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Escape's delayed PHEV variant is a serious electrified vehicle.

It won't break any neck on the road, but then again, it won't break your wallet.

After initially delaying the plug-in hybrid Escape, Ford finally started selling its electric compact crossover. Although it may bring all the excitement of filing an income tax in February, this latest Escape proved to be a cold and effective way to use electronics with few (if any) disadvantages.

The core of the Escape PHEV is a 14.4 kWh lithium-ion battery, which is combined with an electric motor and a 2.5-liter Atkinson cycle inline-4 to produce a net power of 221 horsepower, all of which are sent to the front wheels with no -Stage transmission. This is slightly lower than the 250 horsepower produced by Escape's siblings with EcoBoost. Although it may be a bit difficult to start powering up, the plug-in has no problem accelerating on highways or passing ground road traffic. This does not sound very good, but this is why the stereo has a volume knob.

The FBI estimates that the Escape PHEV’s battery can travel about 37 miles per charge, which is consistent with my experience. I was able to (almost literally) climb through the rush hour of Chicago rush hour traffic and increase efficiency. It can travel about 23 miles on a half charge, but without any guidance from me, it will definitely chew it if you let it go for a long time. When the motor is exhausted during highway driving, the efficiency of the electric motor is low. The slower the more stable, the more blood you can get from that stone. When the power is finally exhausted, you will not be unlucky-at this point, the Escape PHEV is like a standard gasoline-electric hybrid car, providing short-term electricity when the car deems it necessary.

Fortunately, you can avoid wasting energy by riding Escape's multiple electric driving modes. Quickly tapping the EV switch on the center console allows me to save power for future use, recharge, run on electricity alone, or let the computer solve all problems. I felt good on the journey from Detroit to Chicago, where I silently drained the battery and then drove silently to the highway, so when I finally left Interstate 94, I was able to generate some electricity to For use. However, this is far from ideal. The perfect life of Escape PHEV is based on the existence of commuting. In this case, using a 120 or 240 volt power outlet can ensure that the battery is charged at a lower cost than gasoline. With a standard three-pin plug, it takes nearly 11 hours to fully charge, so it may take more time-constrained drivers to call an electrician and install another big boy dryer plug.

The EPA claims that the Escape PHEV can reach about 40 mpg with gasoline alone, but I see close to 36 mpg with mixed use. If you do take a road trip, be prepared to stop longer than you expect; although all other Escape variants have a 14 to 15 gallon tank, the plug-in can only use 11.2 gallons.

The rest of the 2021 Ford Escape plug-in hybrid is calm, calm and boring, because everyone is gone, which is not a bad thing. The suspension has been adjusted for comfort, and it has been shown to consume most of the dirt on the road and return to a normal amount of cabin noise. The steering wheel is very light, which makes city driving feel less troublesome. The fusion between regenerative braking and friction braking is smooth, even if I press the L button on the gear dial, this improves the regeneration outside the throttle. This is exactly what I expect from a compact crossover in the mass market.

The engine will not win any beauty contests.

Since my Escape PHEV tester is decorated with top-of-the-line titanium alloys, I can use all the technologies that Ford offers on this particular car. Each plug-in trim comes standard with the Sync 3 infotainment system on Ford’s 8-inch touch screen, which includes all common functions such as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Titanium trim further enhances this with embedded navigation. The SE and SEL decorations have a 6-inch LCD screen in the instrument cluster, but Titanium replaced it with a gorgeous 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster that I really like. Both screens are responsive and good at highlighting relevant information. My tester also has a head-up display, but it is one of the systems that use pop-up plastic small things, it looks a bit cheap, and it’s installed too low to suit my liking. Charging is easy for everyone. There is a Qi wireless device charger under climate control, and each row has a pair of USB-A and USB-C ports.

Some automakers don't mind saving safety technology on the lower trim, but the Escape PHEV is very well equipped throughout the range. SE and SEL interiors get automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist, automatic high beams and blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control and speed sign recognition are hidden behind the affordable $895 upgrade. The entire shebang is standard on Titanium, as is Ford's excellent active parking assistant. The hands-on technique is well done, staying in the center of its lane without any ping-pong lateral movement.

Synchronization is not the latest system on the block, but it is reliably good.

I found that there are two schools of thought surrounding the latest generation of Ford Mavericks. Some people don't mind or care about its appearance, and then some people really don't like it. Of course, the front is a bit suspicious. The shiny titanium grille of my tester is reminiscent of a trip to an orthodontist in middle school, but I think it's good. This is not Bronco Sport, that's for sure, but you can't get Bronco Sport PHEV, so that's it. I would say that the $395 Rapid Red paint on my tester is really popular in the sun.

I am not too tolerant of the interior. Bronco Sport seems to have spent a lot of thought on Ford, while Escape is more like "they will take what they get." Hard plastic surfaces abound, and even if the base price is pushed up to $40,000, some things in the lower part of the cabin seem to be easily dug out by accident. The "wood" decoration on the dashboard and door panels is almost offensive because it is obviously fake. The ergonomics may also be a bit strange, especially the start button, which tilts toward the steering column.

However, the interior of the Escape PHEV has some good parts. There is a commendable storage space between the lower door card, the small room under climate control and another small room under the central armrest. The rear seats can slide back and forth to accommodate different sizes of passengers and cargo. The trunk is not as spacious as the Toyota RAV4 Prime. According to the position of the second row of seats, it measures between 31 and 34 cubic feet. When the rear seats are folded down, it can be expanded to nearly 61 cubes, but this is for family roads. Still enough for travel.

This is looking at you, boy.

Electrified hardware is not cheap, but the 2021 Ford Escape plug-in hybrid does a good job of keeping the starting price low. The SE model starts at US$34,320, including the destination fee of US$1,245, while the SEL is as high as US$37,060. Titanium is priced at US$40,130, plus the aforementioned paint upgrade and a US$2,500 package, with the addition of a panoramic sunroof and wireless charging, and the price of my tester is US$43,025.

There are some competitors in the plug-in compact crossover market segment, but not many competitors. Its biggest competitor is the Toyota RAV4 Prime, which offers more space, better appearance and a fairly powerful 300-horsepower power system. If you prefer something closer to the ground, Kia Niro is a bit like an incubator, and Kia’s cabin technology is second to none. If you are willing to give up the big battery, Ford Bronco Sport will become a more attractive choice because it has the personality you know.

The 2021 Ford Escape plug-in hybrid does not intend to compromise. This PHEV offers commendable electric cruising range, full use of internal space, and a very democratic technology in its product line. If you are looking for something that can take you around the city without burning out on your wallet, then Escape PHEV is a safe choice that can meet all your needs.