Ford overhauled the popular Escape crossover for the 2020 model year, adding more tech and bringing its styling in line with the times. Despite its success, Ford had to delay the launch of a planned plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant due to fire risks the automaker discovered during the European rollout. The PHEV did eventually hit the ground, however, and for 2022, it receives only minor updates. The 2022 Escape PHEV is offered in SE, SEL, and Titanium trim levels. It comes with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor that combine for 221 horsepower. Front-wheel drive (FWD) and an electronic continuously variable transmission (eCVT) are standard. The PHEV is not offered with all-wheel drive (AWD), leaving it with FWD as the only option. That puts the Ford behind rivals like the Hyundai Tucson PHEV and Toyota RAV4 Prime. On a full charge, the Escape PHEV offers 37 miles of all-electric driving range. When battery power is exhausted, the vehicle offers a more traditional hybrid experience, where the electric motor acts as a supplemental force to the gas engine. That said, plug-in hybrids are not as efficient and do not offer the same fuel savings as traditional hybrids do if they are not regularly charged, because the extra weight from a larger battery and other components adds rolling resistance. The Escape PHEV’s cabin offers seating for five, and the rear bench seat slides for better flexibility when there are more people or gear needing a ride. The driver’s seat offers a high degree of adjustability, providing an ergonomic and comfortable place to spend time on longer drives. Ford equips the Escape PHEV with an 8-inch touchscreen that runs Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Other standard features include a Wi-Fi hotspot, USB inputs, HD radio, SiriusXM radio, and more. Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment system is one of the more intuitive and easy-to-use interfaces today. It’s colorful and responsive, and it doesn’t take more than a tap or two to accomplish most tasks. Available features include wireless device charging, a digital gauge cluster, a remote start system, and ambient interior lighting. The 2022 Escape earned a Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). That honor included “Good” scores in most crash test categories, except for side crash safety. Using the IIHS’s new standards, the Escape earned a “Marginal” score in that category. Headlights earned “Acceptable” or “Marginal,” depending on the configuration, and front crash-prevention systems got “Superior” and “Advanced” ratings. The 2022 Ford Escape comes standard with blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high beams, lane-departure alert, forward-collision alert, pedestrian detection, and more. Available features include adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, parking assist, traffic-sign recognition, and a head-up display.