2020 Ford Escape Hybrid Claimed Best with EPA-Estimated 44 MPG City, 41 MPG Combined Fuel Economy Ratings

Arguably, the most popular, fastest growing segment in the world. It pays to cross brand shop.

Ford says the revised 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid is the best in the small SUV class with a combined EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of 41 mpg, although final EPA ratings are pending for other makes. The freshened Escape front-wheel drive version also surpasses its class driving around town, with an EPA-estimated 44 mpg city. The 2020 Escape Hybrid Titanium with front-wheel drive has an EPA-estimated rating of 37 mpg on the highway.

Escape, which debuted the world’s first hybrid SUV in 2005, brings back two hybrid choices for 2020 – a full hybrid and a plug-in variant – and introduces technologies that include selectable drive modes, available driver-assist features and on-board connectivity. Escape pricing, in the $26,000 to +$36,000 range, is roughly $1000 higher than 2019 but competitive in a class dominated by the Toyota RAV4, Honda CRV, and Nissan Rogue hybrid models.

Ford claims the average American driving 29 miles a day, making that trip in the all-new Escape Hybrid Titanium means using a gallon of fuel per trip – and fewer gas station stops along the journey.

“This all-new Escape Hybrid is our best one yet, as it answers the call from our customers who loved the original Escape Hybrid but want better fuel efficiency without compromising interior space,” said Hau Thai-Tang, Ford chief product development and purchasing officer.

Each model in the Escape lineup, whether hybrid-powered or equipped with EcoBoost technology, has an EPA-estimated range of at least 400 miles per tank. Front-wheel-drive Escape Hybrid’s fuel efficiency is supported by an EPA-estimated 582-mile driving range per tank.

With optional all-wheel drive, Escape Hybrid has an EPA-estimated 43 mpg city and 40 mpg combined with an EPA-estimated 568 miles of range. Like the front-wheel-drive Escape, the all-wheel-drive model has an EPA-estimated 37 mpg on the highway.

Owners who aren’t texting can see their potential fuel savings with a new “EV coach” prompter included in the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, standard on SE Sport and Titanium trim levels. EV coach lets drivers know when they’re using electric or hybrid power – allowing them to adjust their driving style to meet their power needs.

Eco mode, one of five standard selectable drive modes, helps conserve fuel when driving range is most important.

Escape Hybrid packages its liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery below the second-row seats rather than occupying a significant portion of the cargo area. The briefcase-shaped battery in the standard hybrid measures approximately one-third the size of the battery in the first Escape Hybrid, which was the world’s first-ever hybrid SUV when it debuted in 2004.