I believe the major change with the hybrid drivetrain that's "new" is they changed the construction of the rotor assembly. Otherwise I suspect the HF45 isn't much different from the HF35 Ford has been building in-house for a few years evolved from their Aisin produced hybrid transaxles before that.
That's what I read as well, and the changes are more about futureproofing than really making a difference in this particular implementation.
Speaking of the Escape though, for the life of me I can't find any professional video reviewers that have pitted a Escape Hybrid vs Escape 2.0, which is a shame as its the same basic chassis as the Maverick so would remove a lot of the guesswork.
But I did find is this article:
The new 2020 Ford Escape is here, with three engines to choose from. Between them there’s one that’s best for you—but which?
www.motortrend.com
2.0-Liter 4-Cylinder EcoBoost: Pros
That extra grunt is immediately evident (compared to the three cylinder turbo). It simply makes the Escape feel quicker; less effort is needed to get the car up to speed. The numbers prove it, too, with a 6.9-second 0-60 mph run. An eight-speed automatic is the only transmission. However, all-wheel drive is standard, so traction is improved in slippery and loose conditions. It also enables some legitimate towing capability: up to 3,500 pounds.
2.0-Liter 4-Cylinder EcoBoost: Cons
The engine itself doesn't have much turbo lag, but the transmission needs time to think. It always shifts to the highest gear possible to save fuel, so when pressing the gas pedal, there's a delay as it decides which ratio is best for the situation. Reactions, then, aren't the best; the 2.0-liter EcoBoost might feel quicker but no sportier.
2.5-Liter Hybrid: Pros
It now features a compact, liquid-cooled 1.1-kW-hr battery pack to assist a 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle I-4 engine linked to a CVT. Ford says the switch from air cooling allows the battery to be smaller yet more effectively implemented into the drive cycle. If you drive gently, the Escape Hybrid can operate on electric-only power and in the right circumstances will sustain speeds of up to 85 mph without the engine.
But how does it drive? About as well as its EcoBoost counterparts—in fact, it's probably the Escape to get. The CVT might actually provide slightly better reactions than the oft-confused eight-speed. Brake pedal feel, a common gripe on hybrid vehicles, seems well sorted here; there's no awkward transition point between regenerative and friction brakes.
2.5-Liter Hybrid: Cons
Any smoothness the electric motor and CVT provide is undone by the Atkinson-cycle 2.5-liter engine. Of the three on offer, it seems the roughest and noisiest, slightly oxymoronic given the application. There's no denying performance is less than its turbocharged counterparts. With a combined output of 200 hp and 170 lb-ft of torque, it's down on power compared to the 2.0-liter turbo, and its 8.7-second 0-60 mph run is a blink behind the triple.