Ford Escape Plug In Hybrid, Photos, Video, Review

By: Krish Persaud
July 21, 2022

Many may recall the first-generation Ford Escape Hybrid from the early 2000s as a significantly more fuel-efficient alternative to the gas-only model of the era. The Ford Escape is currently in its fourth generation, and new to this generation is a plug-in hybrid that we were eager to test for a week.

Ford Escape Plug In Hybrid, Photos, Video, Review

The Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid SEL, generously provided by Ford Canada for a week of testing, featured 18″ Machined-Face Ebony Aluminum Wheels, Velocity Blue Metallic paint, a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen Sound System, Ford Co-Pilot 360 Assist, a 12.3-inch digital display screen, and about 60 kilometers of electric only driving on a full charge.

Under the hood, a 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle 4-cylinder gasoline engine and a 96-kW electric motor connected to a 14.4-kWh battery and mated to a electronic continuously variable transmission producing 220 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque. The Escape Plug-In Hybrid does a good job of accelerating to highway speeds, but we thought the engine was a little noisy, especially at higher rpm.

The Plug-in Hybrid models provide up to 60km of electric-only range, which is sufficient for most one-way trips, and can be easily charged with either a Level 1 charger for about eleven hours at 120v or a Level 2 charger for about three and a half hours at 240v.

The Ford Escape’s interior features ebony ActiveX seats with high-end synthetic seating material and plenty of legroom for a comfortable ride. There is enough room for four adults with plenty of legroom for the back passengers but adding a fifth person would be a challenge. You’ll be pleased to learn that the trunk is roomy enough to accommodate the entire family’s luggage.

This Ford Escape has a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a SYNC3 infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and the ability to remotely connect to the Ford Escape via the Ford App, which is easily downloadable for both Apple and Android devices. This Escape also has a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen Sound System, which does an excellent job of sound field representation; the crisp sound that comes from each speaker is comparable to premium sound systems found in luxury vehicles.

The ride is quite soft; thanks to a pleasant suspension setup that gracefully absorbs the many road imperfections on our public roads. Our test vehicle was outfitted with 225/60R18 Michelin Primacy A/S tires, which are known for their low rolling resistance. This contributes to some road noise in the cabin, but it is completely tolerable. The Escape does take corners better than some of its rivals, but it isn’t intended to be a sports sedan, so keep that in mind if you’re expecting it to impress you. The steering feel is a little hazy in the eco mode, but as you cycle through the drive modes, you’ll notice that the sport mode is a little more responsive.

The 2022 Ford Escape comes in a variety of trim levels, with the front wheel drive Escape S starting at $30,049. The top-tier Titanium Plug-In Hybrid starts at $46,599 and includes heated leather seats, a remote starter, a heated steering wheel, a 10-speaker B&O Sound System, and other features. The as-tested price of our SEL tester was $45,149, which included the SEL technology package, Class II tow package, Ford Co-Pilot assist, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and blind spot monitoring. Ford has some incentives to keep the Escape appealing to buyers while keeping pricing very competitive.

Fuel economy for the Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid with the 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle 4-cylinder gasoline engine and a 96-kW electric motor connected to a 14.4-kWh battery is rated at 2.2Le/100km of combined driving, or 5.8L/100km in Gasoline Only mode. We only had one chance to fully charge the vehicle during our week-long test and we averaged 5.5 Le/100km. The fuel savings were much appreciated, as the fuel prices were well above two dollars a liter at the time of our test. We are sure you will appreciate them as well.

The Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid brings something unique to the table: an all-electric mode with a range of up to 60 kilometers if you use the throttle liberally. Ford does an excellent job with their EV Coach system, which aids in keeping your throttle and brake inputs consistent, making it feel almost like a game every time you creep away from a freshly green light. We had a good time attempting to maximize the electric vehicle range while not hearing the engine kick in while in hybrid mode. If fuel efficiency is important to you, the Escape Plug-in Hybrid is the vehicle for you. However, buyers should be aware that the Escape Plug-in Hybrid is only available in front-wheel drive, which is unusual given that the Ford Escape non-Plug-in Hybrid is available in all-wheel drive.