The all-new Ford Escape plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) has just stolen the limelight from the highly anticipated Toyota RAV4 Prime. With an EPA-estimated 100 MPGe energy rating*, the Ford Escape PHEV is now the affordable crossover electric vehicle efficiency leader.

“The original Ford Escape was the world’s first hybrid SUV and the all-new Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid represents how far we’ve come in technology and efficiency,” said Hau Thai-Tang, Ford chief product development and purchasing officer. “The all-new Escape plug-in has more power and more passenger space than the Fusion Energi plug-in, as well as up to four times the cargo volume behind its second-row seats.”

With a starting price tag of about $37K, the Escape hybrid also looks like it will undercut the RAV4 Prime's very low cost of ownership. However, Ford did not say specifically what the maximum federal tax credit this vehicle qualifies for, so we will hold off saying that for sure. The Toyota RAV4 will cost a buyer in an EV-friendly state like Massachusetts about $30K after incentives. And that is before dealer discounts. These two electrified vehicles will cost an EV consumer able to take advantage of EV price incentives about half of what the similarly-sized Tesla Model Y's $54,100 starting price.

Ford'sThai-Tang commented on the balance between battery size and affordability, saying “Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid is that ideal balance our customers want.”

The Ford Escape PHEV has an EPA-estimated all-electric range of 37 miles*.

*Torque News has not yet seen published EPA data to verify Ford's claims of the EPA estimates in this story but we have no reason to doubt their accuracy.

is a life-long car nut and recovering engineer. John's focus areas are technology, safety, and green vehicles. In the 1990s, he was part of a team that built a solar-electric vehicle from scratch. His was the role of battery thermal control designer. For 20 years he applied his engineering and sales talents in the high tech world and published numerous articles in technical journals such as Chemical Processing Magazine. In 2008 he retired from that career to chase his dream of being an auto writer. In addition to Torque News, John's work has appeared in print in dozens of American newspapers and he provides reviews to many vehicle shopping sites. You can follow John on Twitter, and view his credentials at Linkedin

Image courtesy of Ford media support.