Is the Ford Escape PHEV Boring?
The Ford Escape PHEV has incredible fuel economy. The Escape plug-in hybrid SUV provides great value, but it doesn’t get as much attention as some of its rivals. Are consumers unimpressed by the Ford Escape PHEV?
Is the Ford Escape PHEV boring?
The Ford Escape PHEV is a great economical choice. It starts at $35,455. The small SUV achieves a combined 40 miles per gallon. It has an electric-only driving range of 37 miles. The Escape PHEV makes 221 horsepower using its hybrid powertrain system.
The plug-in hybrid appears to be eligible for the revised federal electric vehicle tax incentive after the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. This makes the Escape PHEV an even more attractive deal thanks to its tax credit eligibility.
The Ford Escape PHEV is a great SUV to buy to save money on gas. Great fuel economy isn’t necessarily as exciting as other specs like horsepower and torque. While many American drivers search for vehicles that are fuel-efficient, driving dynamics are also an important factor. It’s hard to write the Escape PHEV off as boring because of its 221 horses. That’s more power than the popular Toyota RAV4. Is it the most exciting SUV in its segment? Not by a long shot.
What issues does the Ford Escape PHEV have?
MotorTrend criticizes the Escape PHEV’s interior. It isn’t as refined as some of the cabins of its rivals. The automotive publication also cites its lack of an all-wheel drive option as a con. All-wheel drive is important for many SUV buyers, especially if a driver intends on owning the vehicle for a long time.
Edmunds claims that the Ford Escape PHEV’s handling isn’t the greatest. Consumer Reports didn’t give the PHEV stellar predicted reliability or ownership satisfaction scores. Ultimately the issue with the PHEV appears to be related to its ownership experience. The plug-in hybrid may be great on gas, but it isn’t as fun to own as some of its competitors.
One of the main reasons that consumers overlook the Ford Escape PHEV is because of its main rival, the Toyota RAV4 Prime. The Toyota RAV4 Prime is a plug-in hybrid version of America’s most popular small SUV model.
The RAV4 Prime is much quicker than the average gas-powered RAV4. Its quickness and impressive standard features make the plug-in hybrid SUV a cut above many of its competitors.
The Toyota RAV4 Prime stole the Ford Escape PHEV’s thunder
The Ford Escape PHEV is a great plug-in hybrid SUV, but it’s dull compared to the Toyota RAV4 Prime. The RAV4 Prime is quicker, more powerful, and better equipped.
It starts at $40,300. The plug-in hybrid SUV uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors to make an impressive 302 horsepower. That’s nearly 100 more horses than the gas-powered RAV4. The RAV4 Prime has an electric-only driving range of 42 miles.
Drivers are excited by the RAV4 Prime because it can go from 0-60 miles per hour in about 5.7 seconds. This makes it the quickest SUV in Toyota’s lineup and one of the quickest SUVs in the SUV vehicle class. With speed like that, it’s easy to overlook Ford’s small plug-in hybrid SUV.
Read more about the Toyota RAV4 Prime in the next article below.
