Ecoboost or Hybrid?

[Razor802]

I had a '22 Lariat EB and now have a 24 Lariat hybrid. Note that I live in a mild climate, coastal San Diego CA. Cold here is 40-45 F.

My EB was very peppy, I drive consevatively and got 31 mpg using 87 gas. I did not have any recalls etc. in the 20 months I owned the EB.

My hybrid sits at 45.9 mpg combined city/freeway using 87 octane. I have not had deep sleep issues although after sitting a few days, fewer courtesy lights etc. come one when the door is opened. I had 3 software recalls performed at once; Sync 3, tail lights and I forget #3, all done in my driveway by dealer's mobil service.

Last week I hauled 1,300 lbs of RTA, Ready-to-Assemble kitchen cabinets in my hybrid. I did not even notice the load driving on the freeway at 55-60 mph.

Fuel prices are only going up. I like seeing the DTE range show 580-600ish miles to empty when I fill it up. I spend less time at the gas pump.

That’s great fuel economy out of both!

Sometimes an argument is made that when a mostly highway driver, the EB is the answer over hybrid. I think the hybrid always wins the fuel economy race, but I wonder if you drove really fast often if they’d get closer.

My hybrid took a pretty big fuel economy hit in the winter with winter gas and more engine run time for heat, but it was so amazing in the summer that it’s still pretty awesome.

I personally wouldn’t consider the ecoboost for my needs/goals (fuel economy, tow short distances occasionally) and am looking forward to getting my 2025 AWD 4K Hybrid!

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[dochawk]

I just ordered a 25'

Longest Maverick ever!



I don't think that the F-150 even hits an honest 20' . . .

Prius towing 16,000 lbs gooseneck:

Prius after towing 16,000 lbs:

I think the hybrid always wins the fuel economy race, but I wonder if you drove really fast often if they’d get closer.

I think you can make a broad generalization that the fuel economy gap between a more and less powerful engine narrows under heavy loads.

 

[Razor802]

Longest Maverick ever!



I don't think that the F-150 even hits an honest 20' . . .






Prius after towing 16,000 lbs:

I think you can make a broad generalization that the fuel economy gap between a more and less powerful engine narrows under heavy loads.

speed limits are pretty low for me (62 mph/ 100 kph), but what if you drove 80 mph most of the time. Would the ecoboost beat the hybrid on efficiency?

 

[Prickly Pear]

I used to get in the left lane and keep up with the fastest traffic - always scared the crap out of my wife and son. Last few years I have moved to the right and taken it a little slower. Get better MPG In all my vehicles, and being retired I guess I'm not in as big of a hurry.
I have not calibrated my computer yet (still on the first tank of gas) but last trip to my son's house I apparently got there on one gallon! Half interstate (60-70) and half state highway (45-55).

 

[dochawk]

but what if you drove 80 mph most of the time. Would the ecoboost beat the hybrid on efficiency?

I don't know if it would fully close it, but that's certainly the kind of situation where you would expect the gap to close.

 

[Johnny maverick]

speed limits are pretty low for me (62 mph/ 100 kph), but what if you drove 80 mph most of the time. Would the ecoboost beat the hybrid on efficiency?

The ecoboost gets thirsty after 75ish. I get my best economy 32 hightest 35 around 60mph. A friend of mine has the hybrid and travels the same highway route going 80 and gets 36. Hybrid is definitely more efficient. It's has less horse's to feed.

 

[mcracer6]

Really don't see the justification for the added expense of the Hybrid. I get in the mid 30s for the MPG. The hybrid cannot maintain speed in hybrid mode and switches to gas at the 10% mark on the weird power gauge. I drove 97 miles in a trip and 7 miles were hybrid...I got better mileage in a 2.0 Chevy Malibu.
This is a company vehicle, had no choice. Too small cannot fit 4 adults comfortably. Its a small car with an big uncovered trunk.

 

[710-oil-614]

Really don't see the justification for the added expense of the Hybrid. I get in the mid 30s for the MPG. The hybrid cannot maintain speed in hybrid mode and switches to gas at the 10% mark on the weird power gauge. I drove 97 miles in a trip and 7 miles were hybrid...I got better mileage in a 2.0 Chevy Malibu.
This is a company vehicle, had no choice. Too small cannot fit 4 adults comfortably. Its a small car with an big uncovered trunk.

There is no added expense for the hybrid.

The point of the hybrid is not to drive in electric only most of the time although it is great when it does. You might have gotten better highway MPG in a 2.0 Malibu but you don't in the city.

 

[mcracer6]

There is no added expense for the hybrid.

The point of the hybrid is to drive in electric only most of the time although it is great when it does. You might have gotten better highway MPG in a 2.0 Malibu but you don't in the city.

In the city or the highway you can't maintain the speedlimit without exceeding 10% power, then it switches to gas. Then you have to coast to turn the electric back on, then go over 10% to gas...nevermind the electric doesnt kick in over 70mph....Kinda useless.

 

[710-oil-614]

In the city or the highway you can't maintain the speedlimit without exceeding 10% power, then it switches to gas. Then you have to coast to turn the electric back on, then go over 10% to gas...nevermind the electric doesnt kick in over 70mph....Kinda useless.

The entire idea of a hybrid drivetrain is to blend power from both gas and electric motors. Not run electric OR gas.

 

[Razor802]

In the city or the highway you can't maintain the speedlimit without exceeding 10% power, then it switches to gas. Then you have to coast to turn the electric back on, then go over 10% to gas...nevermind the electric doesnt kick in over 70mph....Kinda useless.

I think the bottom line is what matters…. Oversll fuel economy.

When I first got my 24 I was steady driving for economy trying to beat my personal best with each trip. Over time I got tired of that. Now I just drive normal and the fuel economy is still there.

How often it can use electric, at which speed, etc. is not nearly as important as the overall result which it seems from reports bests the ecoboost by a fair bit.

 

[Oscarcat]

I agree with Razor802. At first I tried to control it. Now I just drive. Combined city/hwy mpg today 45.5.

 

[Phimosis]

I agree with Razor802. At first I tried to control it. Now I just drive. Combined city/hwy mpg today 45.5.

I’ve had 2 Priuses and done nearly 300k miles in them. I drove them fast and hard. In the city, I use the throttle like and on/off switch: Wide open, or shut off. On the freeway, cruise control was always set between 80-85 mph. They still always returned over 40 mpg, even in windy or rainy conditions that increase drag. Instead of trying to hyper-mile, I do the opposite and try to get from point A to point B as fast as possible.

When I drive my ecoboost maverick like that, it returns 14 mpg in the city and 22 on the hwy.

 

[Waterick]

Unless you’re towing up grades consistently the hybrid will deliver plenty of torque - especially well before 3k rpm.
Folks saying the hybrid will need to ring out to 5500rpm for the 2.5 Atkinson don’t understand the hybrid drivetrain and fundamentally don’t understand torque and towing.

A hybrid will be better at getting the load moving no matter how heavy it is. The instant torque of the electric combined with the 2.5 maxes at a pretty low RPM. This also reflected in the fact that the CV axle problems are more frequent in the hybrid than the EB. I would generally agree that the higher the speeds the more the EB would be the better performer, but those speeds are higher than 45-60 MPH depending on many other environmental factors.

 

[Razor802]

I just got stuck in a few inches of snow, with studded winter tires with my fwd 2024 hybrid. That is a rare occurrence that fwd gets in a jam like that, but it happens and I am looking forward to the 2025 awd hybrid I have scheduled for the week of January 6.

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