Ford has announced important specifications for the new Escape Plug-in Hybrid. The compact crossover SUV is expected to provide 37 miles of electric driving range, boasts what Ford claims is a class-leading EPA fuel economy rating of 100 MPGe (41 mpg operated only on gas), and will be priced at $33,040 when it goes on sale later this year in SE, SEL, and Titanium trim levels.
“The original Ford Escape was the world’s first hybrid SUV and the all-new Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid represents how far we’ve come in technology and efficiency,” said Hau Thai-Tang, Ford chief product development and purchasing officer. “The all-new Escape plug-in has more power and more passenger space than the Fusion Energi plug-in, as well as up to four times the cargo volume behind its second-row seats.”
While Ford might be right to favorably compare the Escape plug-in to the outgoing Fusion plug-in, looking beyond the borders of Dearborn there are two primary competitors available now or soon, with more of them almost certainly on the way.
The first is the Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in, with a base price of $36,295. It supplies 22 miles of electric driving range, is EPA-rated to get 74 MPGe, and provides 25 mpg in combined driving when using only on gasoline. The electrified Outlander makes a total of 190 horsepower, 10 fewer ponies than the Escape plug-in.
Toyota also has a new PHEV going on sale. It’s the RAV4 Prime, and while its more expensive than the Ford and Mitsubishi, it also delivers 42 miles of electric driving range and a jaw-dropping 302 horsepower. Plus, it comes with standard all-wheel drive, which isn’t even available for the Ford. Downsides include a base price of $38,100, and the estimated fuel economy figure of 94 MPGe isn’t quite as good as the Escape.
Of this trio, however, the Escape Plug-in Hybrid offers value if not outright performance. The base price of $33,040 applies to SE trim, while the Escape SEL Plug-in Hybrid will cost $35,620 and the Escape Titanium Plug-in Hybrid window-stickers for $38,835. The destination charge is $1,245. And don’t forget that after you apply any federal income tax or state rebates and incentives, the price of the new Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid will be even lower.
Ford, Mitsubishi, and Toyota are the sources of information for this article. It was accurate on June 8, 2020 but may have changed since that date.
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