Ford Escape vs Ford Mustang Mach-E: fuel economy and fuel cost
In model year 2026 the Ford Mustang Mach-E is the cheaper of the two to fuel: about $840 a year for its lowest-cost configuration (Mustang Mach-E Extended, 110 MPGe combined), against $1,670 for the Ford Escape (Escape HEV, 39 MPG combined). That is $830 a year, or $4,150 over five years.
One of the two is electric-only; the other has no electric configuration in this model year. Costs assume 15,000 miles a year and the same fuel and electricity prices for both vehicles, using the EPA combined rating (55% city, 45% highway). Each figure is rounded to $10 and every difference is calculated from the rounded values.
- Hybrid
- Small SUVs
Ford Escape
Lowest fuel cost configuration
Escape HEV
Plug-in versions (electric or plug-in hybrid) are not used for this headline; see the powertrain table below.
$11.13 per 100 miles
15,000 mi/yr, same fuel prices
5 configurations in MY2026
- Electric
- Small SUVs
Ford Mustang Mach-E
Lowest fuel cost configuration
Mustang Mach-E Extended
$5.60 per 100 miles
15,000 mi/yr, same fuel prices
320 mi EPA range · 31 kWh/100 mi
6 configurations in MY2026
What the fuel costs
Annual fuel cost of the lowest-cost configuration
- Ford Escape$1,670 a year · $11.13 per 100 mi
- Ford Mustang Mach-E$840 a year · $5.60 per 100 mi
Difference per year
$830
Ford Mustang Mach-E costs less to fuel
Over 5 years
$4,150
$830 a year × 5, 15,000 mi/yr, same fuel prices
Head to head, MY2026
| Measure | Ford Escape | Ford Mustang Mach-E |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest-cost configuration | Escape HEV | Mustang Mach-E Extended |
| Powertrain | Hybrid | Electric |
| Combined rating | 39 MPG | 110 MPGe |
| City rating | 42 MPG | 115 MPGe |
| Highway rating | 36 MPG | 104 MPGe |
| EPA range | — | 320 mi |
| Electricity use | — | 31 kWh/100 mi |
| Annual fuel cost | $1,670/yr | $840/yr (better) |
| Cost per 100 miles | $11.13 | $5.60 (better) |
| Annual cost range, all configurations | $1,160–$2,470 | $840–$1,100 |
| Configurations in MY2026 | 5 | 6 |
| EPA class | Small SUVs | Small SUVs |
Best configuration by powertrain
| Powertrain | Ford Escape | Ford Mustang Mach-E |
|---|---|---|
| Gas | 30 MPG · $2,210/yr Escape | Not offered in MY2026 |
| Hybrid | 39 MPG · $1,670/yr Escape HEV | Not offered in MY2026 |
| Plug-in hybrid | 40 MPG gas-only · $1,160/yr Escape PHEV | Not offered in MY2026 |
| Electric | Not offered in MY2026 | 110 MPGe · $840/yr Mustang Mach-E Extended |
Each cell shows the combined rating and the annual fuel cost of the lowest-cost configuration with that powertrain.
Where each one comes out ahead
Generated from the numbers above, comparing the lowest fuel cost configurations. No subjective judgements.
Ford Escape
- Offers gas configurations in MY2026; the Ford Mustang Mach-E does not
- Offers hybrid configurations in MY2026; the Ford Mustang Mach-E does not
- Offers plug-in hybrid configurations in MY2026; the Ford Mustang Mach-E does not
Ford Mustang Mach-E
- Lower annual fuel cost: $840 vs $1,670
- Offers electric configurations in MY2026; the Ford Escape does not
Ratings in MPG and MPGe are not compared directly here; annual fuel cost is the common yardstick.
Year by year
| Model year | Ford Escape | Ford Mustang Mach-E | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combined | Per year | Combined | Per year | |
| 2026 | 26–40 MPG | $1,160–$2,470 | 84–110 MPGe | $840–$1,100 |
| 2025 | 26–40 MPG | $1,160–$2,470 | 86–110 MPGe | $840–$1,080 |
| 2024 | 26–39 MPG | $1,670–$2,470 | 86–106 MPGe | $870–$1,080 |
| 2023 | 26–40 MPG | $1,160–$2,480 | 82–103 MPGe | $900–$1,130 |
| 2022 | 26–41 MPG | $1,130–$2,550 | 82–103 MPGe | $900–$1,130 |
| 2021 | 26–41 MPG | $1,130–$2,520 | 82–101 MPGe | $920–$1,130 |
Earlier model years are costed with today's fuel prices, so the table shows how each model's efficiency changed, not what fuel cost at the time. Ranges cover every configuration of that model year.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper to fuel, the Ford Escape or the Ford Mustang Mach-E?
The Ford Mustang Mach-E is cheaper: about $840 a year against $1,670 for the Ford Escape, a difference of $830 a year. That compares the lowest-cost configuration of each in model year 2026 at 15,000 miles a year with the same fuel prices.
How much would the Ford Mustang Mach-E save over five years?
About $4,150 ($830 a year for five years), assuming 15,000 miles a year and the same fuel prices. Your total depends on how much you drive and on local prices; see fuel cost by state.
Can MPG and MPGe be compared?
The Ford Mustang Mach-E is rated 110 MPGe and the Ford Escape 39 MPG. MPGe is the EPA's way of expressing electric efficiency per 33.7 kWh, the energy in a gallon of gasoline. It is a different measure from gasoline MPG, so annual fuel cost ($840 vs $1,670) is the better yardstick.
How is the annual fuel cost calculated?
Distance of 15,000 miles a year at the EPA combined rating (55% city, 45% highway). Gasoline is priced at $4.36/gal (EIA U.S. average for regular, Sep 2026) and electricity at 18.3¢/kWh (EIA U.S. residential average, Jul 2026); premium and diesel configurations use their own EIA prices. Each result is rounded to $10, and differences are calculated from the rounded figures.
Are the Ford Escape and the Ford Mustang Mach-E in the same class?
Yes. The EPA classes both as Small SUVs.
Explore these cars
- Ford Escape: ratings, trims and every model year
- Ford Mustang Mach-E: ratings, trims and every model year
- 2026 Ford Escape: all configurations
- 2026 Ford Mustang Mach-E: all configurations
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