It possesses reasonable performance, though nothing like the stirring acceleration of the 2.0-litre turbo that makes the regular Escape the sprinting star of the mid-size SUV segment. This consists of a 2.5-litre Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine and a 14.4kWh battery pack that combine for 167kW. Gone is the 183kW/387Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that makes the regular Escape such a strong performer and in its place is a new hybrid powertrain. Where the 2022 Ford Escape PHEV really differs from its siblings is under the bonnet. Unlike some cars, which sacrifice space in order to accommodate a plug-in hybrid drivetrain, the Escape PHEV offers exactly the same luggage-carrying as its standard counterparts. In addition, there’s a 12V outlet, bag hook, quartet of tie-down points and a space-saver spare lives under the floor. On the safety side you’re well catered for, with adaptive cruise control including stop-and-go traffic function, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind spot detection, lane keep assist, rear cross traffic alert with auto braking, traffic sign recognition, driver monitoring and more.įront and rear parking sensors are also standard with a reversing camera, though as mentioned the front camera fitted to this test car is part of an option pack.īoot space is a useful 556 litres, which expands to 1478L with the 60/40-split rear seat folded down, which can be done via levers on the sides of the boot. But at north of $50K it’s up against the likes of the top-spec Kia Sportage (soon to include hybrid power) and Outlander which do a much better job of offering a premium environment. At the standard Escape ST-Line’s $38,490 plus ORCs price point, the interior raises few questions. This is, again, where the issue of price raises its ugly head. Until the arrival of the new-generation 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, which is likely to carry a similar price tag, the Escape’s closest rivals are the much more expensive Peugeot 3008 PHEV (from $79,990 plus ORCs), the more affordable MG HS PHEV (from $46,990 drive-away) and the smaller Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV (from $50,490 plus ORCs). Now that it’s here, the 2022 Ford Escape PHEV is priced right at the top of the mainstream mid-size SUV segment, among the likes of the – admittedly conventionally powered – Kia Sportage GT-Line, Hyundai Tucson Highlander and Mazda CX-5 Akera. Today’s marker is also up from the $52,940 plus ORCs announced in February 2020, but that was just as the COVID-19 pandemic was taking hold and delays and cost blowouts have struck the industry – including Ford – since then.īattery fires in Europe forced a stop-sale of the Escape PHEV overseas too. Launch pricing starts at $53,440 plus on-road costs but this will increase by $1000 from July 1, 2022, Ford citing increased production and freight costs. Compared to the Escape ST-Line FWD on which it’s based, the 2022 Ford Escape PHEV costs an extra $15,000 – or, put another way, a premium of almost 40 per cent.
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