2021 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid Review

Name: 2021 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid
Brand: Ford

Price: $19,990

Good

7.9

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

The 2021 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.

See all features & specs

Price & Payment

Select year

Average price: $20,759

Min$

Max$

See listings

Appraise My 2021 Ford

Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid model years

Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid for Sale

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

Written by automotive expert Cameron Rogers

1/4/2021

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.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near Spring Hill, FL

12 listings

Sort by:

Price Drop
2021 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid
SEL 4dr SUV
$18,529
- 47,170 miles
- 37 mi est. electric range
- 5 Seats, 43 City / 38 Hwy MPG
- 104 mi away
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Blind Spot Monitorin...
- Power Driver Seat
Close
Located in Titusville, FL
Oxford White 2021 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid SEL FWD eCVT 2.5L iVCT 2.5L iVCT.Please call and ask for Josh or Eddie and mention Code 747 to receive a ...
Features and Specs:
40 Combined MPG (43 City/38 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN:
1FMCU0KZ2MUA86306
Stock:
A86306E
Certified Pre-Owned:
No
Listed since:
09-17-2026
New Listing
Stock photo^**
2021 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid
SEL 4dr SUV
$21,894
- 30,527 miles
- 37 mi est. electric range
- 5 Seats, 43 City / 38 Hwy MPG
- 542 mi away
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Blind Spot Monitorin...
- Power Driver Seat
Close
Located in Fuquay Varina, NC
2021 Ford Escape SEL Plug-In HybridClean Carfax | Gold Certified2.5L Plug-In Hybrid, eCVT, 37-mile EPA all-electric range, 40 MPG gasoline-only rating...
Features and Specs:
40 Combined MPG (43 City/38 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN:
1FMCU0KZ5MUA79172
Stock:
PU4838
Certified Pre-Owned:
No
Listed since:
10-04-2026

See all for sale

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

edmunds TESTED

by the Edmunds Experts

Good

7.9

out of 10

We drove the 2021 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.

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.

2021 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid trim level differences

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. Compare the 2021 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid trim levels in-depth.

Which Escape Plug-In Hybrid trim 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.

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Florida

$85/mo

$240/mo

Avg. Midsize SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

Reliability

The 2021 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid has a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic warranty and no recalls. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.

Recalls

There are no recalls for the 2021 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid

Warranty

3 years / 36,000 miles Basic Warranty

Basic Warranty: 3 years / 36,000 miles
Drivetrain Warranty: 5 years / 60,000 miles
Rust Warranty: 5 years / unlimited miles
Roadside assistance Warranty: 5 years / 60,000 miles

Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid Reviews

Owner Reviews

3.7

13 reviews

5(54%)

4(7%)

3(9%)

2(15%)

1(15%)

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

Write a vehicle review

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Trending topics

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.

A real gas mizer

Trebla, Montreal Quebec, 12/01/2023

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

This is a brilliant little SUV. I've been driving it for over 2 years and so far, it's 90% electric and 10% gas. It works fine in the Canadian winter. Those manufacturers that convinced you that you need all wheel drive are way off the mark. Unless you spend your days ploughing up mountain backroads in knee deep snow, a set of snow tires is all you need. My trips to the dealership are …

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.

2021 Escape Plug-In Hybrid Features & Specs

Trim:

Est. Market Value	$18,357
EV Tax Credits & Rebates
Engine Type	Plug-in hybrid
EPA Electric Range	37 miles
Combined MPGe (Electric + Gas)	105 MPGe
Cost to Drive	$85/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