Is the 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid FINALLY a Great RAV4 Hybrid Competitor?

[@PrimeAutotainment]

What do you think of those MPG numbers? I completely forgot to put it in sport mode during this drive, but it's surprisingly peppy because you get good power from the electric and gas motor simultaneously. *Thank you for watching and have a great day!*

[@edlawrence6553]

The Sport mode appears to turn off electric mode. I’ve used it a few times for some short trips and my mpg’s ranged from 15 to 35. The acceleration is awesome. I’ve switched to it several times at a red traffic light; blew by the car to my left or right to beat them to the lane merge. On the other hand, using Eco mode for trips of approx 12 miles on back roads (posted 25 - 40mph), I’ve achieved mpg’s as high as 78,

[@Davido50]

Love it!

[@sheskimusic]

Just purchased this vehicle a couple days ago. In metallic gray. Have had 3 previous Escapes. This is the best car I’ve ever owned! Not going to lie, taking me a little bit to get used to the transmission dial. It’s not a problem though. It is actually kind of neat. I am so pleased with this purchase and am pleased to be contributing to less pollution. Highly recommended. Is a joy to drive and honestly I feel it’s the sharpest looking Escape Ford has designed yet.

[@norsetomeadyou]

Hi! Are you still loving your Escape? I just bought one because my Prius finally died, and Ford offered the best financing package. But my eye has been wandering to the other hybrid crossover competitors... How's your experience been this summer?

[@shanekealoha]

@@norsetomeadyou I wanna know, too! Car research is daunting.

[@norsetomeadyou]

@shanekealoha It truly is! And I was under a time crunch since I waited until my previous car died.. but! I just drove my new Escape home last night from the dealer - it took a couple weeks to ship, but Ford very generously gave me a loaner while I waited. I got the SE Sport hybrid, in Star White with black wheels. And she is STUNNING. The ride is buttery smooth and honestly a lot of fun to drive. However, *disclaimer*, I didn’t test drive any other 2020 hybrids, because the RAV4 was more than I wanted to pay, and I preferred the revival of the Escape vs. Honda’s brand new CR-V hybrid. Ford had the fuel economy, standard features, and price point I wanted. And combing the area for used 2019 RAV4s was getting stressful! They disappear so quickly. But I’m very, very happy. Despite watching seven hundred KZbin car reviews of every single competitor and panicking!! I think you can’t go wrong with any of these new hybrids, they’re all great cars. :)

[@Matthieuwil]

Jenn K I’m purchasing an Escape SE Hybrid Sport next week!

[@baldheadlogic]

Great Review Nolan. I am glad to see that the Hybrid Escape beats EPA mileage estimates in the real world. Noise control seems like a problem in the Rav4 as well.

[@PrimeAutotainment]

canonlybeme4life thank you! Definitely, I was excited about how easy it was to get food MPGs. Noise bums me out but I guess for a mainstream vehicle I can’t complain too much lol. RAV4 definitely had a fair amount of noise too ☹️

[@pdd3]

Great review. Just wanted to say that the reason city economy is higher is that the vehicle is more efficient at lower speeds than it is at higher speeds. It is not actually because of regenerative breaking. If you cruised at 30 mph for an hour and didn't break at all, you'd get phenomenal fuel economy. This is true of non-hybrids as well, except that when you stop, you lose all the energy you put into it and don't get a chance to recover it.

[@MoNoK15]

It looks fuel efficient. I like the blue color. Great review buddy, keep them coming 👍

[@PrimeAutotainment]

For sure, I was surprised it actually was more efficient than advertised for my lead foot haha. Thank ya sir!!0

[@LeoTheShortGuy]

The RAV needs some competition!!!!! That is for sure.

[@PrimeAutotainment]

Yes definitely! I’m excited to see the CRV Hybrid soon too

[@chadbone732]

I really like the pace and delivery of your reviews.

[@PrimeAutotainment]

Thank you and I’m happy to hear that!

[@JimSpence]

Also personally I think this blue with the sandstone interior activex seats is the best combo. The all black option on these looks much cheaper and less sophisticated

[@edlawrence6553]

Regarding “lack of paddles”: Agreed. They would be nice. As a substitute, I’ve been using the “L” button on the transmission selector knob, when approaching traffic lights.

[@joeb1331]

the noise that you are hearing while driving is due to the tires, my 2016 was also loud until I replace my tires and now it's pretty quiet. The engine is pretty loud, surprise they didn't insulate the engine bay.

[@ecjaye]

Great review, this might be my next car after I unload my 2017 Escape SE (19.9 mph). Just wish the SE Sport Hybrid base model didn't start at 28,850.

[@harleyjackson5513]

This is going to sell really well!

[@PrimeAutotainment]

Thank you Eric! That would be awesome. Maybe there will be some good discounts and incentives to get that price down

[@jaguarreal9116]

better off getting that 1.5L, the pep will surprise you, the MPG is very good, and you can buy a lot of gas with just the interest of the higher priced hybrid. The downside, is that it may need premium gas always.

[@dreamcruzer4743]

Nice review. Been thinking about a hybrid for my next vehicle.

[@PrimeAutotainment]

Thank you! About 5 years ago I ever gave them any though but after driving several of them and seeing how sold older hybrids are still kicking, I’ve come to really enjoy them and it’s almost like a competition to get feet mileage when driving one. I think we will be seeing a lot more of them on the road soon

[@diggleda2952]

If you can afford it try to go for an all electric vehicle. Worth it for sure

[@jeffb.4800]

2019 rav4 hybrid owner and love it. This blue is nice though!

[@PrimeAutotainment]

Glad to hear it!

[@bmw803]

Don't they have some fuel tank problem that they fucked up ???

[@JimSpence]

Thank you! This is the ONLY review I’ve seen so far on the 20 Escape Hybrid that mentions the EV Mode (or lack of) compared to the Rav4! Guess Escape is reserving it for the PHEV cousin. However if you build out the regular hybrid on the Ford website, select the 360° interior view, you’ll see a button that says “EV” in the space next to the drive-mode button. Looking to replace a early production Tesla Model 3 and don’t want to (again) shell out $50K for an EV. Why is the PHEV Escape FWD only!? That is a dumb move especially since RAV4 Prime is AWD.

[@brianmerrill2362]

I like your drive review because there's no snow and it looks nice there.!

[@PrimeAutotainment]

71 here today 😁

[@brianmerrill2362]

@@PrimeAutotainment that's what I'm talking about, wow 71 there. We made it to 42 I think in Pierre SD so not horrible as you know for this area.

[@brianpetersen3429]

Excellent review.

[@PrimeAutotainment]

Thank you Brian!

[@adasmith7141]

Excellent review 🙌🙌 Very detailed!

[@PrimeAutotainment]

Thank you very much Ada 😁👍

[@littleclay5875]

... This Ford Escape model is the hybrid I would choose - Until such a time as, -> EV over the ground vehicles no longer require charging - (meaning, >plug-in for recharging) which was made unnecessary in the 1800's - long before you were born

[@rncondie]

My Rav 4 hybrid XLE 2019 has a lifetime average (5,600 miles) is 40.8 mpg. I am pleased with the ride quality, interior build quality and mpg. The downside is the roof height. I am just under 6’3” and with a sunroof the headroom is a little too close for me.

[@jaguarreal9116]

I think the comparison is with the 2020 Rav 4 which is completely new from 2019. Better in all ways, from seats going flat (that is huge), the only negative on 20 vs 19, is that the 20 hybrid has unsolved gas tank capacity issues (says full but you may only have 8 gal).

[@eulie717]

I’m only 5’6” and I couldn’t stand how low the RAV4 roof seemed when I set my seat high enough to see over the hood. Also, the seats don’t fold flat. The salesperson explained they do when the cargo floor is even with the back seats but it’s an illusion just like all other legitimate flat-folding seats are an illusion. Umm, no. There are brands with seats that actually do fold flat. RAV4 always has a small incline.

[@Jerald2251]

Great Review it’s a nice car

[@AndrewKNI]

Great review Nolan. The new Escape (or Kuga in the UK) looks fantastic. Love the interior. The exterior is very like a Porsche Macan but hugely cheaper :-) The Kuga here will start with a 1.5T from just under £25,000 ($32,600). Pity there are some noise issues. My Tucson has no noises at all except for the engine! A very subdued ride overall.

[@PrimeAutotainment]

Thank you Andrew! Nice to hear about that version too. I still think that Tucson is an awesome value and I’m glad it’s doing well for you 😁👍

[@LeoTheShortGuy]

Excellent - time to party.

[@PrimeAutotainment]

Hey Leo!

[@leblancexplores]

The EV mode button on the RAV4 is useless. I own one, it only works

[@bextar6365]

Sure hope this SUV helps drive their dwindling stock value go up. I've been hanging on to it for years.

[@bmw803]

It has nothing to do with this car, F-150 sells LIKE HOT POTATOES. The problem is we're entering a huge depression and many people are definitely going to postpone a car purchase. All companies are seeing a slump in sales. Ford has been doing ok compared to others like Chrysler, Fiat and other European companies. You can't always rely on this rigged stock market that's completely disconnected with reality.

[@T16-s5o]

I really like the vehicle overall, but it looks kinda boring outside

[@PrimeAutotainment]

Yeah I know what you mean, definitely different and more swoopy than the last generation

[@Matt-yh6we]

And what does GM have to offer? Lol their CEO needs to be fired yesterday.

[@sealoftheliving4998]

Next time to your demo on that Hybrid car. You will show to the camera the Gauge on how it works the engine and the electric motor. How many miles per hour the engine start working and not stoppinhg and on electric motor how many miles per hour it will.start and stop working.

[@twisterwiper]

Ugh, I don’t like the screen on top of the dash! Looks like a messy afterthought. Also, I prefer for the center console to be one unbroken line from top of dash to between front seats. Screen should be embedded in dashboard.

[@gwendolyn899]

I like my 17 interior style better. The back exterior flat looking. Looks like all the rest of the suvs. I not crazy about the computer screen sticking out of the dash.

[@daveydoodle1916]

Why not go with the edge)

[@stacyhackney6100]

Nice.

[@stevewierzbicki2495]

WHY, OMG, WHY DOESN'T IT HAVE A WIRELESS PHONE CHARGER!!??!!

[@daveydoodle1916]

What did they do to the body yuck

[@EpicLemonMusic]

I’d like to try the escape titanium in person but from This review the interior looks quite bad inside and meh outside, but more importantly seems very slow compared to the area Hybrid with a weaker battery meaning real world City mpg will be bad. Also I find the regular escape to be much louder than the RAV4 hybrid so maybe the hybrid escape is different?

[@jaguarreal9116]

The interior in the Escape is bad. But by far it wins against the Rav4 in quietness and smoothness. The Escape needs rear-seat pull handles from the back. And AWD may hurt its sales.

[@EpicLemonMusic]

@@jaguarreal9116 escapes sales are utter garbage and they are cheap. They dont offer enligh luxury options. Well the thing is though yes the escape is more aero and it has more sound deadening but the engine is loud af (it sounds better than the rav at low speeds but at high it whines and is loud af. Most of the road noise comes from tires and the escape usually has smaller tires which reduce noise, you could just buy smoother tires.

[@jaguarreal9116]

@@EpicLemonMusic I tested both at top options, each for a couple of weeks. I test them to the max, hard driving, I want quiet and smoot, that is my number one need, and the RAV4 failed in just the first few seconds. The escape passed always. There are too many other things I don't like about the escape, like I said cheap interior at the Titanium price, and no pull down seats. It is the price that is the problem. But still tempted because that Titanium, with quietness and quickness, has AWD, and can tow 3K lbs (it comes with a 2" hitch). I am ok with spending $35k or $38K, but it needs the final touches that I have mentioned.

[@EpicLemonMusic]

@@jaguarreal9116 Sir it sounds like you are talking about non Hybrids and I absolutely agree if so, the regular escape vs regular rav the escape is quieter but Hybrid vs Hybrid I will and most other people clearly because of sales numbers choose the rav4 hyb

[@raven4k998]

you thought ford couldn't do it you thought wrong ford is proving it's better then GM by doing what GM refuses to do

[@drivenhome3257]

It's off the list for the noise. it's ridiculous.

[@drivenhome3257]

This and another video has huge road noise. The cabin is sooooooo loud!!!!!!

[@BIGLOVE4TRUTH]

Way more ugly than my rav 4.

[@mkel0385]

The ford doesn’t compare to the rav 4. The Toyota has so many more options and is far nicer.

[@virgfresco1403]

MKEL03 ur Toyota Rav 4 hybrid is on recall right now. Don’t give me shit of the Toyota reliability. The engine needs to be replace!

[@T16-s5o]

@@virgfresco1403 I agree

[@harleyjackson5513]

Yeah, your Rav is on recall. I would definately get the new Ford Escape.

[@jaguarreal9116]

Except that the RAV4 drive is very noisy, any acceleration and it is very loud.

[@ROBSOLUTELY]

The Ford is so ugly.