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I'm hoping someone on here can answer this for me. Is the 2011 Escape Hybrid 4WD an on demand 4WD or a full-time AWD? I would love the option to put it in 4WD when weather conditions necessitate, but I'm not interested in a full-time AWD.

Thank you in advance to anyone who can offer assistance!

I'm hoping someone on here can answer this for me. Is the 2011 Escape Hybrid 4WD an on demand 4WD or a full-time AWD? I would love the option to put it in 4WD when weather conditions necessitate, but I'm not interested in a full-time AWD.

Thank you in advance to anyone who can offer assistance!

Not sure about the 2011 FEH, but the older ones are full-time AWD. This means a percentage of torque goes to the rear wheels when accelerating from a stop all the time. Ford has changed the 2011 Explorer system to get better MPG and the FWD is rated at 17/25 and the AWD is rated at 17/23. Unless the MPG rating changed in the FEH, I'd say no change was made.

GaryG

Thanks Gary. I was afraid that it was still an AWD set up. Unfortunately the description is less than forthcoming. The 4WD version is rated lower than the FWD version, so in all liklihood - I have my answer. Thanks again!

Gary,

We will be picking up a new 2011 FWD FEHL this weekend, but I wanted to follow up. According to three different dealers, the 2011 AWD is an automatic, but not full-time, feature. When slip is sensed at the front wheels, the rear wheels are engaged. I got a similar explanation from all three, without referencing what I was told by the first, second etc...

Sounds promising to me, if they are correct.

I think the problem is that there is ALWAYS some level of power going to the rear wheels. I think Ford did away with the fluid clutch pack and went to electronic somewhere in the 06-07 years (cannot recall, sold my Escape and stopped following), but Control Trac II would split it more 50/50 when it detected slip, but it's was always at 80/20 or something like that otherwise.

I always found escape-central.com to be a plentiful resource for all my Escape related questions, if it helps.

Gary,

We will be picking up a new 2011 FWD FEHL this weekend, but I wanted to follow up. According to three different dealers, the 2011 AWD is an automatic, but not full-time, feature. When slip is sensed at the front wheels, the rear wheels are engaged. I got a similar explanation from all three, without referencing what I was told by the first, second etc...

Sounds promising to me, if they are correct.

From what I have read it sounds like the same to me.