5 of the Best Ford SUVs to Consider, According to MotorTrend
SUVs have risen in popularity in the last decade and they continue to be the vehicle of choice for many drivers. Owners turn to these sport utility vehicles for the ride height and their safer body structure over what the sedans offer.
Manufacturers are taking advantage of that and producing a whole lineup of SUVs, so consumers can find one that meets their needs. MotorTrend offers a list of the best Ford SUVs with their respective scores earned from the publication’s tests. Which ones made the top five? Let’s take a look.
2022 Ford Bronco Sport
The highest-rated Ford SUV from MotorTrend is the Bronco Sport, which received a 9 out of 10 overall score. The site reviewers were impressed with its driving experience, reporting that it was quiet and comfortable when traveling on your typical roads.
When it comes to going off-road, this model handles it with ease, thanks to its independent rear suspension. Storage was another area that pleased the editors. They found several storage solutions that proved to be useful for personal items.
Powering up the Ford Bronco Sport are two engine options. The base runs on a 1.5-liter 3-cylinder producing 181 hp, which offers plenty of power to go from 0 to 60 mph in 8.6 seconds. You can upgrade to the 2.0-liter turbo-four generating 250 hp, which will get you an acceleration time of 6.5 seconds.
Both engines are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy is average with an estimated 25 mpg in the city and 28 mph on the highway.
2022 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid
The Ford Escape PHEV is the second highest-rated Ford SUV on the MotorTrend list with an overall score of 8.9 out of 10 possible points.
When it comes to the Pros of this vehicle, the editors loved the fact that the PHEV model had one of the largest ranges for electric-only driving.
At 37 miles of electric range, the Escape is one of the leaders in its segment. If you add the gas-powered engine, which is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder, you can increase the range to 520 approximate miles.
As for fuel economy, you can’t go wrong with an EPA rating of 105 mpge or 40 mpg with the gas engine only. Cargo space is the largest in its segment with 34 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 61 cubic feet total.
2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E
The Ford Mustang Mach-E is Ford’s all-electric SUV model, which comes with AWD versions among the different trim levels as well as heated front seats and a heated steering wheel as standard equipment.
It comes with RWD, and that drivetrain has one electric motor that generates 266 hp for the base and 290 hp for the Premium trim. It scored 8.8 out of 10 with MotorTrend, despite the controversy surrounding its design.
You can upgrade to the AWD version, which produces the same horsepower as the RWD in the base, but it can generate 346 hp for all-wheel drive. The electric motor setup in the Premium trim gets you acceleration times of 6.0 seconds for RWD on a 0 to 60 mph run, and 4.8 seconds for AWD.
As for the driving range on the battery, you can expect 230 miles for the base, 300 miles for the Premium trim (RWD), 270 miles for the GT model, and 260 for the GT Performance Edition.
2022 Ford Expedition
The largest SUV Ford offers is the Expedition, which scored 8.7 out of 10 possible points. Due to its size, fuel economy is on the low side with 17 mpg on city roads and 23 mpg on the highway.
Ford’s massive three-row SUV offers a hands-free driving system, 12-inch touchscreens, and a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine producing 440 hp. Paired with it is a 10-speed automatic transmission.
You can expect RWD as standard on this model, but you can upgrade to a 4WD version, which drops fuel economy to 16 mpg in the city and 22 mpg when traveling on the highway. Its 4WD model offers an acceleration time of 6.2 seconds for 0 to 60 mph.
An extended model gets you a 6.9-second time, and if you choose the Timberline trim with a 440 hp engine, you can get up to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds.
2022 Ford Escape Hybrid
The fifth SUV on the list that has one of the highest scores is the Ford Escape’s Hybrid version. The same model in the plug-in version was addressed earlier, but this one scored 8.3 out of 10 points.
One of the most impressive features of this model is its fuel economy ratings. Its 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and electric motor setup produce 200 hp total and can get 44 mpg in the city with 37 mpg on the highway. Acceleration time for the AWD model is 8.7 seconds for a 0 to 60 mph run.
The MotorTrend editors also liked how well the hybrid model drove. Handling was spot on and the reviewers felt the brakes performed well. With this version, you get an 8-inch touchscreen, and a six-speaker stereo system as standard, but you could get a 10-speaker B&O audio system added if you wanted.
Ford has several SUVs in its lineup, but according to MotorTrend, the top five include Bronco Sport, Escape PHEV, Mustang Mach-E, Expedition, and the Escape Hybrid. Each one of the best Ford SUV models impressed the reviewers enough to score reasonably well in the publication’s tests.
