In recent months, the Ford Escape has earned its fair share of praise from Consumer Reports, ranking among the most reliable and fuel-efficient SUVs on sale, one of the best-performing hybrid SUVs, one of the best hybrids for less than $35k, and one of the best American vehicles on the market, period. With production of the refreshed 2023 Ford Escape back on track following a software issue and stellar EPA fuel economy ratings in its sales toolbox, one might expect the Hybrid to perform well on the consumer organization’s latest most and least satisfying hybrid vehicles list, but that wasn’t necessarily the case, surprisingly.
Consumer Reports creates this particular list by leaning on its owner satisfaction rankings, combined with its own testing and reliability data. It then ranks these hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and all-electric vehicles based on styling, driving experience, comfort, value, and in-car electronics ease of use, giving us a better overall picture of performance.
In that regard, the Ford Escape Hybrid landed on CR‘s list of the least satisfying hybrids on the market, alongside the Toyota Corolla Hybrid, Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, and Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid. However, what’s particularly interesting about this result is the fact that the Escape scored a solid 72 out of 100 overall, with a predicted overall owner satisfaction score of three out of five. The crossover’s owner satisfaction score is 68 percent, too.
Breaking this down by category, the Escape Hybrid ranked well in terms of driving experience (80 out of 100), comfort (77), and styling (76), though lagged behind in terms of value at 55. It’s also worth noting that these scores are predictions, given the fact that 2023 Ford Escape production is just getting underway, so these numbers are also subject to change between now and the release of Consumer Reports‘ next Annual Auto Survey.
We’ll have more on the Escape soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for more Ford Escape news and ongoing Ford news coverage.
Comments
Refusal of Ford to make an awd version as with the Corsair PHEV hurt. Towing? Corsair PHEV 2250lbs. Escape a mere 1500lbs despite the same platform. Good luck tryong to find a Corsair PHEV and one without dealer markup. Akes the RAV4 HYBRID and Prime a much better deal.
Just wrong. Corsair PHEVs from 2022 were marked thousands under MSRP while Escape PHEVs from 2022 were still marked above MSRP.
RAV4 Primes are amazing cars but completely unavailable or at outrageous markups. So let’s not hold up the Prime as paragon here.
Escape (and Corsair) suffer from a finish issue. And this the low “value” scores. RAV4 is also pretty poor finish but at least it’s “rugged” not “cheap” so gets a pass.
Bull****. I personally know that 2022 Corsair Grand Touring models have been sold above MSRP because no dealer within 200 miles of us would sell one at sticker price. And there is no “finish issue”, our Corsair is and has been excellent, with no issues at all. Our friend’s Tesla Model 3 can’t say the same, unfortunately. It has been “in the shop” almost half of the last 6 months.
Corsair is one of CR’s Highly Recommended models because of its quality.
Don’t know what to tell you…. I followed both of the models for months.
2022 Escape PHEV still sell above MSRP in my area, and did nationwide until like Jan. 2023
Versus 2022 Corsair GT which in in Oct 2022 started coming down.
I happen to own one I picked late last year for thousands off MSRP.
I am sure 2023 Cosair GT will sell over MSRP for a while too, but due to unreasonable low production, and like 2022 8 months in will be selling for lower than MSRP
Touch points are good, but moving away from touch points it’s obviously lower quality than some competitors, while having same or higher initial price. But people are not great at long term costs. I figure my GT will end up costing about as much as CR-V hybrid, so I find finishes great for a 40k car, but I can also get why people would question based on the sticker that’s often higher than 55k.
I bought a 2020 Escape Titanium hybrid new in March of 2020. Drove it for three years and averaged 41.6 mpg. Only went back to the dealer for one warranty repair of reflash of the computer. Drove it for three years and 36k miles. CarMax offered me $26k. I paid $30k + tax new. Sold it to them they sold it for $30k. Besides normal service only thing I replaced was all for tires. I sure won’t call it a low value!
Bought a 2020 Escape SE Sport HEV AWD. In 37 monthsi have driven 33,000 miles with an average MPG of 44 which includes over 15,000 miles of highway trips. There has been a couple of recalls and a few tweaks, but I walked into my dealer on 03/12/2020 and paid $30,600, and walked out with a check for $2750 (rebates).
It’s a Ford. I expect what I get for the brand that I bought. Find me another compact HEV SUV on the market which can be/could have been available for a net of $28,000 NEW.
Same vehicle now is mid to upper $30s.
Not getting rid of it.
Haters hate, but it’s a solid vehicle and has been a great value.
Mike and Nancy are clearly fakes LOL – repeat story…
Regardless, used vehicle prices did go up…I sold my F150 Lariat for $15k over what I paid for in 2021….those times are nearly over though.
…and the Escape?! Overpriced – without rebates It’s quickly sinking in the sales chart and unlike to recover. Competition is eating it alive…
Consumer Reports automatically deducts points if the vehicle is a domestic. If I put a Ford badge on a Lexus, they’d rip it. I’m on my third Escape. They’ve been great. My ’22 is the most comfortable of the lot. I do miss all the storage my ’19 offered but gas mileage is better than ever.
I ordered the 2022 PHEV in April 2022. I had to convert that order to a 2023 in September. It arrived at the dealership on April 18th 2023 reducing the tax credit to just under $3000. The 2023 was already $4000 more than the 2022 I had ordered last April (the 2022 qualified for nearly $7000 in tax credits). Ford actually raised the price another $2000 after I ordered. I was price protected for the $2000 but after the tax credit, the vehicle was still over $44,000 with tax, tag and title. $2000 more than a Tesla Model Y. By delaying my delivery over a year, the car I ordered after the tax credit went from $34K to $44k. I passed and got my deposit back. MSRP with TTT for the 2023 PHEV with the standard option package that pretty much you are going to want is over $50,000. The 2023 PHEV is stupid over-priced compared to the competition.