2024 Ford Escape Platinum HEV
Price: $52,329 CAD
Colour: Rapid Red Metallic
I remember when the Ford Escape debuted in 2001. I liked its boxy exterior. It looked sort of rugged and capable. The second generation introduced in 2008 was my favorite as it fixed a lot of the aesthetic issues I had with its predecessor. Over the first two generations of the Escape, it seemed be popular as it sold well and I saw them everywhere. Then came the third generation in 2013. This was a big disappointment. The Escape now looked small and diminutive. It was a very radical departure in design and may have had something to do with being switched to global production but I’m not sure. Either way, this was the beginning of the end of my interest in the Escape. Such was my disengagement I barely noticed the fourth generation when it came out in 2020. It improved on the previous generation but still failed to stir anything in me. That was my loss however, as the current (and apparently last) iteration of the Ford Escape is a very capable car.
I would rarely be accused of being on the cutting edge of what’s going on in the automotive world. It moves far too fast for me (or most people I would guess) to keep up. In digging into the Escape for this review however, I learned that there are strong rumours it will be discontinued for the 2025 model year to make space for more EV’s. It seems a curious decision as the Escape still sells well and the 2023 refresh brought the design right up to date. Couple that to questions over the long-term market viability of full EV’s it’s curious then that Ford would discontinue this car, particularly when it’s on offer in an excellent hybrid option. I drove the Ford Maverick Hybrid last year and was stunned by the efficiency of its hybrid drivetrain. I really liked that car and it is the same thing with the Escape Hybrid. It delivers remarkable fuel economy (6.5L/100 kms/36mpg observed in my time with the car). Mid-sized SUV’s like this typically run 4 cylinder turbocharged engines that delivery decent but not stellar fuel economy. This hybrid system is an incredible improvement. It competes strongly with the Honda CR-V Hybrid and Toyota Rav-4 Hybrid. It’s good to see Ford fighting as well as they do in this segment. Only makes the vehicles apparent discontinuation all the more confusing and disappointing.
The current Honda CR-V provides an incredible amount of interior space. It was so impressive it jumped the car to the top of my wife’s options for her next vehicle. Our children have grown to adult size, and we need a vehicle that can carry all four of us when we decide to tolerate each other for “family time”. The Ford Escape offers nearly the same amount of space. It’s a little smaller and headroom is slightly less but I was dutifully impressed by the space in the smallish looking Escape.
Fancy infotainment screens are all the rage these days and they have become a benchmark by which vehicles are judged. While I haven’t always been impressed by Ford’s offerings in this regard, I have seen improvement lately and the Escape is an excellent example of this. The 13” infotainment screen is very clear and when matched to the excellent cameras the presentation is fantastic. I was very impressed by the tech present in the Escape. Imagine my disappointment then when I saw how Ford has opted, yet again, to load all the functions for audio and HVAC into said screen. This doesn’t work in the F-150 Lightning nor in the Mustang Mach-E and it doesn’t work here. Why can’t we just have a few simple buttons and knobs? Please stop this Ford (and everyone else doing it). You’re creating a generation of cars that will age very poorly and your customers will pay for it.
As much as I have been impressed by the 2024 Ford Escape Platinum Hybrid there is one teeny tiny detail I must address as I think it’s relevant. This thing’s expensive. It’s not just the “oh it’s a hybrid so it’s expensive” thing going on here. The Escape as tested clocks in at just over $52k CAD. Yes, this is a top shelf trim, but at that price point you’re a good $2000 CAD more than the Honda Civic Touring Hybrid or the Toyota RAV4 Limited Hybrid. The frank reality is both of these vehicles will hold their value far better than the Escape while delivering the same stuff. This is a bitter pill to swallow as I like this car and am impressed by what Ford has done with it, but numbers speak truths we must hear.
Pricing problems aside, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the 2024 Ford Escape Hybrid. It’s a good car overall and it has great potential should Ford change their mind and decide not to cancel it. I can’t wrap my head around that decision and I hope it’s just internet gossip that will ultimately be proven wrong. Mid-sized SUV’s are what we buy and abandoning a nameplate with decades of history, particularly when it’s a really decent car, is a shame and feels wrong headed. In the meantime, if the Escape tickles your fancy head to your local Ford dealer and bargain hard.
