2021 Ford Escape MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2021 Ford Escape gets up to 30 mpg combined with a gas engine and up to 41 mpg as a hybrid, across 6 EPA-tested versions.

EPA fuel economy

2021 Ford Escape · 6 EPA-tested versions

Best gas version

30MPG combined

28 city 34 highway

$2,100 a year to fuel

Fuel economy score6/10

1.5L turbo 3-cyl · FWD · 8-speed automatic

Best hybrid version

41MPG combined

44 city 37 highway

$1,500 a year to fuel

Fuel economy score8/10

2.5L 4-cyl hybrid · FWD · CVT

Best version saves $3,500 in fuel over 5 years vs the average new vehicle (EPA)

Fuel cost: 15,000 miles a year at EPA's $4.00 a gallon (regular gas).

Data: US EPA, fueleconomy.govUpdated Nov 12, 2026

At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs $1,500 to $2,400 a year. The plug-in hybrid adds 37 miles of electric range and 105 MPGe on electricity. Ratings for the best versions are unchanged from 2020.

More complaints than a typical Escape year

The 2021 drew 189 owner complaints in its first three years, against about 178 for a typical Escape year (165 for a typical year since 2016).

Years to avoid: 2011 and 2013; best years: 2018, 2019, and 2023. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.

Every Escape year ranked The 2021 Escape's recalls and problems

Every 2021 Escape version

EPA's ratings for each version it tested. Fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current prices; for plug-in hybrids it assumes typical charging.

Version	Combined	City / Hwy	Fuel / year
Hybrid
2.5L 4-cyl hybrid · FWD · CVT Best EPA listing: Escape FWD HEV	41 mpg	44 / 37	$1,500
2.5L 4-cyl hybrid · Part-time 4WD · CVT EPA listing: Escape AWD HEV	40 mpg	43 / 37	$1,550
Gas
1.5L turbo 3-cyl · FWD · 8-speed automatic EPA listing: Escape FWD	30 mpg	28 / 34	$2,100
1.5L turbo 3-cyl · AWD · 8-speed automatic EPA listing: Escape AWD	28 mpg	26 / 31	$2,200
2.0L turbo 4-cyl · AWD · 8-speed automatic EPA listing: Escape AWD	26 mpg	23 / 31	$2,400
Plug-in hybrid
2.5L 4-cyl plug-in hybrid · FWD · CVT EPA listing: Escape FWD PHEV · 105 MPGe on electricity · 37 mi electric range · MPG shown is running on gas	40 mpg	43 / 38	$1,000 with charging (EPA); gas only $1,550

Fuel cost at your prices

EPA's annual cost uses 15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving and its current prices: $4.00 a gallon for regular gas. Change the numbers to match your driving.

Version	Per year	Per month	5 years
2.5L 4-cyl hybrid · FWD · CVT	$1,463	$122	$7,317
2.5L 4-cyl hybrid · Part-time 4WD · CVT	$1,500	$125	$7,500
1.5L turbo 3-cyl · FWD · 8-speed automatic	$2,000	$167	$10,000
1.5L turbo 3-cyl · AWD · 8-speed automatic	$2,143	$179	$10,714
2.0L turbo 4-cyl · AWD · 8-speed automatic	$2,308	$192	$11,538
2.5L 4-cyl plug-in hybrid · FWD · CVT (on gas)	$1,500	$125	$7,500

At the default settings the results match EPA's annual cost before EPA rounds it to the nearest $50. Plug-in hybrids are calculated running on gas only.

Does the hybrid pay for itself? See the payback for every model sold both ways.

Ford Escape MPG by model year

The best-rated version in each model year; the highlighted year is this page. Gas: 24 to 30 mpg (every year from 2010 to 2026); 30 since 2020. Hybrid: 32 to 41 mpg (2010 to 2012, 2020 to 2026); highest in 2020.

Best gas version
Best hybrid version

2021: gas 30 mpg · hybrid 41 mpg

Show as a table

Ford Escape best combined mpg by model year
Model year	Best gas version	Best hybrid version
2010	24	32
2011	25	32
2012	25	32
2013	26	–
2014	26	–
2015	26	–
2016	26	–
2017	26	–
2018	26	–
2019	26	–
2020	30	41
2021	30	41
2022	30	41
2023	30	39
2024	30	39
2025	30	39
2026	30	39

Every Escape year's ratings in one table

How the 2021 Escape compares

2021 compact SUVs covered on this site, ranked by their best combined rating. Fuel cost is for each model's cheapest version to run, at EPA's prices.

2021 model	Best combined	Best gas	Fuel / year
Ford Escape This page Best: hybrid	41 mpg	30 mpg	$1,500
Toyota RAV4 Best: hybrid	40 mpg	30 mpg	$1,550
Honda CR-V Best: hybrid	38 mpg	30 mpg	$1,650
Nissan Rogue Best: gas	33 mpg	33 mpg	$1,900
Subaru Outback Best: gas	29 mpg	29 mpg	$2,150
Subaru Forester Best: gas	29 mpg	29 mpg	$2,150
Chevrolet Equinox Best: gas	28 mpg	28 mpg	$2,200
Mazda CX-5 Best: gas	28 mpg	28 mpg	$2,200
GMC Terrain Best: gas	27 mpg	27 mpg	$2,300
Kia Sportage Best: gas	26 mpg	26 mpg	$2,400
Jeep Cherokee Best: gas	26 mpg	26 mpg	$2,400
Ford Bronco Sport Best: gas	26 mpg	26 mpg	$2,400
Hyundai Tucson Best: gas	25 mpg	25 mpg	$2,500
Jeep Compass Best: gas	25 mpg	25 mpg	$2,500
Volkswagen Tiguan Best: gas	25 mpg	25 mpg	$2,500

2021 Escape recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 21 safety recalls and 502 owner complaints for the 2021 Escape.

Most-reported area: body structure (126 complaints, 25%). NHTSA's overall crash rating: 5 stars for the versions it has rated.

See the 2021 Escape recalls and problems

Questions

Does AWD lower the 2021 Ford Escape's gas mileage?

Yes. On versions that differ only in drive, AWD lowers the combined rating by 1 to 2 mpg: the 2.5L 4-cyl hybrid gets 41 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 40 with AWD.

How much fuel does the 2021 Escape hybrid save?

Comparing AWD or 4WD versions at EPA's assumptions (15,000 miles a year, $4.00 a gallon), the hybrid costs $1,550 a year to fuel against $2,200 for the gas model: $650 a year, or $3,250 over five years.

Does the 2021 Ford Escape need premium gas?

No. EPA lists every 2021 Ford Escape version on regular gasoline.

How does the 2021 Escape's MPG compare with the 2020?

For 2021, the best gas version is rated 30 mpg, the same as the year before and the best hybrid version is rated 41 mpg, the same as the year before.

Sources and method

US EPA and Department of Energy fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Nov 4, 2026.
EPA fuel price assumptions: regular $4.00, midgrade $4.61, premium $5.01, diesel $6.13 a gallon; electricity $0.15 per kWh.
Recall and complaint counts: NHTSA recall file dated Nov 12, 2026 and complaint file dated Nov 11, 2026.

Ratings are EPA estimates. Real-world mileage depends on how, where and in what weather you drive. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.