2024 Ford Escape Consumer Reviews
Pricing
Great Commuter Car
I traded in my 2009 Ford Escape for a 2023 AWD Platinum Hybrid, and could not be happier with the mileage I'm getting. Though rated for 42/36 (city/hwy), I'm getting 56 mph commuting in considerable rush-hour traffic. I used to loathe traffic, but with great mileage and lots of comforting tech, returning to the office full-time is less of a hassle. UPDATE: I’ve been exceeding the listed mpg by 10 miles per gallon in rush hour traffic. I’m averaging about 610 mile on a tank of gas. The critique of choppy transmission shifts is not an issue on the hybrid as it’s a CVT. Also the transition from electric to gas is seamless. I had a 2009 Escape, which I loved but really love my 2023 hybrid more.
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Hybird efficent, smooth handling, tech new styling
I have owned my 2023 Escape ST-Elite Hybrid AWD for over a month now and I have put many highway miles on it, as well as city here in Chicago. I am comparing this to my recent 2021 Escape SE trade-in and my wife's 2018 Toyota RAV4. I like the Escape already more than the RAV4 even with the updated styling after 2019. I am pleasantly surprised by both the city and highway fuel economy. Having an Atkinson cycle engine makes the power not as desirable, but the battery torque helps make up for that. The interior is amazing, with power controls on both front seats, plenty of easy to use tech, and enough room to move and haul around stuff up to 1,500lbs total (including passengers). I owned a 2021 Escape SE with 1.5L ecoboost and I can say that the iCVT transmission on the hybrid is MUCH smoother than the 8 speed auto. HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS VEHICLE!
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Happy with my 2023 Escape
Recently picked up a 2023 Escape hybrid to replace a 2016 RAV4 hybrid. Was nervous about jumping to Ford, and there are differences in the vehicle. But I can say I'm happy with my choice. I'm already getting even better MPG than the RAV4 did, it handles well in a downpour, comfortable for myself and passengers, and has some great, convenient features. Parking Assist 2.0 is amazing and a must-have if you live in a city. Good cargo area, though it seems slightly smaller than the RAV4 if the seats are up, and about the same with them down. Ride is smooth and very quiet, even on the highway. The upgraded sound system is very good, but the "B&O" badges all over are obnoxious. Ford Sync 4.0 is very slick and comes with useful features, but I'll probably stick to CarPlay, they are pretty identical but Ford Navigation expires after 3 years, don't see the point in that. I intend on keeping this a few years, we'll see how it holds up.
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Battery has limitations and degradation
I personally love the car itself...smooth ride, good power, great handling. I have had it for 3 months. Purchased on September 1st when temperatures were warm. Now after three months and colder temperatures I find battery capacity have reduced significantly. None of this was disclosed prior to purchase. I spoke to the local Ford service Mgr. and he says this is standard. When I got the vehicle it had 59 klm capacity. Since then, maximum capacity has swung between 30 klm and 45 klm. But with limited driving for a retiree.....the car is great. The other "dislike" is the dashboard controls, specifically the gas gauge is wierd and questionably inaccurate....little nozzles pointing to the gas level.
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2023 Escape PHEV Above and Beyond EPA Estimates!
When my 2007 standard transmission Pontiac Vibe passed the 160,000 mile mark, I knew it was time to start shopping for a new car. I wanted all the latest safety features and I wanted an electric/gas hybrid that would get me around town on electric-only but have a gasoline option for long trips. The Escape Plug-in Hybrid turned out to be the perfect choice. I wanted safety features. I got more safety features than I knew existed: a backup camera (displayed on a 12" screen!), side mirror defrost, blind spot monitor, lane centering, adaptive cruise control, a pedestrian warning signal, and much more. As for fuel efficiency, the EPA estimated a driving range of 38 miles per a full electric charge and a gasoline-only average of 40 MPG. My car significantly exceeds both. I get an estimated 44 to 47 miles per 100% charge. At 11.5 kWh total for a 0-to-100% charge, I'm paying roughly $0.80 ( yes, 80 cents) per home charge. Yes, it does take about 11 hours to charge on a 120V outlet, but that's fine for my schedule. My local power company offers a rebate on installing a 240V home-charging system, so I may do that if my schedule changes. As for gas mileage, on my first long trip (500+ miles) the trip computer reported that my Escape averaged 45 MPH, just about what many non-plug-in battery hybrids average. But what about the ride? The ride is quiet, tight, and responsive. And this Escape has more than enough pep to hold its own on the Interstate. Ask the Tesla in the next lane. Because of high demand for the 2023 Escape Plug-in Hybrid, Ford produced only two packages: the loaded and the premium loaded.* If you want leather seats, a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, zillion-way adjustable driver and passenger seats, etc., go for the premium package. I didn't. Six speakers are more than enough for me and the vinyl seats are just as comfortable as the leather ones in the model I test drove. The cargo space in both packages is the same, more than enough to hold 20 bags of mulch or a dorm-size refrigerator. I've carried both in my Vibe, though not at the same time 🙂. Are there things about the Escape PHEV I don't like? Well, yes. Where the heck is the printed user's guide? The online/FordPass app guide is buggy, awkward and inconvenient to use. And it will be of no use at all in the rural areas that are still on dial-up just beyond where I live. Minor annoyances: the back seats don't fold down entirely flat, so loading my bike in the cargo space is more awkward than it needs to be. And after I open the driver's side door to get in, I need to readjust the power seat because it's never as far back as I left it when I exited. The old manual seat controls were so much faster. And they didn't play tricks. * The Edmunds review form doesn't offer the PHEV 700A "trim" as an option. The 2023 PHEV does not come in an AWD model. It's FWD only, but the 2022 ST-Elite trim is the best match for the PHEV 700A non-premium option. In short, for 2023 there's the PHEV 700A package and the 700A+Premium Tech package.