Ford Escape

The Ford Escape is a compact crossover SUV with room for up to five passengers. In the automaker’s lineup, it slots between the subcompact EcoSport and the midsize Edge, and it shares a platform with the Lincoln Corsair, which is a more upscale model. Ford also offers it in a plug-in hybrid version (called, fittingly, the Escape Plug-in Hybrid), which is reviewed separately. The Escape's most recent (fourth) generation debuted in 2020, offering a more aerodynamic design, a redesigned interior, and updated infotainment and safety features. Properly equipped, it can tow up to 3,500 pounds.

Ford offers the Escape in a range of trims, including the S, SE, SEL, and Titanium. The base S offers essential features, such as cloth upholstery and a small infotainment display, while the SE adds some niceties such as automatic climate control and optional engines. The SEL comes well equipped with features, including heated front seats and additional tech, while the top-of-the-line Titanium boasts even more luxurious amenities, such as leather upholstery and advanced driver aids.

Ford substantially revised the Escape’s available powertrains with the model’s 2020 redesign. The base 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, rated at 168 horsepower, was replaced by a 1.5-liter turbocharged EcoBoost three-cylinder with 181 hp, while the optional 1.6-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder with 178 hp was discontinued. However, the more powerful 2.0-liter version, available on higher trims, carried forward with an increase from 240 to 250 hp. The Escape’s automatic transmission was also upgraded in 2020 from six to eight speeds for better performance and efficiency. Additionally, Ford reintroduced the Escape Hybrid that year. It combines a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with an electric motor for a total of 200 hp, which is routed through a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), and is EPA-rated at over 40 mpg in mixed driving. On most versions, front-wheel drive is standard, while all-wheel drive is available as an option.

While the entry-level S trim gets a rather basic infotainment system with a 4.2-inch display, the SE and higher trims offer an 8-inch touchscreen, which was upgraded to Ford’s well-regarded SYNC 3 software in 2016. The system also added Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration that year. It was initially optional or limited to higher trims but became standard on the SE and up in 2020. Some notable advanced safety features are also offered, including blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. Most became standard in 2020, when Ford added its Co-Pilot360 suite of driver aids to all trims. However, adaptive cruise control remains optional as part of the Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package, which also includes evasive steering assist and lane-centering assist.