2020 Ford Escape Titanium Hybrid AWD Reviewed – Peak Daily Driver
Ford’s redesigned Escape Hybrid boasts refined driving dynamics, great tech, and no compromises.
At Ford Truck Enthusiasts, we’re obviously far more excited by the Ford’s forthcoming Bronco and F-150. Trucks are and will always be our passion. But, depending on where you live, sometimes you need a smaller, casual daily driver for quick errands or longer/city commutes. Or a second Ford for a spouse. Enter the 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid. Packed with all the tech, luxury, refinement, and capability expected of a modern compact crossover. Better yet, it’s surprisingly fun to drive and extremely fuel-efficient, which makes it a perfect potential daily.
Ford Escape Hybrid History 101
Introduced in 2004 for the 2005 model year, the original Ford Escape Hybrid was the first partially electrified crossover utility vehicle. It mated a 2.3 liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with an electric motor and a modestly sized battery. Buyers could opt for all-wheel-drive if desired just like the gasoline version. Ford effectively replaced the Escape Hybrid in 2012 with the C-Max for the 2013 model year, although it lacked all-wheel-drive. From 2010-2020, Ford also offered a Fusion hybrid.
With the death of the C-Max in 2018 and the end of the Fusion in 2020, the Escape is the sole front-wheel-drive hybrid in Ford’s lineup. Fortunately, that’s not a bad thing. The Escape lineup is sprawling, with prices ranging from about $25,000 to $39,000. But we’re focusing on the hybrid today. Much like its predecessor, power comes from a 2.5 liter four-cylinder paired with an electric motor. Both powerplants also interact with a suitcase-sized battery that sits underneath the front passenger seat. Additionally, the system is all-new.
Getting Right to it
Since we’re here to talk about the hybrid model, let’s discuss its operation out on the road. I have extensive experience with Ford’s products, as I sold new Ford and Lincoln vehicles from 2012-2015. I probably put at least several hundred miles on the previous generation hybrid system found in the Fusion and the C-Max. Basically, Ford engineered the new system to place notably more emphasis on regenerative braking. That means the car is trying to recapture energy pretty much any time your foot is off the gas pedal. Press the brake pedal and the brakes immediately start grabbing with far more power than a traditional braking system. (Ford’s older hybrids also braked differently, but they weren’t as strong.)
What does this mean for the average driver? Not much. After some abrupt stops, I got used to the hybrid’s brakes. After that, modulating braking pressure made for smooth stops. Ford equips every hybrid model with a beautiful 12.3 inch fully digital instrument cluster that coaches you on how well you’re doing in regards to recapturing energy as well as how the hybrid is operating at any given time.
Basically, different colored bars will appear where that black line is located in the above picture. A blue bar indicates electric power operation (easy to do at speeds below 20 mph and in stop-and-go traffic). Grey appears when you stomp on the gas. And green means you’re recapturing energy via braking.
Driving an Escape Hybrid
Once you get over the learning curve, the hybrid system becomes very easy to live with. The Escape switches from electric-only operation to gasoline power or a combination of the two whenever it feels like it. Generally speaking, the entire process is extremely smooth. There is almost no vibration from the four-cylinder engine either. That said, you’ll definitely hear the 2.5 liter when going up a hill or when accelerating briskly. But it’s certainly not enough to be disruptive.
Perhaps the most surprising aspect of my Escape experience came when I took it out to some twisty roads. As the owner of a 2013 Focus sedan and driver of older Escapes, I thought I knew what I was in for. Turns out I was wrong. The 2020 Escape completely embarrasses Ford’s older vehicles. It eagerly eats up curves and easily soaks up bumps. Road imperfections are not completely isolated but so well damped it doesn’t matter. Ford also improved their all-electric steering to the point where it now feels like a hydraulic system, meaning feedback is readily apparent.
Interior Experience
Fortunately, the interior only enhances the Escape’s dynamism. As a 5′ 6″ human weighing 146 pounds, the steering wheel and driver’s seat fit me perfectly. Although it should be noted that a 5′ 10″ passenger weighing approximately 215 pounds felt comfortable in his seat too. In terms of ergonomics, the Escape also impressed. The climate controls were easy to understand and operate. Similarly, buttons for the audio system are well placed, although I did wish the tuning knob was located closer to the driver’s seat. There is heft to the rotary dial shifter and at no time did I feel like the Escape ever needed a traditional unit.
Interior quality is itself notable, as this Titanium would cost just under $38,000 before incentives. Overall, everything I touched felt substantial and worthy of a higher-end compact crossover. There’s a reason why Lincoln doesn’t offer a Corsair Hybrid. One major contributing factor is the optional head-up display. Ford equipped the unit to display simple mph readouts but also navigation and information about the adaptive cruise control. It is easily readable and very bright even during the day.
Technology & Infotainment
Standard on every Escape from SE on up is Ford’s Sync 3. The 8″ touchscreen is easy to use and the user interface is easy to navigate. My Samsung Galaxy S20+ worked well with the system and phone call quality was excellent. My 4th generation iPod Touch also caused no problems with the system. Unfortunately, Sync 3 sometimes seemed groggy upon starting the Escape and would often be slow to respond for several minutes afterward. Otherwise, it worked well.
As a Titanium model, the Escape I tested came equipped with the optional B&O sound system. With 10 speakers and 1 subwoofer, the audio experience was noteworthy particularly due to the rich bass notes even at low volumes. I highly doubt anyone who opts for a Titanium Escape will find themselves wanting something more powerful. If they do, their hearing needs to be checked.
Should You Get One?
Short answer? Yes. Unlike their older hybrids, Ford designed the 2020 Escape so the hybrid’s battery does not intrude on cargo space. Additionally, the second-row seating can be adjusted similarly to the front row, meaning passengers can move their seat fore and aft and tilt the seat back if desired. You sacrifice a little passenger space in the hybrid, as the battery sits underneath the front passenger seat, but it’s probably negligible.
Now for the elephant in the room: gas mileage. It’s good! The Escape Hybrid has an EPA rating of 40 mpg combined, I was easily able to beat that figure, and managed about 43 combined during my week with the Escape. Paired with essentially the same all-wheel-drive system as the regular Escape and with 200 horsepower, the hybrid has plenty of power and will easily shrug off inclement weather. You can even tow up to 1,500 pounds with it. This is the ultimate commuter vehicle.
Conclusion
If you need an efficient daily driver or something fun for your spouse to drive, check out the Ford Escape Hybrid. The biggest impediment to owning one might be the price. Can’t stomach roughly $38,000 for what amounts to a lifted Focus wagon? That’s understandable. Fortunately, the SE Sport Hybrid costs about $4,000 less and comes well equipped, especially when paired with the oddly named 2.0 SE Sport Premium Package 2.0. That package includes niceties like a power liftgate, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go, and the same 19″ alloys as the Titanium model. The panoramic roof is nice but really only usable in limited applications and the Escape’s size makes the self-parking feature unnecessary. And despite my praise for the B&O sound system, the standard six-speaker setup is probably suitable for most people.
Ultimately, the 2020 Escape Hybrid boasts refinement you probably won’t find in any gasoline-powered vehicle in the Ford lineup at this pricepoint. It’s surprisingly fun to drive and easy to get used to. As a daily driver, you couldn’t ask for more.
Photos for Ford Truck Enthusiasts by Edward Snitkoff
