For 2020, Ford has two powerful electric vehicle options: Explorer Limited and Escape SE Sport Hybrid. The Explorer Hybrid is a brand-new model for 2020, while the Escape SE Sport Hybrid returns in 2020 after an eight-year hiatus. But how do you know which electric vehicle works best for your needs? Keep reading to learn what to expect with these two SUVs. 
Powertrain
The 2020 Explorer Limited Hybrid has one of the first electrified powertrains for Ford. It combines a 3.3-liter V-6 engine along with a 10-speed automatic transmission. It also includes a 35-kilowatt electric motor paired with a 1.5-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack. Together, it produces 318 horsepower and 322 pound-feet of torque.
With the Escape SE Sport Hybrid, you don’t have to give up performance for fuel-efficiency. The standard powertrain is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine, 88-kilowatt electric motor, and lithium-ion battery pack. They come with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which gets an estimated 198 horsepower. The size of the battery measures less than one-third the size of the old Escape battery.
Fuel Economy
When looking for an electric vehicle, one of the deciding factors involves fuel economy. In standard rear-wheel drive, the Explorer Limited Hybrid returns an EPA-estimated 27 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. Opting for all-wheel drive drops the fuel economy to 23 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. It does, however, get an EPA-estimated driving range of more than 450 miles.
Although official numbers haven’t been released for the Escape Hybrid, Ford estimates that the vehicle will attain about 30 miles on all-electric power with a full charge. The SUV comes standard with a Level 1 and 2 charging port. Charging the battery with a Level 1 charger, which is a household-style power outlet, takes 10 to 11 hours; it only takes 3.5 hours with a Level 2 charger, which goes into a voltage outlet.
Cargo Space
The Explorer Limited Hybrid offers exceptional cargo space, especially when compared to other vehicles in its class. Behind the third row, you get 18.2 cubic feet of space, but if you fold down the second and third rows, you get 87.9 cubic feet of space.
With the Escape SE Sport Hybrid, its lithium-ion battery pack takes up space in the cargo area, but you still get a decent amount of space. Behind the rear seats, you get 30.7 cubic feet of cargo space. Sliding those seats forward increases the space to 34.4 cubic feet, which is above average when compared to others in its class. Folding down the split rear seat gives you a maximum of 60.8 cubic feet of space.
You can’t go wrong with either the 2020 Explorer Limited Hybrid or Escape SE Sport Hybrid. If you have any additional questions about which Ford electric vehicle is perfect for you, reach out to the experts at Chaparral Ford. Not only can they answer your questions, but they can get you behind the wheel of one of these SUVs and help you drive off the lot today.
