Ford takes aim at the Toyota RAV4 with new Escape Hybrid

Ford has unveiled the vehicle it hopes will take on the sales success of the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, revealing a new electrified Escape SUV in Europe.

The Escape Hybrid – or Kuga Hybrid, as it’s called in Europe – pairs a 2.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor and a 1.1kWh battery, producing a total 140kW – similar, then, to Toyota’s lauded hybrid powertrain.

Perhaps the biggest selling point, especially in a land as vast as Australia, is the fact that Ford says its newest hybrid will deliver a total driving range of 1000km per tank, or enough to get you from Sydney to Brisbane without stopping to refuel.

The downside? Ford is yet to confirm the model for our market, instead saying there are currently “no local plans”.

While supply constraints could well delay a launch here, the smart money is on the vehicle arriving eventually, given the booming popularity of hybrids in Australia.

Like the Toyota RAV4, the new Escape pairs its hybrid powertrain with AWD, or what Ford calls Intelligent All-Wheel Drive, while the single-speed gearbox has false steps built into it to emulate a traditional automatic.

“Each of our electrified Kuga models brings a unique set of benefits. For our new Kuga Hybrid that includes fuel efficiency and driving range to rival diesel, the extra confidence offered by Intelligent All-Wheel Drive, and the effortless refinement of charging cable-free, pure-electric driving,” says Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe.

“Ford is committed to offering a choice of electrified vehicles so that every customer can find the perfect solution to fit seamlessly into their life. No model demonstrates that better than Kuga”.