As a reflection of the crossover and SUV craze that has swept the automotive market over the past decade, Ford has phased out almost all cars from its lineup, leaving only the Mustang behind. The remaining Ford vehicles, of which there are still many, have each been getting overhauls in recent years. The Escape’s time came in 2020 when the crossover was remade as a sleeker, more tech-forward vehicle with efficient available hybrid powertrains.

Though Ford has had issues getting the Escape Plug-In Hybrid off the ground, the standard hybrid powertrain has been expanded in the Escape lineup for 2021. It’s now available for both the SE and SEL trims and is standard for Titanium models. Other updates for the new model year include a shuffling of features in the Technology Package and newly available features for the Titanium trim.

Under the hood, the Escape Hybrid sports a 2.5-liter inline-four combined with electric motors to produce a total output of 200 horsepower. It’s paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and either front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD).

The Escape’s 2020 overhaul brought an update and more upscale interior with premium-feel cloth upholstery and better-but-still-budget materials for lower trims. The Titanium model gets real leather upholstery and wood-look trim, along with pleasing ambient lighting.

The standard infotainment unit here is an 8-inch touchscreen system that runs Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Titanium models also get a 10-speaker B&O Play audio system and a large 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. Navigation is also standard, and an in-dash head-up display (HUD) is available.

Every 2021 Escape Hybrid comes standard with Ford’s Co-Pilot360 system, which brings forward-collision warnings, blind-spot monitors, lane departure warnings, and rear cross-traffic alerts to the party. Those features, along with great crash test scores, were good enough for the Escape to grab a 2021 Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2021 Escape is on sale now with a starting price of $31,445 after destination. The range-topping Titanium Hybrid model gets a starting price of $35,545.