2026 Ford Escape Model Review with Prices, Photos, & Specs
Key Features
- Starting at $30,350 MSRP*
- Choice of a standard 1.5L EcoBoost® 3-cylinder engine with 181 horsepower or an optional 2.0L EcoBoost® 4-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower
- Standard 27 city / 34 highway / 30 combined MPG**
- Available All-Wheel Drive with AWD Disconnect
- Four Selectable Drive Modes with available 12.3-inch instrument cluster
- Standard SYNC® Voice Recognition Communications and Entertainment System with 8-inch touchscreen or available 13.2-inch touchscreen
- Optional Panoramic Vista Roof®
- Standard FordPass Connect™ with 4G LTE Wi-Fi® Hotspot
About the Ford Escape
There isn’t much the Ford Escape can’t do. As a compact SUV, it’s maneuverable and well-suited to city life. Additionally, the Escape comes with plenty of cargo space, four different drivetrain options, and a better towing capacity than its rivals. Two different hybrid drivetrains give you options for how you want to save fuel and an available 2.0L EcoBoost® engine gives the Escape some real performance credentials. The Escape is also remarkably comfortable, great for day-to-day errands or long road trips with available premium features like leather upholstery and an outstanding stereo. The Escape also uses advanced technology to make your trip easier and safer at the same time. Inside and out, you can’t ignore the appeal of the popular Ford Escape.
What the Critics Say
"Overall, we're happy with the level of comfort the Escape offers. The front seats are well shaped and have a pleasing amount of cushioning. The rear seats are also comfortable and provide a suitable amount of thigh support for adults. Around town and on the highway, the Escape rides in a smooth and composed manner. It's also fairly quiet at speed, with road noise the prevailing source of sound intrusion." — Edmunds
"The Ford Escape has a long history as a trusted SUV. The Escape has the virtues you’d expect from a modern compact SUV, like a roomy interior and good fuel economy. Still, it has a few unique characteristics setting it apart, like sliding second-row seats and four powertrain options. With two turbo engines, two hybrid options, and various trim levels, there’s a Ford Escape for almost anyone who needs a practical, small SUV." — Kelley Blue Book
Ford Escape Features
Versatile Power
One of the major advantages of the Ford Escape over the rest of the segment is the choice of four different drivetrains. The standard engine is a 1.5-liter EcoBoost® 3-cylinder that makes 180 horsepower. This standard engine strikes an excellent balance between power and fuel economy, but to turn things up even more, there are two available hybrid drivetrains. The first is a conventional hybrid that produces 192 horsepower while the available plug-in hybrid option produces 210 horsepower and can travel up to 37 miles without using any fuel on a fully charged battery. For some serious power, there is the 2.0-liter EcoBoost® which produces 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque that allows the Escape to tow up to 3,500 pounds. All-wheel drive is standard with the 2.0-liter EcoBoost® and available with both the 1.5-liter EcoBoost® and conventional hybrid.
Comfortable Interior
The Ford Escape is sized just right. It’s small enough that parallel parking in the city is easy but still features enough interior space to seat five adults. The interior feels spacious, a feeling that’s further enhanced by opting for the available Panoramic Vista Roof® which fills the interior with natural light. Available heated front seats and a heated steering wheel pair well with the standard dual-zone automatic climate control. You’ll also discover lots of storage spaces around the cabin and with the back seats folded down, there is 60.8 cubic feet of storage in the rear. An available remote start system lets you start your Escape and get the interior to a comfortable temperature before you get in. Since a good stereo makes driving much more pleasant, buyers can opt for an available B&O® Sound System by Bang & Olufsen® that comes with 10 speakers.
Cutting-Edge Technology
As you might have suspected from the advanced drivetrains available, technology plays an important role in the Ford Escape. The revolutionary SYNC® 4 infotainment operating system is included with the Escape, with either a standard 8-inch touchscreen or an available 13.2-inch screen. Accompanying this is an available 12.3-inch fully digital gauge cluster that offers customizable views. If you want to be able to see vital vehicle information without taking your eyes off the road, opt for the available head-up display. Safety underpins many of the most advanced features of the Escape, including things like lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and available adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go. There are also selectable drive modes, so that you can be prepared for slippery conditions or make the most of the sporty side of the Ford Escape when conditions are favorable.
Trims & Specs
Active
- Starting at $30,350 MSRP*
- 1.5L EcoBoost® with 8-speed Automatic Transmission
- Ford Co-Pilot360 technology
- FordPass Connect with 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot
- Unique cloth front bucket seats
- SYNC® 4 with 8-inch LCD Capacitive Touchscreen
ST-Line
- Starting at $31,195 MSRP*
- 18-inch Rock Metallic painted aluminum wheels
- Sport handling suspension/tuning on AWD models
- Aluminum SVT foot pedal
- Sport contour bucket seats
- Unique Exterior and Interior ST-Line Styling
ST-Line Select
- Starting at $33,890 MSRP*
- Standard 2.0L EcoBoost® Engine with Auto Start-Stop Technology, producing 250 horsepower
- Available 19-inch machine-face Ebony-painted aluminum wheels
- LED fog lamps
- All-Wheel Drive with Sport Handling Suspension/Tuning
- Unique ST-Line badging
Platinum
- Starting at $36,215 MSRP*
- Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go, Lane Centering, and Speed Sign Recognition
- Intelligent Access with Push-Button Start
- ActiveX™ Trimmed Sport Contour Bucket Seats with Mini-perforation
- Wireless Charging Pad
- Ambient lighting with Floor Lights
ST-Line Elite
- Starting at $37,210 MSRP*
- Heated Front Row Seats
- Dual-Zone Electronic Automatic Temperature Control
- 19-inch Machined-face Ebony-painted Aluminum Wheels
- 360-Degree Camera with Split View
- Rain-sensing windshield wipers
*Current Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for base vehicle. Excludes destination/delivery fee plus government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer processing charge, any electronic filing charge, and any emission testing charge. Optional equipment not included. Starting A, Z and X Plan price is for qualified, eligible customers and excludes document fee, destination/delivery charge, taxes, title and registration. Not all vehicles qualify for A, Z or X Plan.