2022 Ford Escape Hybrid SUV

The 2022 Ford Escape Hybrid is expected to be unchanged and hence, the trims will be carried over as is. As for the 2021 model year, the range starts at $28,030 for the SE trim and stretches all the way up to the Titanium trim that carries an MSRP of $33,600. These prices are for the FWD variant, while the AWD variants carry a $1,500 premium. Talking of features, the base trim is pretty well-equipped and has amenities like dual-zone automatic climate control, a six-speaker sound system, and an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot. 

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The SE is a very well-equipped trim but moving up to the SEL adds on the best packages that are an optional add-on on the former. Also, the comfort level and bump in amenities justify the price premium over the SE. To add to that, the LED headlights look cool as well. 

Release Date

Although there isn’t an official confirmation by Ford regarding the launch date but, seeing past trends, expect the 2022 Ford Escape to be released in the Fall of 2021.

Being a hybrid, the 2022 Ford Escape Hybrid is expected to perform similar to the 2021 model year, which does a pretty good job of maintaining the fuel-economy figures of up to 44 MPG in the city and 37 MPG on the highway, for 41 MPG combined from the 14.3-gallon fuel tank. That said, the hybrid proves how better it can be when compared to the non-hybrid Escape in terms of efficiency. 

The Escape is the best one in the comparison if you need to go out for a kong trip kudos to the impressive economy figures and a big tank that also helps in the range. The Niro, on the other hand, gets an upper hand in the fuel-economy segment but the smaller tank affects its range quite significantly when compared to the Escape. 

The 2022 Ford Escape Hybrid is unchanged from the previous model year and that carries on to the 2022 model year as well. The door panels and the dashboard are pretty well-made with the goodness of the premium materials pouring in in the range-topping trim only. The other trims get hard plastics and some soft-touch material to make the occupants comfortable but apart from that, the interior material isn’t the most visually appealing. The dashboard gets a soft-touch treatment along with a wooden trim while the centre console.

The seats are comfortable and have a range of adjustability right from the base trim onwards, while the higher trims get power-adjustability and heating for the front seats only. The rear seats get a similar level of comfort with the bench being comfortably set up for long drives. The upholstery is leatherette material with leather upholstery being optional on the range-topping trim. 

The Escape and the RAV4 get a very similar cabin in terms of proportions, while the former gets a bigger cargo area. The one zonk in the Escape’s interior is the quality materials that are only reserved for the range-topping trim only. That said, the interior on the range-topper is not very different from the other trims by way of the comfort on offer which is highlighted by the following features:

• Ambient lighting
• Power-adjustable front seats
• Driver-seat memory settings
• Wireless charging pad
• Leatherette upholstery
• Heated front seats
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Heated steering wheel
• Optional panoramic sunroof
• Optional head-up display
• Optional leather upholstery
• Optional wireless charging pad

What is the infotainment system like?

The 2022 Ford Escape Hybrid is equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen powered by Ford’s latest SYNC3 infotainment system. The system has one of the smoothest UI in the segment, while also packing in a lot of additional Ford-exclusive services. The features on this infotainment system includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility along with Bluetooth for connectivity, while the music system is taken care of by a six-speaker sound system as standard that can be upgraded to a 10-speaker B&O premium sound system.

Some of the highlighting features of this system include:

• 8-inch touchscreen
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
• Satellite radio
• Onboard Wi-Fi hotspot
• Two rear USB ports
• Optional digital instrument panel
• Optional 10-speaker B&O premium sound system
• Optional Wireless charging pad

The 2022 Escape will be very similar to the previous model year and hence follow the same design language. The font has a very sleek design along with big headlight housing and LED lighting all around the car. The vents are functional and cool the engine down.

The hood has some design to it which adds to the visuals as well. To the sides, the Escape Hybrid carries a very similar design along with chrome surrounds and simple design whatsoever. The rear has a spoiler, LED tail lights, and the car’s name written on the trunk.

The Escape Hybrid is the lightest in the segment with very compact dimensions for a crossover. The ground clearance is enough for daily driving and to negotiate with all the undulations on the road while the longest wheelbase in the segment also helps with stability and maneuvering while at high speeds. That said, the crossover looks great with some of the highlights being:

• 17-/18-/19-inch alloy wheels
• Heated mirrors
• Power liftgate
• Panoramic sunroof
• LED headlights
• Roof rails
• Fog lights
• Parking sensors
• Hands-free liftgate

The 2022 Ford Escape Hybrid will carry over all the safety aids and driver-assistance features from the previous model year, and will thus be a loaded crossover irrespective of the trim opted for. Being based on the same platform, we expect the crash-test ratings to be similar to the 2021 model year, which won the top accolades at both the NHTSA and the IIHS. that said, some of the driver assistance features onboard are:

• Blind-spot monitor 
• Lane departure mitigation 
• Forward collision mitigation 
• Optional adaptive cruise control 
• Optional lane keeping system 
• Optional evasive steering assist 

2022 Ford Escape Hybrid Vs. 2022 Honda CR-V Hybrid

Both the cars perform similarly in acceleration and have very similar comfort levels inside. The Escape boasts of a bigger boot and outperforms the Honda in terms of braking and fuel-efficiency. The Honda, on the other hand, has the advantage of a reliable track record and also the ease of driving that the crossover provides. 

2022 Ford Escape Hybrid Vs. 2022 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

The Toyota has better performance off-the-line when compared to the Escape and also provides better driving dynamics kudos to the AWD on offer, as standard. It is also bigger in proportion than the Ford and has a 9.3% karger boot for the weekend trips. The Escape has a more refined engine that pumps out more range than the RAV4 while also maintaining a strong braking performance, and fitting the latest tech inside. 

2022 Ford Escape Hybrid Vs. 2022 Kia Niro Hybrid

The Kia has a smaller engine and clearly has a disadvantage in terms of acceleration, while the fuel economy figures are something that the Escape dreams of achieving. The cabin on both the crossovers is similarly spacious, while the Niro’s boot space is 77% smaller than that of the Escape. 

The 2022 Ford Escape Hybrid has a very strong popularity in the segment and seeing the minimal changes done, it is surely a hit in the new avatar as well. The crossover has a very quick acceleration off the line and the interior quality, though a bit disappointing for the segment, is decent enough for a person to not feel disappointed. The looks remain the same, so does the safety quotient making this crossover a lucrative option for someone looking for a comfy 5-seater crossover.