Used 2022 Ford Escape

The 2022 Ford Escape compact crossover/SUV is almost really good. It offers at least two interesting drivetrains (out of four) with one being a fuel-sipping plug-in hybrid, comes with several driver assistance features as standard, has a roomy cabin for the class, and this current generation was all-new only a couple of years ago.

What prevents it from being a bigger hit is the exceptionally strong competition. Some have greater flair to their looks, others put a larger amount of standard equipment in their base models, a few have stronger resale values.

What’s more, the Escape lacks the kind of driving experience that could make those other downsides seem more bearable. When rivals are scoring nine out of a possible 10 (metaphorically speaking), a steady 7.5 isn’t quite enough.

Ford has made some great sporty vehicles in its time. The 2022 Escape isn’t one of them.

Turbo or not, a 3-cylinder engine — as found in the first three trims — isn’t going to tingle any spines. The 4-cylinder alternative is far more pleasurable to pedal, making a strong argument to buy the SEL trim and choose this unit from the options list.

Maximum fuel economy is the name of the hybrids’ game, with the plug-in variant staking a claim as one of the few of its kind in the compact crossover class. Its ability to travel for 37 miles on battery power alone is impressive. So is the 104 MPGe figure in combined driving.

Regardless of drivetrain, the suspension leans toward comfort. And sometimes leans a little too much in the corners.

Whatever each beholder makes of the 2022 Escape’s cabin (with the occasional splash of cheap plastic), it’s a little less pretty than it was last year. Ambient lighting has been removed from the cupholders.

The Escape retains a generally user-friendly dashboard and infotainment system, although the base S has a display that’s so small (4.2 inches on the diagonal) it would make owners hate themselves for not going up to the SE trim every time they went to use it.

The seats are comfortable, though. Outward vision is OK — apart from the wide rear pillars, but the standard blind-spot monitoring compensates for those. And the rotary gear selector doesn’t need much time to become familiar.

Maximum rear legroom of 40.7 inches is achieved by sliding the rear seats back. They also slide forward to optimize cargo space. That legroom is still matched by the Honda CR-V.

These rear seats also split in the time-honored 60/40 way and fold flat. The luggage area behind them measures 33.5 cubic feet, expanding to 65.4 cubic feet behind the front seats. Unless it’s a hybrid or plug-in hybrid, where it drops to 30.7/60.8 cubic feet. That smaller figure is still enough for four sets of golf clubs.

Last year, roof rails were standard on the SEL, but now they’re available as an individual option. They have a low profile, contributing to a smooth overall exterior design that surely employed aerodynamic efficiency as a guiding principle. In any event, it’s arguably agreeable.

It can be made even more so. The SE Sport Appearance package takes the second-from-bottom trim and adds black-finished 19-inch alloy wheels, along with various other exterior items all in black.

The SEL Stealth AWD package does pretty much the same thing for all-wheel-drive versions of the second-from-top trim.

New paint choices for the 2022 Escape are three metallic blues: Atlas, Iced and Stone. Antimatter and Velocity blues are dropped from the palette, as well as Bronze Fire and Desert Gold.

12.3-INCH DRIVER INFORMATION DISPLAY
Available initially as an option in the second-from-top SEL trim, it’s configurable to show all the information a driver wants, or can be pared down to the absolute essentials if required.

PLUG-IN HYBRID
The Escape PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) puts this otherwise arguably so-so Ford crossover into an intriguing area. There are rivals with the same kind of drivetrain, although the Kia Niro PHEV and Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid are smaller. The Toyota RAV4 Prime is a more direct comparison, but there are still pluses and minuses in terms of fuel economy, cost and equipment.

Trim levels for the 2022 Escape lineup are S, SE, SEL, and Titanium. The first three come standard with the 3-cylinder engine (unless they’re hybrids, of course).

The S also has 17-inch steel wheels with plastic covers, cloth upholstery, remote start/lock/unlock, and a tiny 4.2-inch infotainment display. It’s all a bit bare-bones, despite voice control for the infotainment system, Wi-Fi for up to 10 devices, plus a set of driver assistance features that include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert.

Although the S can be ordered with all-wheel drive, 17-inch alloy wheels, and new cargo organizer options, we still think stretching the budget by about $2,000 for the SE trim would be a smarter call.

Along with 17-inch alloys as standard, SE trim adds illuminated mirrors in the front shades, keyless entry/start, USB-A and USB-C ports, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with a pinch-to-zoom function, enhanced voice recognition, and voice-controlled navigation.

The SE also offers all-wheel drive, along with the choice of hybrid or plug-in hybrid drivetrains. Plus a Convenience package that brings dual-zone automatic climate control, 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, powered liftgate, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

A Cold Weather package adds heated front seats, heated steering wheel, and heated side mirrors. Co-Pilot360 Assist+ adds adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assistance, and Speed Sign Recognition (see our Safety Technology section below for more information).

SEL has a few of those SE extras as standard while adding rear parking sensors, simulated leather upholstery, keypad entry, and 18-inch alloy wheels. This trim is eligible for the bigger gasoline engine, plus the Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package and a Technology package adding hands-free liftgate operation, 12.3-inch digital driver information display, wireless charging, memory settings for the front seats, and a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system.

Titanium absorbs most of those options into its standard equipment list (including Co-Pilot360 Assist+), then adds 19-inch alloy wheels, front parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers, 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, ambient cabin lighting, self-dimming rearview mirror, and a garage door opener.

A Titanium Elite options bundle adds that B&O audio system (which was standard last year), along with perforated leather seating surfaces, wireless charging, head-up display, and a self-parking feature (also standard last year). A powered panoramic roof with accompanying power shade was part of last year’s Elite package, but becomes an individual option this year.

Apart from some hybrid instrumentation and an audible pedestrian alert, the hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants are equipped in the same way as their regular counterparts.

The base engine in the 2022 Escape is a turbocharged 1.5-liter unit with only three cylinders, as opposed to the customary four. It makes 180 horsepower and 190 lb-ft of torque. An 8-speed automatic transmission sends output to the front wheels (FWD) in standard form. All-wheel drive (AWD) is optional.

This propels the S, SE and SEL models. The SEL is also eligible for the turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that comes standard in the Titanium trim. This unit develops 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, using the same 8-speed transmission. All-wheel drive is the sole configuration with this engine.

Ford’s small print says these output figures are achieved with 93-octane gasoline. Regular 87-octane gasoline is acceptable across the board, but Ford recommends premium 91-octane gas for the turbocharged 2.0-liter engine.

Both the hybrid (HEV) and the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) deploy a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, which is paired with an electric motor for a combined output of 200 horsepower. An automatic transmission sends that to the front wheels. The Titanium HEV does offer the option of all-wheel drive.

The PHEV’s plug-in aspect means being able to recharge its bigger battery from an outside source, which allows it to cover a useful 37 miles in electric vehicle (EV) mode. Connected to a 240-volt supply, a full replenishment takes about 3.5 hours.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) calculates miles-per-gallon equivalent (MPGe) figures for plug-in hybrids that take those electric-only miles into account. The Escape PHEV is estimated to achieve an average of 105 MPGe. With a full tank and a full battery, it can travel for 520 miles. When operating as a regular hybrid, it can still manage 40 mpg.

These EPA fuel economy figures are from 2021, but we expect 2022’s to be the same.

Turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-3
181 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
190 lb-ft of torque @ 3,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 28/34 mpg (FWD), 26/31 mpg (AWD)

Turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4
250 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
280 lb-ft of torque @ 3,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 23/31 mpg

2.5-liter inline-4 + 88-kW electric motor (HEV)
200 total horsepower
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 44/37 mpg (FWD), 43/37 mpg (AWD)

2.5-liter inline-4 + 88-kW electric motor (PHEV)
200 total horsepower
EPA combined fuel economy: 105 MPGe, 40 mpg (gas/electric)
Battery-only range: 37 miles