All-New 2020 Ford Escape Debuts In Hybrid And Plug-in Variants With 30-Mile EV Range

Ford has unveiled the all-new 2020 Escape SUV, and this year the line includes hybrid and plug-in hybrid models. Ford says that every model in the line has a driving range of at least 400 miles per tank of fuel, whether it's powered by a standalone EcoBoost gas engine or one of the new hybrid powertrains. The standard FWD hybrid offering is good for over 550 miles of driving per tank of fuel.

Escape buyers can opt for an all-wheel-drive version or front-wheel-drive versions using the same 8-speed automatic transmission. Ford is packing the Titanium version of the Escape with an available new 2.0L EcoBoost that makes 250 horsepower and 275 lb.-ft of torque when using 93 octane fuel. A lower-spec 1.5L engine is all-new and is standard on the S, SE, and SEL models making 180hp and 177 lb-ft of torque on 93 octane fuel; it also has cylinder deactivation to increase fuel economy. Titanium models, when configured correctly, can tow 3,500 pounds, with the 1.5L models able to tow 2,000 pounds when properly optioned.

The hybrid system is standard in SE Sport and Titanium models and is Ford's fourth-gen system using a standard 2.5L Atkinson cycle hybrid model expected to make a combined 198hp paired with an electronic CVT transmission. That hybrid can go up to 85 mph in electric-only mode. Ford's plug-in hybrid model can be had on any trim level except S and SE Sport models. The plug-in hybrid models have a range of at least 30 miles in electric-only mode.

The plug-in hybrid has a Level 1/Level 2 charging port. The battery can charge fully in 10-11 hours using the 110V Level 1 charger or 3.5 hours with a 240V Level 2 charger. Hybrids have four EV modes including Auto EV (the vehicle decides when to use electricity), EV Now (EV mode on demand), EV Later (saves the battery power for later), and EV Charge mode (charges the battery as you drive.) Gas models have sliding second-row seats, and all Escapes come with Ford Co-Pilot360 including Adaptive Cruise control, Stop-and-Go, and Lane-Centering; pricing and availability are unannounced at this time..