2024 Ford Escape Hybrid | A Bit of Sportiness in a Boxy SUV World
There’s no shortage of competition in the small SUV segment, and while most SUVs on the market seem to be chasing the ‘Adventure-Ready’ design trend, the Ford Escape forgoes the ‘boxy/rugged’ look. Instead, it displays a sporty and sophisticated demeanor, leaving the adventure to its platform-mate, the ‘baby Bronco’, Bronco Sport.
Thin LED headlights with LED signature lighting come standard, while the ST-Line models -like the one that Ford lent us for a week- boast a sleek black mesh grille complemented by an available LED light strip also known as the Coast-to-Coast LED light bar running along the length of the hood. These design elements give the Escape a confident presence on the road and help to set it apart from its competitors. ST-Line models also include a larger body-color rear spoiler, body-colored side rocker moldings, and unique rear under-skid plates.
Considering that the Escape is Ford’s lowest-priced SUV, they don’t skimp on the standard and available interior features.
As you might expect the base Active trim features cloth seats, but they still look sporty and can be optioned with heated front seats as part of the $995 Cold Weather Package. The Cold Weather Package also adds a heated steering wheel, heated side mirrors, and a remote starter. I’m from New Hampshire, so this package would be tops on my list.
The ST-Line Elite model that we drove came with available leather-trimmed seats featuring a quilted inset design and red contrast stitching. Although they look sporty, these seats were surprisingly well-cushioned and quite comfortable. I drove a bit more than usual the week that I had it and never felt any discomfort or fatigue on longer drives.
Equipped with the standard SYNC 4 system and 8-inch touchscreen, the Escape offers seamless integration with your smartphone through standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. For the more tech-savvy among us, an optional 13.2-inch touchscreen with built-in Connected Navigation is available.
Under the hood, the Escape offers a choice of powertrains. The base model features a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline 3-cylinder Ecoboost engine, delivering 180 horsepower to the front wheels or available all-wheel drive through an 8-speed automatic transmission. For those seeking more power, an available 2-liter turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine pumps out 250 horsepower, paired with all-wheel drive and the same 8-speed transmission.
The 1.5-liter gets a 2024 EPA rating of 27 city/34 highway while the all-wheel drive equipped 1.5-liter is rated at 26 city/highway. The 2.0-liter get a 2024 EPA rating of 23 city/31 highway.
The Escape also offers two eco-friendly hybrid options.
All but the base Active trim can be ordered with a 2.5-liter Atkinson Cycle inline 4-cylinder engine paired with an electronic continuously variable transmission delivering a system net 192 horsepower.
The Escape Plug-in hybrid also features the 2.5-liter but with a slightly higher net horsepower rating and can travel up to 37 gas-free miles on a full charge. (2023 EPA estimates).
Like the conventional gas engines, the hybrid powertrain can be ordered with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, while the Escape Plug-in Hybrid only offers a front-wheel drive configuration.
The EPA rates both front or all-wheel drive-equipped 2024 Escape Hybrid models at 42 city/36 highway. The PHEV delivers an EPA combined city/highway rating of 40 mpg when running on gas only. The total range for the PHEV with a full tank and full charge is 520. It’s kind of amazing really, in theory you can get from Boston to New York City and back on a full tank and still have 90 miles left.
The Escape Plug-in Hybrid also qualifies for a $3,750 Federal tax credit. That pretty much covers the cost difference between the Escape Platinum and the Escape PHEV.
Standard safety features on the Escape include Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection, Roadside Departure Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane-Keep Assist, and BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) with Cross-Traffic Alert
There’s also a long list of available safety features including Active Park Assist 2.0 with Front and Rear Parking Sensor, Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go, Lane Centering, and Speed Sign Recognition.
The Escape also includes a mini steel spare wheel, you’d think that wouldn’t be a noteworthy inclusion, but manufacturers are getting quite stingy with the spare tires, and I’m sorry but there are a lot of situations where a bottle of ooze and a small compressor just don’t cut it. I’m glad to see it here.