Ford’s 2020 Escape PHEV beats the 2021 Toyota’s RAV4 Prime by one kilometre

The 2020 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid has an estimated 61 km electric driving range and a combined fuel consumption rating of 2.3 Le per 100 km, based on the Government of Canada approved test methods.

To help compare vehicles that use electricity, like the Escape PHEV, to what traditional gas-powered vehicles consume, the Government of Canada uses a conversion factor to convert electrical consumption values into gasoline litres equivalent per 100 kilometres (Le/100 km).

“The all-new Escape plug-in has more power and more passenger space than the Fusion Energi plug-in, as well as up to four times the cargo volume behind its second-row seats,” said Hau Thai-Tang, Ford’s chief product development and purchasing officer.

2020 Ford Escape PHEV

The Escape PHEV’s 61 km estimated electric range is 19 more km than the Fusion Energi sedan. It is also 1 km above the 2021 RAV4 Prime’s 60 km. This competitor also boasts an equivalent fuel consumption of 2.6 Le/100 km. Another PHEV, however, boasts better numbers: the Honda Clarity has a 76 km electric range and a combined fuel consumption rating of 2.1 Le/100 km.

The new Escape PHEV features a new 2.5-litre Atkinson cycle hybrid engine with an electronic continuously variable transmission, and a 88 kW electric engine.

A liquid-cooled, 14.4-kWh lithium-ion battery is located below the second-row seats. Using a 110-volt Level 1 charger, the estimated time to fully charge the battery is 10 to 11 hours. Using a 240-volt Level 2 charger, charge time drops to roughly 3.5 hours.

The Escape PHEV starts at $37,549 MSRP and is available on the following series: SE, SEL and Titanium.

Photos: Ford