The front-wheel-drive, three-cylinder version of the engine is very economical.
A model’s switch to the next generation usually brings with it a boost in fuel efficiency. This is due to various upgrades, such as an upgraded powertrain or a more efficient gearbox. The 2020 Ford Escape is a good example of this. The EPA has released preliminary information on the crossover’s efficiency, and the numbers look promising.
EPA lists only the front-wheel-drive model with the three-cylinder gasoline engine. The new crossover is powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine that produces 180 horsepower and 177 pounds-feet (240 Newton meters) of torque. It returns 27 mpg in the city and 33 on the highway, for a total of 30 mpg. The new Escape is 4 mpg more efficient than the old Escape, even in its most economical form. It also matches the Honda CR-V’s gasoline-only version and the Toyota RAV4’s efficiency while outperforming the Subaru Forester or Mazda CX-5.
We will have to wait to see the EPA’s fuel numbers for the Escape Hybrid. This hybrid will combine a 2.5-liter four cylinder engine with two electric motors to produce 198 hp and send it to the road via a CVT. Ford also has a plug-in hybrid version with a slightly higher output of 209 horsepower and at least 30 miles (48 km) of electric range. This plug-in hybrid replaces the 1.1-kWh non-plug in hybrid.
It will be interesting to see how the electrified Escape compares against the competition, taking into consideration RAV4 Hybrid’s solid 40 mpg combined. There’s also the newly announced 2020 HTML-V Hybrid. Honda predicts that the city-friendly version will get 42 mpg, which is one mpg better than the RAV4 Hybrid’s 41-mpg rating.
The new Escape will be available at Ford dealers in the U.S. starting this fall. The exception being the plug-in hybrid which will arrive next spring. The European equivalent Kuga will be available for sale in 2020.