Ford Impresses With Its Hybrid Fleet

Ford has always been a company on the cutting edge of automotive innovation. So it’s no surprise that in the dawn of the electrified vehicle, Ford took inventory of its lineup and brought a handful of its most popular vehicles into the 21st century. With hybrid cars flying off lots in light of skyrocketing gas prices, a fleet of hybrid Fords was born. As your Nashville hybrid dealer, we have plenty of great new options from Ford to soothe that itch for something more efficient.

For the 2022 model year, Ford has a selection of hybrid pickup trucks and hybrid SUVs, each offering the fuel economy to combat rising costs at the pump. There’s something for everyone who’s on the hunt for a fun, affordable ride that’s friendly on both the environment and the wallet. Here is our guide to the 2022 Ford hybrid lineup.

The Maverick: A Hybrid Compact Truck

While pickup trucks as a segment are counterintuitive to fuel economy due to their sheer size, Ford decided to spearhead bringing their trucks up to speed with hybridization. Many drivers still need the capabilities of a truck but also crave the fiscal benefits of a hybrid powertrain. The 2022 Maverick, with its standard hybrid powertrain, is just the truck to marry versatility and efficiency into one convenient vehicle. And with one of the lowest base model prices in the segment, the savings keep stacking up.

The Maverick’s 2.5L I-4 hybrid engine is tucked between two electric motors that create a combined 191 horsepower. The truck balances its power sources well, switching smoothly between electric and gas for overall efficiency. Afterall, that’s what we are here to achieve. The Maverick hybrid delivers an EPA-estimated 42 MPG in the city and 33 MPG on the highway compared to the available non-hybrid engine’s 23 MPG in the city and 30 MPG on the highway.

This truck is good for more than just fuel economy. The Maverick’s cabin is built from sturdy and easy-to-clean materials with thoughtful storage all throughout. The interior is dotted with cubbies and a roomy center console. This hobby truck has a bed that is 4.5 feet long, and the backseats can be folded up for even more cargo space. The Maverick comfortably fits up to five people, and because it’s a four-door, it’s an easy daily driver that can support the active lifestyle of a family.

The F-150: America’s Favorite Truck With a Hybrid Engine

For those in the truck market that need more oomph, Ford produces the F-150 hybrid. Larger and more powerful than the Maverick, the F-150 hybrid is the pricier alternative with bigger performance. The hybrid engine is a 3.5L PowerBoost turbo V6 engine that is responsible for pumping out 430 horsepower and 570 lb-ft of torque. The big selling point is the impressive maximum 12,700 lbs towing capacity, making the F-150 hybrid capable of the tremendous hauls that made the F-150 emblem famous. It’s the power and the reliability of the F-150 lineup that make it worthwhile for Ford to offer this pickup with a hybrid powertrain.

A nifty perk of owning this particular truck is its ability to act as a portable charger. A feature called Pro Power Onboard means that your truck can be used as a mobile generator as long as the truck is parked. The exportable power measures 7.2 kW, and the feature is exclusive to Ford. As this model is a well-known work companion, it’s outfitted with high-quality materials like leather trim, heated and ventilated seats, and a center console that folds out, becoming a tabletop that can hold a laptop or paperwork. The cabin boasts major legroom and a 12-inch touchscreen infotainment center with voice recognition. Fans of the F-150 will appreciate the power liftgate and user-friendly settings.

The Escape: The Compact Hybrid SUV

Drivers in the compact segment of the SUV market are inherently mindful of vehicle size and fuel economy. So when Ford redesigned the Escape back in 2020, they did so with the thrifty shopper in mind. For the 2022 version, the Escape Hybrid comes with a long list of standard features besides just the great fuel efficiency. It’s a vehicle that performs well in safety tests, earning a five-star review from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). And thanks to Ford’s Co-Pilot360 suite, the hybrid Escape comes with Automatic Emergency Braking, BLIS with Cross-Traffic Alert, and Auto High-Beam Headlamps, all standard. An additional Co-Pilot Assist+ feature is available to add Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control and Speed Sign Recognition.

The engine comes in either the standard hybrid or the plug-in (which we’ll detail in the next section). The Escape Hybrid engine is a 2.5L I-4 with an output of 200 horsepower. While it drives a bit slower than the preceding Turbo version, the difference pales to the savings you get at the pump. The front-wheel drive delivers an estimated 44 MPG in the city and 37 MPG on the highway, while the all-wheel drive’s EPA rating is 43 MPG in the city and 37 MPG on the highway. The cabin comes stocked with comfortable touches like 10-way powered heated seats and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system that pairs easily with your favorite devices.

The Escape: The Compact Plug-In Hybrid SUV

The 2022 Escape Plug-In Hybrid shares many features with the aforementioned Escape Hybrid. The main difference is exhibited in the power and size of the battery. The Plug-In Hybrid’s engine is a 2.5L V-4 that’s naturally aspirated and paired with a 14.4 kWh battery electric motor that can take charge and drive an estimated 37-mile range on its own. The benefit of the Plug-In Hybrid is the 105 MPGe combined range on gas and electricity working in tandem, while the gas-only still puts out an impressive 40 MPG. The PHEV has a 0-60 mph of 7.7 seconds, making for a smooth and intelligent entrance onto any freeway, and it adds a bit of juice to the overall powertrain for a total of 221 horsepower. The lithium-ion battery requires 10-11 hours to reach full charge at 120V or 3.5 hours at 240V.

The Explorer: The Three-Row Hybrid SUV

Drivers needing a third row of seating have the Explorer as a fuel-efficient option. The Explorer has always been the Ford vehicle for comfort, luxury, and all the cargo space you can want, so it was easy to make the decision to hybridize the SUV. The 2022 Explorer can be fitted with a 3.3L V6 Hybrid engine. The powertrain delivers 318 horsepower and 322 lb-ft of torque. It’s still a large vehicle and needs a lot of juice to move at competent speeds. The fuel economy is an estimated 27 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway; still significant savings compared to the preceding gas-only Explorers.

The main draw here is the utility as a family vehicle. The Explorer earned a 2022 Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS and good scores in all crash test categories. The SUV is also outfitted with 360-degree camera systems to help the driver be keyed into everything going on around the vehicle. Ford didn’t sacrifice any cargo space when building the hybrid, either. The Explorer with a hybrid engine has the same cargo space as the non-hybrid Explorers. With a super spacious second row and generous third row, it can comfortably seat up to seven passengers.

A Ford Hybrid for Everyone

Ford put in the work bringing the Maverick, the F-150, the Explorer, and the Escape into the future by focusing on fuel economy. Instead of reinventing the wheel, the engineers at Ford took already successful models and revamped them with the technology to significantly push up the MPG figures. Drivers looking for power and cargo space don’t have to shy away from their favorite F-150s or Explorers, and new fans of the brand can start smaller with a Maverick or one of the Escape models. With five great vehicles to choose from, Ford can rule the hybrid segment while influencing other automakers to try and keep pace. Either way, Ford has kept up its end of the bargain and produced some truly impressive hybrids.