CVT/Engine revs

[AJ-233]

Good day all.  I am a prospective MKZ Hybrid owner and going through the testing and pricing hoops.

 

A bit of background.  I'm a former Nissan Murano owner and understand CVT very well.  Also, the local Ford/Lincoln dealership (Taylor Ford/Lincoln) in Moncton N.B. Canada was very kind in lending me a Fusion Hybrid for a couple of days last week, during which I made a 300-mile round trip to Halifax. (They currently don't have an MKZ Hybrid in stock).  I had three passengers going and one on the return the next day.

 

I was very impressed with everything, especially the gas mileage, driving at or just above the ~65mph limit, plus a bit of city and a detour countryside loop both ways.  With litres per 100Km converted to US MPG, the Fusion told me I got 5.7 = 41.2 mpg going and 5.2 = 45.2 mpg on the return, and this equates to the litres that I put in for the trip.

 

The CVT in the car acted as I expected - on a more aggressive/abrupt right foot, I would get slight over-revving, and this is what I expect from a CVT.

 

My question relates to an online CNET review of the MKZ-H, in which the car is going at about suburban speed and we can hear the engine surging repeatedly with (we are told) no extra demand from the accelerator.  The reviewer also says that the car almost never goes into EV mode.  The video can be seen here and the segment in question starts at the 5:00 mark:

 

http://www.cnet.com/products/2014-lincoln-mkz-hybrid/

 

I wonder if an experienced owner could comment on what we see in the video, which by the way is not at all what I experienced in the Fusion Hybrid.

 

Many thanks in advance for any objective comments.  I'm anxious to get my hands on an actual MKZ-H, but I'm very curious about this issue.

 

 

[KenZ]

Good day all.  I am a prospective MKZ Hybrid owner and going through the testing and pricing hoops.

 

A bit of background.  I'm a former Nissan Murano owner and understand CVT very well.  Also, the local Ford/Lincoln dealership (Taylor Ford/Lincoln) in Moncton N.B. Canada was very kind in lending me a Fusion Hybrid for a couple of days last week, during which I made a 300-mile round trip to Halifax. (They currently don't have an MKZ Hybrid in stock).  I had three passengers going and one on the return the next day.

 

I was very impressed with everything, especially the gas mileage, driving at or just above the ~65mph limit, plus a bit of city and a detour countryside loop both ways.  With litres per 100Km converted to US MPG, the Fusion told me I got 5.7 = 41.2 mpg going and 5.2 = 45.2 mpg on the return, and this equates to the litres that I put in for the trip.

 

The CVT in the car acted as I expected - on a more aggressive/abrupt right foot, I would get slight over-revving, and this is what I expect from a CVT.

 

My question relates to an online CNET review of the MKZ-H, in which the car is going at about suburban speed and we can hear the engine surging repeatedly with (we are told) no extra demand from the accelerator.  The reviewer also says that the car almost never goes into EV mode.  The video can be seen here and the segment in question starts at the 5:00 mark:

 

http://www.cnet.com/products/2014-lincoln-mkz-hybrid/

 

I wonder if an experienced owner could comment on what we see in the video, which by the way is not at all what I experienced in the Fusion Hybrid.

 

Many thanks in advance for any objective comments.  I'm anxious to get my hands on an actual MKZ-H, but I'm very curious about this issue.

 

Mine is a 2013 MKZ-H, had it for roughly 14 months.  Total miles is 13,076 with EV miles representing 6,994 of that.  There is also 325 Regen miles in that 13,076.  

 

I looked at that video and I can honestly say my car has never been that loud.  It may have been the mic placement.  I assume the radio was off (for the filming), so I wonder if the active noise dampening even kicks in with the radio off, I think it uses white noise thru the speakers.  I have done some driving thru the Appalachian Mountains and there is some over revving and it seemed to struggle a bit up the steep hills at high speed (70 MPH+).  Other cars I have had did not struggle much on the same route, but those cars have engines that got 19-20 mpg!  I can accept a little struggle in the mountains for 40+ MPG!   

 

In testing the car, the guy may have been slowing down/speeding up (aggressive driving) all the time which keeps the car out of EV mode.  I basically just put it in eco-cruise and let the car handle the speed in traffic (with adaptive cruise control).  I've gone hundreds of miles at a time on the highway never pressing on the gas or brake myself.  I just let the car handle it.  The adaptive cruise control will even bring you to a complete stop - although it is a bit abrupt.

 

My llfetime MPG so far is just a hair over 42 mpg.  I suspect changes in elevation affect the mileage.  I drive 50+ miles to Atlanta and consistently get 2-3 MPG better mileage going to Atlanta than coming back.  It is about a 1000 foot elevation drop in those 50 miles to Atlanta.

 

The mileage has gotten better as the car has gotten older.  I had some very low MPG (around 36-38) when we had some unusually cold weather for a week or so in February.  It was down to 5-10 degrees Fahrenheit, which is the coldest I can ever remember.

 

No regrets here.  I am so impressed with the Lincoln finishes and luxury that I am have ordered a 2015 Lincoln MKC as my 2nd vehicle.  It's not a hybrid, but the regular eco-boost engine does pretty well also. 

[SteveB_TX]

I love my MKZh and highly recommend one. CNET, not so much. They are about as unqualified to review cars as consumer reports. :)

[AJ-233]

Thank you KenZ for the detailed comments. I agree that mic placement could be an issue that exaggerates the engine sound, and

it had crossed my mind that he might be a bit aggressive on the throttle.  I've already decided to get the Tech package if I buy

one and the adaptive cruise will help for sure.  What you say about steeper hills is my experience also with the Murano, though

less so with a V6 - and is what I would expect with the MKZ-H.  Your lifetime mileage is indeed very impressive.

 

Thanks to you both for the positive recommendations.  I'm anxious to give it a test.