2024 Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid

The Ford Escape has a long history as a trusted SUV. The Escape has the virtues you’d expect from a modern compact SUV, like a roomy interior and good fuel economy. Still, it has a few unique characteristics setting it apart, like sliding second-row seats and four powertrain options. With two turbo engines, two hybrid options, and various trim levels, there’s a Ford Escape for almost anyone who needs a practical, small SUV. The Escape competes with segment leaders like the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and Kia Sportage.

The base trim of the Ford Escape is now fleet-only. That makes the Active model the new base trim for individual consumers. Also, the hybrid powertrain is no longer available for the Active model, making the ST-Line the most affordable trim with the hybrid option. A few other minor changes: Race Red is a new paint option, and Intelligent Access with push-button start is standard on the ST-Line Elite and Platinum trims.

Before buying an Escape, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Ford Escape resale value is a bit below the segment average.

The 2024 Ford Escape is powered by a 180-horsepower turbocharged 3-cylinder engine matched with an 8-speed automatic transmission and front- or all-wheel drive. In our testing, the base 3-cylinder engine was adequate for urban errand running but struggled with passing on the highway. We also noticed it’s a bit noisy under hard acceleration.

The easiest powertrain for us to recommend is the hybrid 4-cylinder engine with 192 horsepower and a combined fuel economy rating of up to 39 mpg. With more power and better fuel economy at a small price premium over the 3-cylinder, the hybrid is a no-brainer if it fits your budget. There’s also a 210-horsepower plug-in hybrid.

The enthusiast in us prefers the available turbocharged 4-cylinder with 250 horsepower. It makes the humble Escape fun to hustle around without sacrificing comfort or practicality. Every Escape equipped with this engine comes with AWD.

The Ford Escape is a comfortable compact SUV, no matter what’s under the hood. The Escape does a nice job of providing the utility of an SUV with the efficiency and easy driveability of a compact car.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of compact SUVs, including the Ford Escape.

Fuel Economy

The base 3-cylinder engine gets a good combined fuel economy rating of up to 30 mpg with FWD and 28 mpg with AWD. The turbo 4-cylinder engine has a slight fuel economy penalty but doesn’t require premium gas; it gets 26 mpg.

The conventional hybrid is rated at 39 mpg with both FWD and AWD. The plug-in hybrid claims an all-electric range of up to 37 miles and returns 40 combined mpg in gas-electric hybrid operation.

For reference, the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 both get up to 40 combined mpg with their conventional hybrid powertrains and 30 mpg with their base engines. The plug-in hybrid variant of the RAV4 gets a 42-mile all-electric range, and the Kia Sportage PHEV gets a 34-mile electric range.

According to EPA estimates, the monthly fuel cost of the hybrid is about $37 less than the base engine with FWD and $62 less than the turbo-4. If you compare the monthly fuel costs of the conventional hybrid and the plug-in hybrid, the plug-in is cheaper to run by about $41/month.

We like the roomy and flexible interior of the Ford Escape. We found the front seats comfortable and supportive but noticed some cheap interior materials in the lower trims. However, it can get pretty fancy with options like ActiveX seat upholstery, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, and a B&O premium audio system.

The SYNC 4 infotainment system is feature-rich and user-friendly. It has a standard 8-inch screen, and it’s upgradeable to a 13.2-inch screen with more features. Smartphone connectivity is effortless thanks to standard wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay on every Escape.

One of our favorite features is the sliding second-row seats. These make it easy to optimize the passenger and cargo space in the Escape depending on your needs, and it’s an uncommon feature in this class.

We’re impressed with the adult-friendly rear seats with 40.7-inch rear legroom when slid all the way back. Cargo space is also above average, with 34.4 cubic feet of room behind the rear seats and up to 65.4 cubic feet when the rear seats are folded down.

Ford recently gave the Escape a facelift, which still looks fresh in 2024. The bold front end reminds us of the midsize Ford Edge, and the ST-Line trims add a sportier aesthetic.

Mechanical variety
Four unique powertrain options ensure a Ford Escape for everyone. Two turbocharged engines are available, plus a conventional hybrid and a plug-in hybrid.

Efficient hybrids
The efficient Escape Hybrid gets a combined fuel economy rating of 39 mpg with both FWD and AWD. The plug-in hybrid is more powerful and efficient, and it can travel up to 37 miles on electricity alone.

Ford Co-Pilot360
The standard Ford Co-Pilot360 safety tech suite brings many driver assistance features to the Escape. Standard features include automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and automatic high beams. Additional optional features include adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, speed sign recognition, and a 360-degree camera.

Sliding rear seats
Sliding rear seats are rare in this class, but they come standard in the Ford Escape. These provide lots of legroom in the rear seats, and you can customize your cargo area to optimize the space.

SYNC 4
The standard SYNC 4 infotainment system is loaded with features, notably wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. You can upgrade the standard 8-inch screen to a 13.2-inch screen and add more features like navigation.

Available B&O audio system
The optional B&O 10-speaker premium audio system brings your music to life and makes the cabin of the Escape feel (and sound) like a more premium SUV.

Two turbocharged engines are available in the Ford Escape; an efficient and affordable 3-cylinder with 180 horsepower and a stronger 4-cylinder with 250 horsepower. There are also two hybrid options; a conventional hybrid with 192 horsepower and 39 combined mpg, and a 210-horsepower plug-in hybrid with a 37-mile all-electric range.

For most drivers, the conventional hybrid is the one we’d recommend. It has an excellent balance of performance, efficiency, and value.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

The Ford Escape is backed by a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. This coverage is average for this class. Both hybrid models get an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty on hybrid components.

Safety

The Ford Escape has earned a 5-Star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the top “Good” rating in all but one crashworthiness category by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Standard safety features in the Escape include automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and automatic high beams.