This makes sense to save the battery power for city stop-and-go driving where the electric is most efficient. One is for electric driving only, another is Automatic so chooses gas or electric as the power system computer deems appropriate, another allows you to run on gas while you maintain whatever battery charge you have. The Escape offers four battery use driving methods via a button on the console. Reducing emissions, naturally, is the big-picture advantage.Ī side note here. I have no cost figures for my evening charges for the crossover’s battery, but one suspects it would be several dollars as opposed to $20-30 for equivalent gas. The key here is running on the electric charge as much as possible. My calculations put my fuel economy at 208.1 mpge and 41.75 mpg for the gas only. Imagine that for a week’s driving of roughly 200 miles. In my week’s drive I never fully used the battery charge, so ended up needing only 0.8 gallons of gas, or just short of $4. This is perfect for folks commuting less than 30 miles daily roundtrip to work or running errands. If you have a 240-volt charger (like you would for a dryer) a charge takes about half as long. If you have a partial charge already, it can take just two to four hours for a full charge. With a plug-in, a cord with pistol grip plug connects to an outlet in the Escape’s front left fender (looks like a fuel door) and then connects to any outlet, 120- or 240-volt that is available-usually in your garage.Īt 120 volts it takes roughly 8-10 hours for a full charge that nets the Escape about 35 miles of electric charge. While standard hybrid technology has been around for a couple decades now, the plug-in system is more a past five-year phenomenon. Yet there’s one feature that sets this Escape apart in this middlers paradise, its plug-in charging system. The bright metallic red test crossover was attractive and featured a two-tone black and tan leatherette interior, the seats being tan with black trim and the dash and doors black. The test crossover was the top-level Titanium model starting at $40,130 but it crept up to $43,025 with its fancy Rapid Red Metallic paint ($395) and a Titanium preferred package, including a dual-pane sunroof, wireless charging and fancy floor mats, for $2,500.Įven at that, the test Escape is below the going rate for a new vehicle in our current supply-chain challenged world. Naturally there are varying trims and options for that gas-only powered model, plus a standard hybrid where battery power is added via regenerative braking, but the tested plug-in hybrid model starts at a still family friendly $35,185 in SE trim, and $37,920 in the preferred SEL trim. That packs just a 1.5-liter turbocharged 3-cylinder engine that still makes a healthy 180 horsepower. In fact, its nose resembles a much pricier and sportier Porsche Macan, so maybe you can fool a few neighbors.Ĭonsidering the average price of a new vehicle now is pressing $46,000 it’s nice to know a family could still Escape in this Ford for $26,800, including delivery, at its base front-drive level. Powertrain: 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, or 2.If Ford’s plug-in hybrid Escape was any more middle of the road it would have a white stripe painted down its centerline.Įscape is a fine family of four crossover with sufficient power, easy handling and good passenger and cargo room inside. What it looks like: A softer version of the current model. What it competes with: Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5, Nissan Rogue, Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV4, Volkswagen Tiguan Ford hasn’t yet shared whether fuel economy will improve for 2023, but the range estimates for how many miles drivers can get out of a full tank are in line with the current models. The overall design is basically the same, and the engine choices are still a 1.5-liter three-cylinder, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder, or a hybrid or plug-in hybrid version with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder. Otherwise, a lot carries over from the current model, which was introduced in 2019 as a 2020 model. The biggest changes are the addition of a sporty-looking ST-Line with black exterior trim, and optional new tech including a bigger infotainment screen, the ability to download over-the-air updates, and an automatic emergency braking (AEB) system that is designed to detect pedestrians when turning corners.
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