2010 Ford Escape: What's New, Specs & Features
Last updated August 4, 2026
The biggest change for the 2010 Ford Escape is the addition of standard integrated blind-spot mirrors across the lineup. This is a light-update year, not a redesign.
About the 2010 Ford Escape
2nd generation (2008-2012), third model year of the refreshed boxy Escape sold before the 2013 redesign.
The 2010 Escape is Ford’s compact SUV for shoppers who want upright seating, useful cargo room and available 4WD without stepping up to a larger SUV. Ford markets it around everyday versatility, strong fuel economy for the class, easy cargo flexibility and simple tech like SYNC and MyKey. The hybrid versions are the efficiency stars, while the gas models keep the same practical shape and familiar small-SUV usefulness.
The 2010 Escape ranges from the no-frills XLS, with a four-cylinder engine and five-speed manual, to the mainstream XLT and comfort-focused Limited. Limited brings heated leather seats and Ford's SYNC voice-control system, while the Hybrid uses a 177-horsepower gas-electric system and the Limited Hybrid adds heated leather seats and a moonroof.
What changed, by category
2010 Ford Escape specs and features by trim
| Feature | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 4-Cyl, 2.5 Liter | 4-Cyl, 2.5 Liter / V6, Flex Fuel, 3.0 Liter | 4-Cyl, Hybrid, 2.5 Liter | 4-Cyl, 2.5 Liter / V6, Flex Fuel, 3.0 Liter / 4-Cyl, Hybrid, 2.5 Liter |
| Transmission | Automatic, 6-Spd w/Overdrive | Automatic, 6-Spd w/Overdrive | Automatic, CVT | Automatic, 6-Spd w/Overdrive / Automatic, CVT |
| Drivetrain | 2WD | 2WD | 2WD | 2WD / 4WD |
| Fuel Type | Gas | Gas / Flexible Fuel | Hybrid | Gas / Flexible Fuel / Hybrid |
| MPG City | 22 mpg | 19–21 mpg | 34 mpg | 18–34 mpg |
| MPG Highway | 28 mpg | 25–28 mpg | 31 mpg | 23–31 mpg |
| Horsepower | 171 hp | 171–240 hp | 171–240 hp | |
| Torque | 171 lb-ft | 171–233 lb-ft | 136 lb-ft | 136–233 lb-ft |
| Max Towing | 1500 lb | 3500 lb | 3500 lb | |
| Trunk/Cargo | 66.3 cu-ft | 66.3 cu-ft | 66.1 cu-ft | 66.1–66.3 cu-ft |
| Rear Legroom | 35.6 in | 35.6 in | 35.6 in | 35.6 in |
| Seats | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Doors | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Alarm System | ||||
| Automatic Headlights | ||||
| Parental Control System | ||||
| Park Assist | ||||
| Rear Parking Sensors | ||||
| Rear View Camera | ||||
| Alloy Wheels | ||||
| Fog Lights | ||||
| Heated Mirrors | ||||
| Power Moonroof | ||||
| Privacy Glass | ||||
| Rear Spoiler | ||||
| Roof Rails | ||||
| Built-In Hard Drive | ||||
| Front DVD Entertainment System | ||||
| Navigation System | ||||
| Premium Audio | ||||
| Rear DVD Entertainment System | ||||
| Satellite Radio | ||||
| Subwoofer | ||||
| Auto-Dimming Interior Mirror | ||||
| Chrome Interior Trim | ||||
| Dual-Zone Climate Control | ||||
| Heated Front Seats | ||||
| Integrated Garage Door Opener | ||||
| Interior Ambient Lighting | ||||
| Leather Seats | ||||
| Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel | ||||
| Power Driver Seat | ||||
| Remote Start | ||||
| Tilt Wheel | ||||
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest change to the 2010 Ford Escape?
Standard integrated blind-spot mirrors are the biggest change to the 2010 Ford Escape. Every gas and hybrid trim gets the small secondary mirror section, which helps reveal vehicles alongside the Escape.
Did the 2010 Ford Escape get new engines?
No conventional gas-engine redesign arrived for 2010. Flexible-fuel powertrains joined the XLT and Limited, while the hybrids received an electric air-conditioning compressor that keeps cooling more effectively when the gas engine shuts off.
Which 2010 Ford Escape trims have MyKey?
MyKey is standard on the 2010 Escape XLT, Limited, Hybrid, and Limited Hybrid. It lets the owner set limits and reminders for another driver's key; the base XLS does not receive it.
Did the 2010 Ford Escape add parking assistance?
Yes. Upper 2010 Escape trims newly offered a rearview camera and active park assist, a system that helps steer the vehicle into a parallel parking space.
Is the 2010 Ford Escape a major upgrade over the 2009 model?
No, the 2010 Escape is a modest update rather than a major upgrade. Its main advantages over the 2009 model are standard blind-spot mirrors and SOS Post-Crash Alert, wider use of MyKey, added upper-trim parking aids, and better air-conditioning operation in the hybrids.