For the 2020 model year, the redesigned Ford Escape is offered with a highly efficient hybrid powertrain, packing an electrified 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 198 hp and 209 lb-ft of torque. We already know the Ford Escape Hybrid offers best-in-class fuel economy when running on pure gasoline, but now the EPA's all-electric fuel economy figures have been released for the Escape plug-in hybrid - and it's very good news if you're in the market for a PHEV crossover.

Ford has announced the all-new Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid offers a best-in-class EPA-estimated all-electric fuel economy rating of 100 MPGe combined and an EPA-estimated 37 miles of all-electric driving range. An MPGe (miles per gallon of gasoline-equivalent), compares the amount of energy consumed by alternative fuel vehicles to what traditional gas-powered vehicles consume.

Compared to the Toyota RAV4 Prime, the Escape PHEV beats its chief rival's rating by six MPGe. However, the Toyota RAV4 Prime still offers more electric-only range than the Ford Escape PHEV, with an EPA rating of 42 miles. It's still an impressive rating though, as the Escape PHEV offers 11 more miles of electric range than the Ford Fusion Energi while offering more passenger space and up to four times the cargo volume behind its second-row seats.

When running on gasoline only, the Escape PHEV offers an EPA-estimated rating of 41 mpg combined, but the RAV4 Prime's mpg rating hasn't been announced yet. The Toyota RAV4 Prime is also more powerful than the Escape PHEV, thanks to a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine and two electric motors producing 302 horsepower.

Unlike the Ford Escape PHEV, which is only offered with FWD, the Toyota RAV4 Prime comes with AWD as standard. However, with a starting price of just $33,040 the Escape PHEV comfortably undercuts the RAV4 Prime, which starts at $38,100. State tax incentives or rebates available for plug-in hybrids can also provide additional savings.

"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."