Ford and Audi slash prices of plug-in models
Wednesday, 26 April 2023
Ford New Zealand and Audi New Zealand have confirmed numerous aggressive price tweaks for an assortment of their flagship electrified SUVs.
Ford has announced big discounts to its plug-in hybrid Escape midsize SUV, both its entry-level variant and its ST-X flagship, improving the model’s prospects in its competitive segment.
Ford’s local arm has slashed $5,000 from each model’s bottom line, meaning the entry-level grade is now priced from $57,990 and the sportier looking ST-X from $63,990. Both models are eligible for the government’s Clean Car Discount rebate of $5,750 on new PHEVs.
Both grades come equipped with a 2.5-litre inline four-cylinder petrol engine paired to an electric motor and a 14.4kWh lithium-ion battery, with power and torque rated at 167kW/300Nm, and range rated at up to 59km to a charge. Both variants are exclusively front-wheel drive.
As it stands, the discount is a limited-time offer.
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Out of the box, the foundation Escape PHEV comes with a comprehensive safety suite inclusive of radar cruise control, an 8-inch touchscreen, 12-inch digital cluster, wireless charging, and more.
The ST-X, meanwhile, adds more safety tech (like a front camera and tyre pressure monitoring), parking assist, a 10-speaker B&O sound system, heated seats, and numerous cosmetic changes underlining its more sporty demeanour.
The Escape PHEV’s closest logical rivals are the MG HS PHEV and Toyota RAV4 hybrid, each of which are priced from $52,990 and $47,290.
The Escape plug-in also goes toe-to-toe with Nissan’s X-Trail ePower – an SUV that uses a unique hybrid system where the car uses dual electric motors to power the wheels at all times, with the petrol engine acting as a generator of sorts.
The ePower is offered in two trim levels; the $62,990 ST-L 4WD and the $66,990 Ti-L. The ePower pair are the most expensive of those named, but it’s worth referencing that they both come standard with four-wheel drive.
The news comes amid a busy few months for the Escape nameplate. Ford Australia recently confirmed that it would soon phase the model out of its market – a move Ford New Zealand has confirmed it will not echo.
Meanwhile, at Audi, ‘run-out pricing’ has been introduced for its fully electric e-tron line-up, with each model shedding more than $20,000 off its retail price.
The standard e-tron 55 has dropped $20,250 in price to $139,900, while the two Sportback variants – the 55 and the S – have dropped $20,650 and $21,500 to become $153,900 and $169,900, respectively.
Both e-tron 55 models feature the same 300kW/561Nm powertrain, paired to a 95kWh lithium-ion battery and Quattro all-wheel drive. Range between the pair varies, peaking at 452km in the Sportback.
The Sportback S packs a bit more punch than the two 55s. It uses the same battery, but gets a more powerful 370kW/973Nm powertrain capable of accelerating to 100kph in 4.5 seconds.
The e-tron exists in the same market segment as the BMW iX3, Mercedes-Benz EQC, and Jaguar I-Pace. The iX3 is still the most affordable of the group, priced from $118,900.