Best 2020 Plug-In Hybrid: Toyota RAV4 vs Ford ESCAPE

Let's compare the Toyota RAV4 Prime and the Ford Escape, both plug-in hybrids and see which one is the best plug-in hybrid on the market now that Chevy Volt is no longer in production!

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[nevco]

I liked your joke about fumes. However the main factors for people to not adopt an EV are convenience and availability of public charging points, plus the time needed to charge on the long trips. Outside Tesla there is a mess with payment systems with no credit card acceptance, need for an app, subscription and RFID. Moreover most places still do not have a good app to show how many charging stall are available, working. So many networks have issues communicating at handshaking moment with certain models of EVs. But the most obvious reason for poor EV adoption is lack of choice especially in the space of RAV4 Prime and Ford Escape PHEV. One very important reason is high price of BEVs. Another reason is not established second hand vehicle market. Some places in Midwest USA and Canada are with cold winters where people will prefer to avoid a BEV due to range drop and poor infrastructure. So far a proper PHEV can address these grievances with ease.
In AWD need Ford will launch its Lincoln Corsair PHEV.

[phredkost]

The other important factor to consider would be build quality. I believe Toyota will come out on top.

[BLRGBattlemaster]

To add to your points. The Rav4 Prime can tow up to 2500 lbs braked. Ford Escape PHEV, only 1500 lbs. That's a huge difference. Secondly, Toyota started the electrification trend with Prius, and if anything, I would go with them since they've been doing hybrids longer than any of the large auto manufacturers. Finally, Rav4 prime does 0 to 60 in under 6 seconds. The ford takes 3 seconds longer. That's a big difference.

[areyoudownwithp]

I do think there is one under-appreciated aspect of PHEVs, which is the smaller battery size is actually a big benefit to most consumers. It seems like the biggest hurdle to fully electric is a shortage of the raw materials needed to truly make them mass market. If *most* people can mostly drive electric on a PHEV, it seems like a great way to get more people driving electric overall. In other words, it seems like we’d burn a lot gasoline with 4 RAV4 PHEVs on the road than 1 Tesla and 3 standard Hybrids.

[helsan]

I'm going from a Ford CMAX 2015 Energi to the new Ford Escape 2020 PHEV. Super happy with my CMAX giving me around 2500km before needing to refill my gas tank.
Yes I recharge everytime when I can. And most of the time the distance I need to drive is less than 30km... and I get about 40Km when fully charge. So the new Escape PHEV is suppose to offer double distance... so I expect to do even more KM before gas refill. Thanks for the review!

[nevco]

PHEV vehicles comes in 2 main categories - compliance and usable ones. Obviously there are 2 components EV and gasoline powertrain. The main criticism is about dead weight of other powertrain when the first one is in use. Compliance PHEVs have short EV range and gasoline powertrain. The latter usualy has worse MPG then its pure gasoline model due to battery weight.
Usable PHEVs have a proper decent EV range and a hybrid gasoline powertrain with MPG when battery is depleted much better than its gasoline counterpart due to proper parallel hybrid sometimes halving the gasoline consumption vs its gas counterpart. In the latter category fall upcoming RAV4 Prime and Ford Escape PHEV with its luxury version Lincoln Corsair PHEV AWD. Due to discontinuation of Chevrolet Volt in the latter category of no compromise PHEV vehicles on the market right now before Ford Escape PHEV and Toyota RAV4 Prime come out for sale in the USA there are only 2 vehicles : Honda Clarity PHEV and Chrysler Pacifica PHEV.

[garyc]

RAV4 all the way. AWD is the deciding factor since snow is in my life. Buying one as soon as I can get one.

[tommac]

Great quality video. Very professional.

[vsokalsky]

I also am a happy owner of 2017 Chevy Volt. I get 38 mpg - 45 mpg here in San Jose depending on the weather. I'll either drive it to death or trade it for a forthcoming Chevy bev3. Can wait for you to review it 😊

[Nosaesoh]

Towing is important! The Toyota PHEV has a rated tow of 1500kg (4wd version), but I couldn’t find anything on other PHEV’s. this means I can drive 42km round trip for work everyday on electric only, and go camping with a small hybrid caravan on weekends without range anxiety!

[jk-qyhj]

I drive Honda clarity plugin and get around 55 mils electric and it is a great car.

[loripahs]

What is the horsepower when these vehicles are operating on battery power/electric motor only?

[meeasy]

Early in the video you mention that after the vehicle surpasses the EV range it operates like a regular "GAS" powered vehicle. I assumed it became a regular "HYBID" vehicle after surpassing the EV range. Can you clarify?

[dq]

I’ve owned numerous used Japanese cars & trucks & have had only minor problems. I currently own a 2006 Lexus 400H with 100, 000 miles a 2003 Tundra & a 1995 Acura NSX both with over 130, 000 miles with only minor problems.I’ve also owned a new ford & dodge & had nothing but problems after 40, 000 & 60, 000 miles & both companies gave me the High Hat...Toyota all day long..

[hoozthair]

Not only would I missed the lightheadedness that comes during a fill up of a gasoline-powered automobile I would also miss the having to stop for a day to recharge about every 200 miles. So does that mean it's time for me to buy an electric vehicle?

[PavelDubanevich]

The 4th category is built quality which is very important factor for a lot of people. And obviously RAV4 is the winner here.

[htnowpro]

Honda Clarity is the #1 PHEV, just got back from a 2800 mile trip, averaging 47.5mpg. I normally get 54 miles full EV , to work and back with 16 miles left over . No gas for the most part and a 6.6kw onboard charger. Full charge in just under 2.5hrs. The Rav should have stepped up the onboard charger. They almost checked all the boxes and add a little more EV range.

[jmpetersrn]

You often mentioned that you used to own a Tesla. I've not heard what you are driving now. What do you drive, Alex?

[rafaelmarchipucci]

Speaking in PHEV, should we add Ioniq in this fight? Is it make sense a comparison between Escape and Ioniq, both PHEV?! Thanks.

[graantmnz]

another issue is availability - in NZ i was told by a toyota saleaman that they are not bringing RAV4 phev in ...big mistake perhaps ? ...Ford are taking orders for Escape phev - but they are months away.