. I drive a hybrid now and would not ever consider the ecoboost. The only reason I got interested in the mav was because it had hybrid. The hybrid will be a little better on the highway and a even more better in the city and town and country. Anyone who says ecoboost will be better hasn't driven a hybrid much. I only wish it was plug in.

Sorry one more thing. If you plan on trying to snag a hybrid from a lot get ready to pay +10k which more than wipes out any fuel savings. The other reason to order an eco now besides a shorter wait is the price. With all the supply chain issues and the magnesium shortage, I have to imagine Ford will have to raise MSRP just like Tesla did recently.

 

[brnpttmn]

Hybrids are sold out until 2023 model so it is a moot point unless you want to wait that long for a Mav.

......

I am not Ford sales rep but here is an idea...
Buy the eco now, the line is a lot shorter for this version. Use it for vacations. Then buy a hybrid in 2023 and use it as a daily to save mpg city driving. The cheap XL will be fine in the city since it is almost impossible to use cruise anyway.

You will have 2 trucks for the price of 1 full size. And the trucks will last longer because you are not putting all the miles just on one.

He already answered the delay issue...

Time frame isn't an issue. I don't need anything immediately. ...

On the "buying two trucks" suggestion, that's neither a reasonable nor smart decision when cost is a factor.

 

[staryoshi]

Uh, does being in Indiana mean being, well, dumb? I'm really not trying to be rude, but couldn't think of another word to explain passing on what is clearly the best deal out there if favor of gaining a second of the line. The OP says he doesn't care about that. Again, sorry for my language.

It snows.

 

[James D]

He already answered the delay issue...



On the "buying two trucks" suggestion, that's neither a reasonable nor smart decision when cost is a factor.

It is reasonable to get an eco and a hybrid mav if the other choice is to buy a full size for 2x the cost of one at 1/2 the mpg. Unless you need to tow 7,000 lbs of course.

You can even get both an eco XL FWD and a hybrid XL for just about the price of one Santa Cruz Ltd.

 

[brnpttmn]

It is reasonable to get an eco and a hybrid mav if the other choice is to buy a full size for 2x the cost of one at 1/2 the mpg. Unless you need to tow 7,000 lbs of course.

You can even get both an eco XL FWD and a hybrid XL for just about the price of one Santa Cruz Ltd.

As far as I've read, the OP never states a preference/choice other than a hybrid Maverick, so a hypothetical full sized $50,000 truck has nothing to do with the OP's question. He has said he doesn't need to tow. Doesn't need AWD. Doesn't care about the additional power of the EB. Literally, there's no value in him getting an EB, especially as a second Maverick.

 

[James D]

As far as I've read, the OP never states a preference/choice other than a hybrid Maverick, so a hypothetical full sized $50,000 truck has nothing to do with the OP's question. He has said he doesn't need to tow. Doesn't need AWD. Doesn't care about the additional power of the EB. Literally, there's no value in him getting an EB, especially as a second Maverick.

Got it, thanks for clarifying. I guess value of an eco to him is he can order one now, maybe sell it and get a 2023 hybrid if he does not want to keep both. For others who would have normally spent $50k on a full size, they can get his and hers mavs if they want to instead.

 

[MattIngram]

My commute would have a good mix of stop and go traffic and highway. Also, I would use it to run errands in town, so a fair amount of stop and go traffic. I don’t take my vehicle off roads, nor am I the outdoors type and traveling down gravel roads/trails. I’m not interested in towing anything major b/c I’d be afraid to jackknife it. I live in the transition zone, so not a lot of snow, or ice and I have a 4 wheel drive bronco sport for that. I don’t care if my engine drones b/c I don’t like to talk on the phone while driving and nobody will likely be in my truck except me, except for the occasional errand. My use case exactly fit the hybrid, which is what I ordered but I do understand that others may have a different set of criteria than what I listed above and chose the AWD Ecoboost. All that to say that ultimately, it’s about your use case and which one fits best.

 

[rlhdweman]

So it's time for a new vehicle. My 95 Ram is still running good, but it's seen better days.

Front suspension needs rebuilt, interior is in pieces due to various electric fixes, plus diesel is getting expensive!

I was already considering a hybrid, so the Maverick hybrid coming along, and at its price point, made me steer away from the typical mainstream models and towards it. The pickup style is just more useful to me than a sedan or hatchback.

Thing is most of my commute is highway. First part of my day is 5 miles of 35 to 45mph state route with no stops, then 3 miles of 35 to 50 with stop lights, 30 miles of highway, then about 2 miles of city streets when I get into town to work.

Weekend trips with the family or quick trips in to town are handled in my wife's van. Those quick weekend trips to the store would be done in the Maverick when purchased, so it would see a bit more in town mileage vs my current truck.

So I've been doing lots of reading and learning, but would I really benefit as much from the hybrid with mostly highway use?

Couldn't care less about the power of the Ecoboost over the hybrid. 160hp in a 26 year old 3/4 ton automatic truck gives a new definition to slow!

For your use you should be getting the hybrid, it meets the needs you listed, will be a grand less than an EB. What you described would be combined MPG, which is going to be 25-26 for the EB & around 35-36 for the hybrid. There is nothing you won't be able to do with the hybrid vs a FWD EB. I personally chose the FWD EB because I prefer having the extra power available, I drive about 4,000 miles a year so its only going to cost me an extra $100 per year in fuel & if I have a hybrid I would have to pay $100 per year more for registration. If I had a long commute each day, then I would have chose the hybrid.

 

[nick112288]

Not really a concern where I live. Southwest corner of Indiana.

For the last decade we've had maybe 1 or 2 bad days a winter. Even those I was able to handle in my RWD truck so a FWD vehicle should be fine.

 

[nick112288]

Hybrid parts of the powertrain also have a longer warranty at 8 years 100K miles, and the Ecoboost is unfortunately an older direct-injection design, meaning that carbon buildup isn't a matter of "if" but "when" so is just another maintenance item to factor in going turbo. And don't believe those peeps that say you can clean it off with your $15 sprays, not gunna happen:


I would expect more reliability and less maintenance from the simple "e-CVT" transmission over the 8-speed as well, as the e-CVT is more or less the same type of transmission you see in a Toyota Prius which last forever.

The only real downside I could think of in your use scenario is that the hybrid's 12V battery is stored under the rear seat, so you get a bit less backseat storage, and the hybrid ICE under load is louder than the turbo which will be quieter thanks to more midrange power and the extra muffling effect of the turbo in the exhaust.

For those that don't mind the power delta and don't need AWD, there's really very little way to justify the Ecoboost over the hybrid. Even for those that think they drive "pure highway", fact is sometimes you run into heavy traffic which is a lot of stop and go, and usually if you live in the suburbs and your destination is somewhere in the city you end up driving at least a little through stop signs and red lights and the like, and hybrid can't be beat for that portion.

Good reasons to go ecoboost:
1) Want better performance out of the box AND much better performance modified running a bit more boost on 93 octane.
2) Need AWD
3) Need 4K towing
4) Can't wait for hybrid

One of the advantages of driving a 26 year old 3/4 ton diesel is that there is no such thing as any new vehicle that's too loud on the inside haha

 

[8211badger]

It snows.

Good tires and a functioning brain are more important than awd when it snows.

 

[STARCOMMTREY1]

Eco for the hwy by far! MPG hwy is not much different even with way more power, more fun to drive in sport mode, safer passing, more towing with 4k, AWD much safer when wet or snowing and not forced to chain up.

Plus hybrids are sold out anyway.

Why eco for the hwybwhen all the reviewers are getting 35 plus out of the hybrid?

Sponsored