Is Ford’s hybrid SUV any good? (Ford Escape PHEV 2022 review) 

Great review! I watched this the day it came out by chance and happened to have a test drive of the RAV4 hybrid the next day. The RAV4 was comfortable and spacious and at the top of my list. I wondered into the Ford dealership across the road as I was curious after this video and to my surprise they actually had the escape phev available to test drive! My partner and I both found the electric to petrol transition imperceptible unless we really put the foot down. I know I’m comparing a phev to a hybrid, but the RAV4s engine grunting to life was an annoying experience compared to the escape. The chassis felt sure footed on turns and overall more like a car than the RAV4. The RAV4 did feel better made (maybe it’s just the Toyota never dies thing), and bigger, however we preferred the escape and ordered one the week after. To anyone considering a hybrid, check out the escape. Makes a lot more sense when you compare how much you’ll actually pay if you want to avoid 1.5 year wait times. Thanks for the review John! This triggered our curiosity and helped us make the right decision for us.

Thanks for the distinction between B&o and Bang and Olufsen 👍

EXCELLENT EXCELLENT review. 10/10. WELL done.

Great review. If you think about the extra cost as a premium for the luxury of an electric drive experience then it makes sense.

Not a CVT. Just like the RAV4 hybrid it has an eCVT, big difference. Not available as an AWD because the battery is in the way of a driveshaft and Ford decided not to offer a rear motor like Toyota does. I would much rather have a spare wheel, even a spacesaver, than somewhere to stow a charging cable.

I have a normal 2021 st-line and find it great. Would I buy the phev st-line the short answer is no as I can't justify the extra $20k

It’s so interesting - these are the market leader in their class in European sales, but Australia completely ignores them. It’s a strange mix, I admit - best in class chassis (the C2 platform has to be easily THE best mainstream C segment platform in the world right now, for anyone who actually enjoys driving and dynamic safety, anyway), a fantastic hybrid system, probably the best tuned driver assist systems of any mainstream maker, first movers in lots of tech and safety areas, the most powerful standard drivetrain (in the petrol variant) by a country mile, a generous equipment set, yet let down by lack of attention to detail and cost saving in an interior that while very functional is dull and not put together as well as it should be, and not enough polish or wow factor in some areas. I suppose it depends what the average punter in the market prioritises, and clearly we are a very different market to Europe in that sense.

Australia doesn't have the RAV4 PHEV only the Toyota RAV4 XSE Hybrid 2022. They are two very different cars. A PHEV is so much better if you can't get an EV.

Such a shame they do not offer AWD in PHEV variant... Would be high in my list otherwise.

Why not mention the seat base is uncomfortably short and lacks side support in turns.

Good video, I think if Ford had released the normal hybrid it would have a sales hit. They have it in the UK Puma as the smaller cars are preferred there. Unfortunately Ford Oz continues to shoot themselves in the foot.

Well I own new ford escape hybrid, I just found out ford has been making hybrid since 2005. So they a track record of experience.

What are manufacturers going to be forced to give a l/100km figure for when the battery is emtpy? Eg, a regular hybrid figure? The first 100km is meaningless. Other notes, please factor in the road user charge of 2c/km in states that have it for PHEVs.... you'll be paying even when running on petrol. The rotary shifter is stupid, if not quite as bad as the push button job that Hyundai is doing. A++ for the Physical climate controls and suede seats rather than horrible leather. What reason do you think there should be a larger screen? Did you mention if this is 91RON or 95RON fuel? I hope its 91. Still i'm not convinced that PHEVs make sense. They make sense in the fact that you can drive on electric for many of your short trips, but the premium you have to pay (Purchase and RUC) makes them a pointless excercise. You don't get an actual full EV driving experience and, altough I don't personally think its a a big deal, you have to plug it in. A regular hybrid just seems to be a better deal, no RUC, cheaper, can be had with AWD and less than 2kWH of cells required compared to somthing in the region of 15-20kWh. Nissan's e-Power hybrid from my reckoning will be the best regular hybrid. Gives you the fuel economy of a regular hybrid with the driving chracteristics on an EV.

If it could tow 1500kg you'd have a sale. (We love our current 2019 Escape 1.5T). This one will not tow what we want it to tow.

I just prefer the Ford :)

I don’t like the way the steering forces itself back to on centre.

I’m surprised the MG HS PHEV seems to be ignored - which seems to be a similar trend with all the MG models. Given the MG has an almost $15000 price advantage I question the underlying motivation

Apropos of nothing - Lexus are revealing the all new RX range on the 31st of May 😁

the new escape is just around the corner.

$40000 Corolla cross for me thanks !

Fuel prices these days.. full EV

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