We always love getting to do vehicle features and sharing about the different vehicles from a family perspective. This time, we got to go on an adventure thanks to Ford. We were given a Summer Fun Scavenger Hunt for the kids to do at some point. With a family camping trip planned, this couldn’t have happened at a better time to keep them entertained. We got to drive the 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid. Did you know Ford was one of the first to offer a compact SUV hybrid?
TAKEN BY SURPRISE
We have test driven a couple of Ford Escape vehicles now and we were taken by surprise by the Hybrid model. Just what got our attention right away? This has both a gas motor and an electric motor that can work separately and in unison. This ends up giving you a range of over 900 km! You can do a road trip to the Okanagan and back home to the Lower Mainland and not need to refuel.
We did some number crunching and if I had this vehicle as my commuter vehicle for getting to work and back there would be potential to go a month or more on that range. That just boggles my mind. I think we just found a winner for dealing with the intense gas prices in our area. Well done Ford!
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT IN THE 2021 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID
This 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid is powered by a 2.5L 4-cylinder engine, that also gets help from a 96 kW (128 hp) electric motor. The electric motor has a 1.1 kWh battery pack. This gives a grand total system output of 200 hp and 155 lb-ft of torque (149 kW & 210 Nm). While it’s not going to be winning any races, it’s got just the right amount of power to get up to speed for entering the highway. My husband always describes hybrids and electric cars to be like you’re playing a video. Doing your best to stay using the electric motor as much as possible. Watching what the car is doing on the display. If you’re too heavy-footed the vehicle will switch over to the gas engine. It can also maintain steady drives for short periods on electricity only.
Did you know that when you are braking, the Escape recovers some of that energy from slowing down and puts it back into the vehicle? It is limited to just how much it recovers, but you are unlikely to notice the vehicle switching from regenerative braking technology to normal braking.
THE APPEARANCE OF THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR
Our older kids dubbed this the whale shark vehicle immediately for its exterior appearance. This is because of the look of the front grill, and I completely agree with them. There are a lot of curves to the exterior design adding to its sea creature look.
The interior is definitely to our personal preference. We love a balance of technology and touch buttons. We do not want to see buttons and knobs go to the wayside. Maybe, it’s because it’s what we are used to and know. Maybe it’s because we notice a difference in being able to memorize where buttons and knobs are in a vehicle and not having to look down at them to change things in a vehicle. You can definitely tell that a lot of thought was put into the functionality of the Ford Escape Hybrid. The panoramic sunroof wins us over every time. The responsiveness of the touchscreen is really nice, it is very intuitive. This is something Ford has continued to do well.
It handled really well on the winding roads of the highway headed out of town and onto hwy 3. To be honest, it felt more like I was driving a smaller, sporty car. For what might be considered a city life SUV, it did well out on the open road. The maneuverability of the Ford Escape Hybrid was also greatly appreciated in tight parking lots.
HOW IS IT FOR A FAMILY OF 5?
We’re in that in-between space of being at the max size of a “small family” but not quite what’s considered a “large family”. When it comes to vehicles though, we still need to be able to potentially fit all 5 of us in. Unfortunately, this was where we had a problem. We could fit all 3 kids across, but it was squishy. We had to use the narrowest booster seat we have in order for our oldest to fit between the rear-facing 5-point car seat and the highback booster. Could it be done? Yes. Was it the most comfortable for our kids? No.
Being much more friendly on the budget when it comes to the cost of gas is a huge win in our books. The cost of a new vehicle, the cost to fuel it, and how far the range all need to come into consideration. For a daily use vehicle needed for commuting to work, running errands, or taking kids to activities after school, the Ford Escape Hybrid has a lot of potential and can get the job done.
We could fit the stroller in the back and have room for more. The legroom was decent for everyone. It can be a little squishy for the driver or passenger if a rear-facing car seat is placed behind them. It just depends on how far back the person usually needs their seat.
OUR OVERALL THOUGHTS
In the end, we were pleasantly surprised by the 2021 Ford Escape. While it may not be the vehicle people instantly think of when it comes to an SUV, it probably should be. If you are looking for excellent fuel economy, the potential to pack a bunch of stuff in it for a road trip, or fit 4 people comfortably (5 may be a little squishy), and a compact SUV hybrid at a bit lower price point when compared to others, give the 2021 Ford Escape a look over. It just may be the vehicle that’s for you.
What a sleek looking hybrid! I can not believe it get 900KM with a full charge and tank of gas! That is a selling feature!
It’s a great selling feature!