
However, the Escape PHEV immediately notified me of this: “Engine Enabled for System Performance.” After choosing the Eco driving mode and PHEV powertrain’s EV Now mode for “all electric driving,” I set off to test Ford’s claim of 37 miles of electric range. Setting off on the evaluation drive, frustration set in early. Torque is unknown, but with electric motors, the maximum torque output is available right when you push down on the accelerator pedal. It comes only with front-wheel drive and produces a combined 200 horsepower. The Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid uses a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine, an 88-kilowatt electric motor, an electronic continuously variable transmission ( eCVT), and a liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery pack.

What It’s Like to Drive the 2022 Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid Also, you cannot operate the climate system by voice. Also, when asking for directions to the closest hospital, it returned some medical facility clutter in the list of potential destinations. However, because the navigation system wants you to start an address entry with a state, it could not handle a request for directions to the White House, failing to recognize Washington, D.C. Also, the technology is sometimes slow to load and respond to inputs. For example, the 8-inch touchscreen display is increasingly considered small rather than the norm. That’s a shame.Īs for Sync 3, it is beginning to show its age. Unfortunately, the bass caused the plastic panels housing the speakers to vibrate, degrading performance even at moderate volume levels. The audio system offered exceptional sound quality.
#Red ford escape 2021 plus#
The test vehicle had all these features, plus wireless smartphone charging, a comprehensive head-up display, and a 10-speaker B&O premium sound system by Bang & Olufsen. Ford + Alexa cloud-based voice services, including navigation.However, this is not Ford’s latest infotainment system, which is known as Sync 4 and is a more sophisticated technology.
#Red ford escape 2021 upgrade#
Sync 3 is an upgrade for the 2022 Escape. In base trim, the 2022 Escape lacks a touchscreen infotainment system. 2022 Ford Escape Sync 3 Infotainment System Review Ford missed a couple of opportunities to add more of it, but style is as much a part of the Escape’s design brief as utility. The plastic dashboard trim pieces closely match the seat insert color, tying the whole cabin together.

The Titanium Premium package installs a Dark Earth Gray interior with Sandstone seat inserts and contrast stitching on the seat bolsters, center console armrest, door armrests, and steering wheel. In particular, the stereo volume and tuning knobs feature rubber grips, look classy, and are quite nice to use. These components, coupled with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and ambient interior lighting, lend the Escape Titanium a sense of sophistication. The Escape Titanium also displays a mix of quality plastics, soft surfaces, and quality switchgear rendered in complementary tones and textures. The optional panoramic sunroof makes the Escape feel bigger inside than it is.Ĭontrols feature a well-organized, drama-free layout. Soft front seatback padding and air conditioning vents contribute to comfort levels, and the test vehicle supplied both rear USB ports and a center armrest with cupholders. Heated front cushions and a heated steering wheel are perfect for cold days, but the Escape Titanium does not offer ventilated front seats.Īdult passengers will find enough rear-seat legroom and foot space, and the seat slides forward and back to add cargo room when desirable.

Wide and offering good leg support, they’re great until you fling the Escape into a corner, at which point their lack of lateral support becomes apparent. The test vehicle’s 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and 6-way power front passenger’s seat are comfortable, too. Getting into and out of the Escape is easy, and it seems to sit closer to the ground than some competitors, making it perfect for people who might be shorter in stature. Open the driver’s door, and if the Titanium has the optional Premium package, you’ll find an upscale cabin dressed in two-tone leather. Getting In and Getting ComfortableĪpproach a Ford Escape Titanium and its added chrome trim, upgraded lighting, and fancy wheels give the compact crossover a much-needed boost in visual presence and personality. The Escape Plug-in Hybrid is eligible for a $6,843 federal income tax credit. The price of the test vehicle came to $44,345, including the $1,245 destination charge. In the sections that follow, our independent expert analyzes an Escape Titanium equipped with the following options: What Our Independent Expert Says About the Ford Escape - Find the best Ford deals!
