Is the Ford Escape Hybrid a good city car for traffic?

I’ve been looking at 2020-2023 Ford Escape Hybrids since they seem pretty affordable (around $14-19k). I need a car to drive to work in NYC… and by ‘drive,’ I mostly mean sitting in traffic.

I’ve never owned a car before, so for those who know—are hybrids really better than gas for city driving? Non-hybrid options (not necessarily the Escape) seem cheaper, but would I actually save a lot in gas over time with a hybrid?

I’m not looking at plug-ins since I live in an apartment and rely on street parking—no place to charge. Just wondering if the regular hybrid is worth it for my situation.

For city driving, the Escape Hybrid is a solid choice. It runs on battery a lot in stop-and-go traffic, so you’ll save a good amount on gas compared to a regular engine.

Highway driving is where you’ll notice a difference—it doesn’t use as much battery at higher speeds, and you’ll feel the lack of power compared to something like an EcoBoost. But if all you need is a daily commuter for city traffic, a hybrid makes sense.

@Tan
How bad is the power difference? I have a 2019 2.0L and love the power, but I know I’m on borrowed time with the transmission. I’d consider switching to a hybrid, but I don’t want to feel like I’m driving a slug.

@Zara
You’ll definitely feel a difference. Not sure on exact numbers, but I’d guess you lose around 30% of the power.

That said, if you’re just commuting and not trying to race people off the line, it’s something you get used to. The fuel savings make up for it if you’re mostly going from A to B.

@Zara
Best thing to do is test drive one. I’ve driven plenty of cars with 100hp or less on the highway and in the mountains—it’s manageable, you just have to plan ahead and have realistic expectations.

@Tan
That makes sense. Also, I’m hoping to get pregnant soon, so I’m trying to find a car that’s practical for commuting and will fit a car seat comfortably.

Zora said:
@Tan
That makes sense. Also, I’m hoping to get pregnant soon, so I’m trying to find a car that’s practical for commuting and will fit a car seat comfortably.

Then yeah, this is a great choice. We moved from a Focus to an Escape for the same reason, and it was one of the best decisions we made.

I have a 2023 Escape Hybrid, and I get 40+ mpg in the city. On the highway, I average around 35. Overall, I’m really happy with it.

Jade said:
I have a 2023 Escape Hybrid, and I get 40+ mpg in the city. On the highway, I average around 35. Overall, I’m really happy with it.

Same here. My 2023 has almost 60,000 km already, and my lifetime average is 33-35 mpg.

That includes daily highway commuting plus some city driving. Canadian winters drop that number, but overall, it’s been great.

One tip: If you get one, consider upgrading the 12V battery under the spare tire to an H6. The factory battery is tiny, and in cold weather (below -5C), it disables remote functions until it recharges. Super annoying, but an easy fix if you reset the BCM.

Do you have a charging spot at work? If not, then yeah, a regular hybrid makes more sense than a plug-in.

I have a 2021 Escape Hybrid Titanium AWD, and it’s been great for my family. One thing to keep in mind—when it’s really cold (below 20°F and cloudy), the car struggles to warm up because hybrids rely on the gas engine for heat. Kind of ironic, but worth mentioning.

@Hollis
Nope, no charging at work either, so plug-ins aren’t an option.

I’ve seen a lot of bad reviews on these cars, especially the 2020-2023 models, but people on this forum seem to love them. I’m a little worried about buying used—feels like the good ones aren’t the ones being sold!

@Zora
A lot of reliability ratings are all over the place because different sources lump together gas and hybrid models, and they have completely different powertrains.

The hybrid system is basically Toyota’s, so it’s pretty solid. Most of the complaints are software-related recalls, not actual mechanical failures.

@Zora
The bad ratings come from the recalls. The 2020 model year had the most issues, but a lot of them were fixed with updates.

I went with the Titanium trim because it was cheaper than a mid-trim Toyota but came with way more features. A few things I like:

  • Remote start doesn’t turn off when you open the door (unlike Toyota)
  • You can use remote start through the app without paying for a subscription

Downside? The 12V battery is small, and if you don’t drive often, it drains fast.

Honestly, I wouldn’t trust a Ford that isn’t a hybrid.

If you put the hybrid into Eco mode, it stays in electric more often, which makes stop-and-go traffic a lot smoother. I use it all the time for driving through parking lots, school pickups, and drive-thrus. It definitely helps with efficiency in city driving.

I have a 2022 Escape Hybrid SEL, and I love it. Almost 35,000 miles in, and my average MPG is 44.7.

Hybrids shine in city traffic because every time you stop, it regenerates the battery. On short trips around town, I usually see 50-60 mpg.

A few recalls, but no real issues so far. Easily the best car I’ve owned.

I’ve put 60k miles on my 2023 Platinum Hybrid in 8 months. It’s a fantastic city car when it’s warm out.

When temps drop below freezing, though, the battery is basically useless. Anything above 40°F, and it’s perfect.

There was a time when half the taxis in NYC were Escape Hybrids. Then Ford completely changed the design in 2013.