2026 head-to-head · Small SUV
2026 Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid vs Nissan Ariya
MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.
FWD · 2.5L 4-cyl · CVT · 101 MPGe + 40 MPG
The 2026 Nissan Ariya is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with 18¢/kWh electricity and $3.10/gal regular gas, it costs about $899 a year to fuel (101 MPGe), versus $985 for the 2026 Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid (101 MPGe + 40 MPG). That's roughly $86 a year, or about $428 over five years.
Your numbers
Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.
Fuel cost over 10 years
- Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid
- Nissan Ariya
Side by side
| Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid | Nissan Ariya | |
|---|---|---|
| $985 | Your annual fuel cost | $899 |
| 101 MPGe + 40 MPG | Combined efficiency | 101 MPGe |
| 111 MPGe / 42 MPG | City | 109 MPGe |
| 91 MPGe / 37 MPG | Highway | 94 MPGe |
| 33 kWh | Electricity use (kWh/100 mi) | 33.3 kWh |
| 520 mi | Driving range | 216 mi |
| 37 mi | All-electric range | — |
| — | Passenger volume | 101 cu ft |
| — | Cargo volume | 28 cu ft |
| 222 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 0 g/mi |
| 8/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 9/10 |
| 9/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 10/10 |
| 3.2 hrs | Charge time at 240V | 10 hrs |
| Plug-in hybrid | Powertrain | Electric |
| Regular gas + electricity | Fuel | Electricity |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | Engine / motor | Electric motor (160 kW) |
| CVT | Transmission | Single-speed |
| FWD | Drivetrain | FWD |
✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.
Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid vs Nissan Ariya across model years
- Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid
- Nissan Ariya
Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.
How they differ
The Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid goes farther between stops: about 520 miles on a full tank and charge, compared with 216 miles for the Nissan Ariya.
Among 114 2026 small SUVs, the Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid ranks 24th and the Nissan Ariya 22nd for lowest fuel cost.
Because the Nissan Ariya is fully electric, it has no tailpipe emissions and its running cost depends almost entirely on your electricity rate. Cheap overnight home charging widens its advantage over the Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid; relying on DC fast chargers can erase it.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2026 Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid or the 2026 Nissan Ariya?
Measured by cost to drive, the Nissan Ariya. The Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid is rated 101 MPGe + 40 MPG combined and the Nissan Ariya 101 MPGe (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2026 Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid vs. the Nissan Ariya per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with 18¢/kWh electricity and $3.10/gal regular gas, about $985 for the Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid and $899 for the Nissan Ariya.
Which has more range?
The Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid: about 520 miles versus 216 miles.
Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid vs Nissan Ariya in other years
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