2021 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid Review

Name: 2021 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid Review
Brand: Ford
Price: 21499 USD

Ford Escape Titanium 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

+82

The Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid is perfect for daily driving around town without using a sip of gasoline. This compact SUV is also quite comfortable, spacious and loaded with modern tech features. Ponderous handling and lackluster acceleration are its main drawbacks.

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2021 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid Review

byCameron Rogers^{Manager, News
Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at Edmunds include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).}

Pros

Long all-electric range of an EPA-estimated 37 miles
Roomy and comfortable seating
Easy-to-use controls

Cons

No all-wheel-drive option
Slightly less cargo and rear-seat space than standard Escape

What's new

New Escape Plug-In Hybrid offers an estimated 37 miles of electric range
Part of the fourth Escape generation introduced for 2020

Overview

The 2021 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid is an all-new variant of the recently redesigned Ford Escape. Ford originally said it would bring out the Plug-In Hybrid for the 2020 model year, but a variety of factors delayed the launch until this year.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid SE 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid EVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.13 per gallon for regular unleaded and $0.14 per kWh for electricity in Virginia.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$72/mo

$180/mo

Avg. Midsize SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

You can drive the Plug-In Hybrid on pure electricity for about 37 miles before it switches over to regular gasoline hybrid operation. And unlike the Escape Hybrid, you can recharge the Plug-In Hybrid either at home or at one of the growing EV networks nationwide. Essentially, the more frequently you can plug in and recharge, the less gas you'll use.

Aside from the powertrain, the Escape Plug-In Hybrid falls in line with the standard model. It's a big improvement over the previous-generation Escape thanks to more interior room, better tech and a handsome new design. Along with the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime, the Escape is an intriguing pick for a highly fuel-efficient small SUV.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Good

7.9

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

7.5/10

How does the Escape Plug-In Hybrid drive? The Escape Plug-In Hybrid's performance is overshadowed either by rival plug-ins or other Escape versions. It gives you an immediate shove forward when you hit the accelerator but is ultimately a bit slow. We took our test vehicle to our test track and measured a 0-60 mph sprint of 8.1 seconds. This is a bit better than a regular Escape Hybrid but ultimately slower than a regular Escape with the upgraded engine or the hotrod Toyota RAV4 Prime plug-in (5.6 seconds). The Escape PHEV is also a little soft and ponderous around corners. The steering can feel overly light and doesn't give you a good sense of the road or what the front tires are up to.

It's not all doom and gloom, however. While the brake pedal does require a fair push to slow the Escape, it's easy to come to smooth stops. The Escape Plug-In Hybrid also performed well in our 60-0 mph panic-stop tests.

Comfort

8.5/10

How comfortable is the Escape Plug-In Hybrid? Overall, we're happy with the level of comfort offered. The front seats are well shaped and comfortable. The rear bench — though a little flat — is also nice, offering good thigh support. Our Titanium trim test vehicle included a height-adjustable passenger seat, which is a rarity in this class. The ride quality is generally relaxed, though driving over certain bumps causes harsher impacts in the cabin than we've noticed in other Escape models.

The Escape Plug-In Hybrid moves smoothly away from a stoplight with all-electric power. The experience is noticeably more pleasant than in non-hybrid Escapes; they have an engine stop-start system that roughly brings the engine to life after you leave a stop.

The automatic climate system delivers plenty of airflow on hot days, and it features a three-stage system that allows you to set a maximum fan speed. Unlike rivals, ventilated front seats and heated rear seats are not available on any trim.

Interior

8.5/10

How’s the interior? The Escape's cabin is functional and pleasantly laid out. There's plenty of room all around, though headroom might run out for very tall rear occupants in models with the panoramic sunroof. The primary controls are easy to reach and use, and the driver's seat offers a commanding view outward. The driver's seat also has numerous adjustments that make it a cinch to dial in your preferred position. On the downside, the door armrests are a touch too narrow, and tall drivers might have a hard time seeing the projection of the available head-up display.

Technology

8/10

How’s the tech? Ford's touchscreen system is a highlight. Programming the available onboard navigation system is easy. It also helpfully shows directions and distance when a point-of-interest search returns multiple locations (e.g., a Starbucks is 1 mile forward, or 0.5 mile to the left). The Titanium trim's B&O audio system in our test model produced clear and punchy sound. Unfortunately, we did note some trim rattling with the volume turned up. Smartphone integration and charging ports are lacking — there are only two USB ports — though you can use a pair of 12-volt outlets if you have adapters.

The Escape's advanced driving aids work well and almost all are standard. Adaptive cruise control avoids the sudden braking exhibited by some competing systems, and the lane centering feature is great on the highway — it doesn't ping-pong the vehicle between lanes as some rival systems do.

Storage

8/10

How’s the storage? The Escape Plug-In Hybrid's cargo area behind the rear seats is pretty useful. We like the low floor and high seatbacks; it opens up a lot of vertical storage space before luggage impedes your rear visibility. The rear seats don't fold flat, but the outboard seat belts can be disengaged from their seat holsters so there's no obstruction while you're loading cargo. The cargo area will hold up to 60.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, which is less than the Hyundai Tucson PHEV and Toyota RAV4 Prime.

Interior storage is helped out by large cubbies in the front and sizable door pockets in the back. The cupholders have tabs to hold your drinks in place, which is an uncommon feature in this vehicle class. Easily accessible car seat anchors and tethers, plus the large rear seat, will make loading car seats a breeze.

Fuel Economy

8.5/10

How’s the fuel economy? According to the EPA, the Escape Plug-In Hybrid can travel up to 37 miles on electric power alone on a full charge, then achieve 40 mpg in combined city/highway driving using the gas engine. The latter figure is impressive since the PHEV's weight penalty is expected to reduce combined fuel economy by only 1 mpg compared to the front-wheel-drive Escape Hybrid. But we did notice that on our standardized test route that the Escape Plug-In Hybrid traveled 30.7 miles on electric power before the gas engine kicked on, or about 6 miles less than what the EPA estimated. Other plug-in hybrids we've tested have done a better job of meeting or exceeding the EPA's number.

Value

7.5/10

Is the Escape Plug-In Hybrid a good value? The Escape's interior has some nice soft-touch plastics, and hard plastics are generally silver, gloss black or otherwise textured in a way that makes the cabin look nice. The panel gaps are a little inconsistent, the interior door handles feel inexcusably cheap, and the faux wood trim won't fool anyone. We also noticed that the Titanium trim's leather upholstery is rougher and not as premium-feeling as lower trims' simulated leather.

The Escape Plug-In Hybrid costs quite a bit more than the gas-only and hybrid versions. If you qualify for them, federal and state tax credits for PHEVs narrow the gap significantly. Our Titanium test vehicle was much less expensive than a RAV4 Prime, though the Toyota comes with more features. Warranty coverage is average for the class.

Wildcard

7.5/10

The Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid isn't the most exciting vehicle to drive or look at, but it's quite sensible and will serve you well on an urban commute. Plus, its plug-in hybrid powertrain makes it quicker than the Escape Hybrid and you get a useful 37 miles of estimated EV range on a full charge. A styling update would go a long way in giving the Escape Plug-In Hybrid a more expressive personality.

Which Escape Plug-In Hybrid does Edmunds recommend?

Go with the midlevel SEL. The base SE is tempting since it has plenty of useful features. But the SEL gets you some desirable extras as standard equipment, including heated front seats and a power-adjustable driver's seat. Make sure to get the available Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package if you want traffic-adaptive cruise control.

2021 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid models

The new 2021 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid comes in three trim levels: SE, SEL and Titanium. Each one is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired to a hybrid system with a rechargeable battery. Total system output is 221 horsepower. With a full battery, you can drive it an estimated 37 miles on pure electric power. After that, it switches to regular hybrid operation.

Front-wheel drive is standard, but all-wheel drive, something you can get on the regular Escape and Escape Hybrid, isn't available. Recharging the battery pack takes 10-11 hours using a 110-volt power source, says Ford, or 3.3 hours with a Level 2 charger. Feature highlights include:

SE
The base SE model comes fairly well equipped and includes standard features such as:

18-inch alloy wheels
Keyless entry and start
Dual-zone automatic climate control
Height-adjustable driver's seat
60/40-split folding rear seat
Six-speaker audio system
8-inch touchscreen
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration
Wi-Fi hotspot
Two USB ports

Every Escape Plug-In Hybrid also comes with Ford's suite of advanced safety features, which are called Co-Pilot360. Features include:

Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)
Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position)
Automatic high-beam control

Several option packages are available for the Escape SE. They include:

Convenience package

Power liftgate
Simulated leather-wrapped steering wheel
Power-adjustable driver's seat
Rear armrest

Cold Weather package

Heated mirrors
Remote engine start
Heated and simulated leather-wrapped steering wheel
Heated front seats

Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package

Navigation system
Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Ford and the car in front)
Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)

SEL
The SEL gains a few more features, such as:

Convenience package
Cold Weather package
Foglights
Roof rails
Simulated leather upholstery
Parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible behind the vehicle when parking)

Options for the SEL include:

Technology package

Hands-free liftgate
Digital instrument panel
Driver-seat memory settings
10-speaker B&O audio system
Wireless charging pad

Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package
Towing package
Panoramic sunroof

Titanium
The top-level Titanium further adds:

Technology package (minus the charging pad)
Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package
LED headlights
Automatic wipers
Chrome exterior trim
Ambient interior lighting
Auto-dimming rearview mirror
Power passenger seat
Front parking sensors
Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention)

The Titanium can be further equipped with:

Titanium Premium package

Panoramic sunroof
Leather-wrapped steering wheel
Leather upholstery
Wireless charging pad
Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line onto the windshield)

Towing package

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid.

5 (54%)

4 (7%)

3 (9%)

2 (15%)

1 (15%)

3.7

13 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

Big upgrade from the earlier Escape and C-max

Dr. Ed'scape, 08/23/2021

2021 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid Titanium 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid EVT)

Early days with my new Titanium Escape Plug-in, but really loving it so far. This is an upgrade for me after 8 years of driving the c-max. Big improvement in size, ride, comfort, style, interior room, trunk space and range. The steering is tight and responsive. Minimal road noise. Excellent rage and averaging 35-37 miles all electric with AC on. Charging as advertised with segmented ring … that shows the charge level at a glance when plugged in. The driver display holds a lot of information and is adjustable for different levels of feedback on your hybrid driving. Braking coach tells you how well you regenerated electric back to the battery with each break. Rear seats are much thicker cusioned than the C-max with more leg room as well. There is a space under the floor of the trunk for a spare, but the 12 volt battery is mounted smack in the middle. I think a spare is an option and assume the battery moves to the side in that situation. Minus the spare, there is more room in the spare wheel well around the battery to store tools, my jumper battery, tire compressor and a few other goodies. Infotainment screen is bright and highly visible again big improvement from C-max. Voice recognition for controls is very good. Bluetooth audio for phone calls is excellent through the 10 speaker system. Stereo is impressive, but gone is the CD player (I never used that on the C-max and don't see many anymore. With Pandora, USB stick audio, I guess the cd has gone the way of the 8-track! Gone too is the sd card with navigation. Navigation updates download. The Escape has wifi and can both connect to your home wireless access point to download firmware upgrades and can provide an in-car wireless access point making use of built in cellular data service (fee after 3 month trial) Ford App is an upgrade over the MyFord Sync. Apple play also supported. The screen shows the rear view camera when reversing with guidelines showing your turn radius. There is also a proximity warning visual system surrounding a small image of the car from above showing when you get close to sides and front. Have not tried the parallel park feature as of yet. Build quality is solid. Interior features are heavily plastic but attractive and done well. Overall very pleased so far. A lot of car for the price. I considered the Rav 4 and drove one as a rental. I am liking the Escape better so far for range, mileage and not missing 4 wheel drive here in the south. UPDATE: Just hit my one year anniversary of ownership and 10k miles. Only about 600 of those miles were burning gas, includes only two tanks of gas I am now due my first oil change! Still getting 42-45 miles all electric when driving up to 45 mph and minimal heating or AC. Cannot say enough good things about this car. Update: now at 18 months and still very pleased with the Escape PHEV. The car does well in all weather. For winter months seats heat up quickly and get very warm. Steering wheel heater also nice. I have had no need for any unscheduled maintenance. I have been running the tires at 35-36 pounds and with careful driving manage 44-45 miles all electric when not using heat or A.C.

Awesome car! Fantastic Escape Titanium Plug-in!

Rick, 10/31/2021

2021 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid Titanium 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid EVT)

I've owned 3 other plug-ins made by a different manufacturer and this is miles above in all aspects. Rides like a sports car, smooth, solid, quiet, right amount of hp, feels and looks like like a luxury finish inside and out. Intuitive dash and controls. Runs great on electric only 37 miles then seamlessly switches over to gas, so no range anxiety. Charges in 3.4 hours in my garage. …

Great fuel economy and range

Average American, 07/01/2022

2021 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid Titanium 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid EVT)

I have had this for 11000 miles so far I drive 115 miles a day to and from work. I use about 5.5 to 6 gallons of gas a week. I can average 50 miles all electric around town. I drive 70 mph or so on the highway. Very comfortable and I have the Titanium trim with heads up display that is super helpful.

Blown Away

Greybeard, 04/13/2022

2021 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid Titanium 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid EVT)

I've driven a lot of SUV's and CUV's as rentals, this is the first one I've owned - and, my first Ford. (Our last five purchases were a KIA, an Audi, a couple of VW's, and a Honda.). Very impressed by the build quality. The interior materials are above average. Ride/handling is excellent for a vehicle in its class. Transition between gas and electric is very smooth. I'm easily getting …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2021 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid, so we've included reviews for other years of the Escape Plug-In Hybrid since its last redesign.

See all 13 reviews of the Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid

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2021 Escape Plug-In Hybrid Highlights

Trim:

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$32,650
EV Tax Credits & Rebates	$4,125 Based on income
Engine Type	Plug-in hybrid
EPA Electric Range	37 miles
Combined MPGe (Electric + Gas)	105 MPGe^{MPGe is the official metric that the EPA uses to measure the efficiency of alternative-fuel (including electric) vehicles. Just like regular MPG shows how far a car will travel on one gallon of gas, MPGe shows how far a vehicle will drive on 33.7kWh of electricity - the energy equivalent of one gallon of gasoline. Combined MPGe is the combined total of 45% city MPGe + 55% highway MPGe.}
Cost to Drive	$72/month
Total Charging Time (240V)	3.3 hours
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	34.4 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Escape Plug-In Hybrid models:

Evasive Steering Assist: Provides additional steering effort to avoid a potential collision if it can't be avoided by braking alone.
Lane Keeping Assist: Alerts the driver when the car starts to drift out of its lane by vibrating the steering wheel and correcting the steering if needed.
Blind Spot Information System (BLIS): Illuminates an indicator light in the side mirror when a vehicle enters the blind spot. Also includes integrated rear cross-traffic alert.

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Marginal
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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2021 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid Review

2021 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Escape Plug-In Hybrid does Edmunds recommend?

2021 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid models

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid.

Trending topics in reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

Big upgrade from the earlier Escape and C-max

Awesome car! Fantastic Escape Titanium Plug-in!

Great fuel economy and range

Blown Away

2021 Escape Plug-In Hybrid Highlights

Safety

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