2026 Ford Escape Consumer Reviews
Pricing
Active (Most Popular) - $31,845 MSRP
Edmunds suggests you pay
$24,82514 for sale near you
Prices based on sales in VA thru 7/6/26
Final assembly in USA
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2026 Escape, so we've included reviews for other years of the Escape since its last redesign.
Perfect Hybrid
Joe S., 01/28/2024
updated 08/04/2025
2024 Ford Escape ST-Line Elite 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid EVT)
36 of 37 people found this review helpful
I have a 2024 Ford Escape St-Line AWD. Excellent mileage, solid, comfortable, quiet and well laid out interior. The transisition between hybrid and gas powered is seamless. Put your foot into it and you can merge, pass or enter an expressway quickly and safely. Drive it smartly and you can get north of 45 MPG..
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Overheating Engine!
Chris B, 09/15/2024
2024 Ford Escape ST-Line Select 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
18 of 18 people found this review helpful
I cant tell you much about our experience with this vehicle. We had it for 2 months before we were getting a warning about the engine overheating while driving on a highway. We brought it in to be repaired and have not had the vehicle back in months. The dealership gives us different information each time we talk to them. Ford Canada calls and the dealership tells them something different.
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Looks of a compact SUV, the power of a sports car
FusionPilot, 08/09/2024
updated 02/10/2025
2024 Ford Escape Platinum 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
27 of 28 people found this review helpful
Replaced a 2013 Ford Fusion with this 2024 Ford Escape Platinum 2.0 L eco-boost 250 HP engine. This is my first SUV and I am very happy with the vehicle. It’s not perfect but it checks all the boxes. The really good - the 2L turbo 4 banger is amazing. 250 HP in this little car makes it a wolf in sheep’s sheet metal. The 8 speed is smooth and best of all, it’s not a slush-box CVT. Deciding you don’t want a CVT eliminates about half the potential compact SUV choices. The electronics are excellent. I have to admit they take some time to learn, but as I become increasingly familiar with them I really like Ford’s SYNC 4. The available drive modes - sport, slippery, normal, and economy really change the driving dynamics. Sport in particular makes the car even more exciting by making the accelerator more responsive, changing the shift points and making this hot hatch even hotter. Gas mileage is impressive - in mixed driving I am getting 25 MPG, compared to 19 or so in the Fusion I previously had. And the Fusion also sported a 2L eco-boost, so I’m guessing the 8 speed is contributing to that. And the 10 speaker B&O audio system is excellent, again comparing it to the 6 speaker Sony system in the Fusion. Finally I find the car one of the quietest vehicles I have ever owned. At normal highway cruise speeds there is little or no wind or road noise at all. The good - seats, seating position, steering and brakes are fine. I don’t share the negative feelings expressed by some other reviewers. The looks of the vehicle are also attractive, having been updated in 2023. The things they missed - there is no “global window open/close” that other Fords have. Why, Ford? It’s just software after all! The big display is great but the map appears in washed-out colors that make it difficult to see when underway. It’s helpful to be able to glance at the map to gauge where a turn is coming, or where a street intersection is; that is much safer than looking around in all directions while driving. Finally, the transition from a sedan to the SUV means a much higher seating position, and I find myself driving 10 to 15 MPH faster without realizing it - you have to be careful there! All in all I am very happy with my purchase. UPDATE February 2025 It's been a trouble-free six months with the Escape. Everything is working as it is supposed to; I have no complaints about fit and finish, reliability, and as-delivered condition. I continue to be impressed with the engine and despite its peppy performance, the gas mileage continues to be in the mid-20s in mixed driving. Several minor things that may be the "nature of the beast" I have noticed. When you have Apple Car Play connected, the Ford Sync system will not place calls. You have to use Siri and the Apple system. That's not necessarily bad but I got used to the simple "Phone" command in the earlier Sync system in my Fusion, and I think this system is a bit more complicated. It's a car, after all, not a living room full of hi-fi and intelligent speakers. Keep it simple, folks! The map contrast is still a point I would address - either make the background color different or increase the color of the roads and markers. I've learned to live with it, but it could be better. Comparing it to the earlier Fusion, the Fuze was definitely easer to read with a quick glance while you are driving. Inside the car on the visor there is a placard about rollover risk, noting that the Escape's higher CG makes it more prone to instability in radical maneuvers. I have never sensed any such tendency to over-lean or not comply with turns and even quick movements in traffic when some other driver intrudes on your lane. I suppose technically it is less stable than a low-slung sports car, but if you truly "drive" this vehicle rather than "aim" it, you get a feel for the dynamics and it is plenty stable. A driver should be able to sense the willingness of a vehicle to handle and not be tempted to push it past its limits. The Escape is fine in this department. If I had a magic wand and could have Ford do anything I wanted, I'd ask them to extend the rear of the vehicle about 12". It would dramatically alter the load-capacity, especially with the back seats up. Frankly, I miss the deep trunk of the Fusion and have had several occasions when things were too long and had to be shoe-horned in. However in fairness, the height of the rear compartment is light-years ahead of the sedan, and takes tall things without complaint that would not fit in a three-box sedan. I truly dislike the automatic stop-start system, and turn it off whenever I get in the car. It's a shame that the driver can't permanently switch it off - but that is not a complaint about Ford; it is apparently the same thing with all vehicles. Other than the map contrast I mentioned earlier, the screen, the driver's display, and the HUD are excellent, provide useful information, and are easy to adjust (after you get some familiarity). I don't understand why some reviewers have commented negatively about the HVAC controls at the bottom of the screen. I find them intuitive and responsive, and am very happy with all the electronics in general. Ford gets credit for some significant improvements in driver assist items, compared to earlier vehicles (and my earlier Fusion). They absolutely nailed the automatic high beams, keeping the highway well illuminated while automatically dimming for oncoming traffic. The system is flawless. The "Coast to Coast Lightbar" across the hood makes you easily noticed even in daylight. My subjective experience is that people are not pulling out in front of me as much as they did in the Fusion. You are well lit up and easy to see for traffic. That's a big safety plus in my opinion. All in all with over 6 months' experience I am very, very happy with this vehicle. It's not perfect, but it's fun to drive, versatile, and a pleasant experience, even on a trip of several hundred miles. I'd buy it again in a heartbeat.
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One of the most balanced vehicles on the market
MA-gamb2025, 07/13/2025
2024 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid EVT)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
It’s been about a year since I purchased a new, fully loaded Ford Escape PHEV. I’m very pleased with the vehicle so far. I think Ford has done a phenomenal job designing the Escape PHEV, and I’m astounded it gets so little mention. This is hands-down one of the most efficient and well-balanced vehicles available today. The car has an 11.1-gallon tank and a 14.4 kWh battery that allows approximately 37 miles of electric only driving. While that may not seem like much, if you are a typical commuter/suburbanite, you can easily achieve 90% of your daily driving using only battery power. Furthermore, Ford has achieved something that few PHEVs manage. It is the only PHEV that has better ICE mileage than its hybrid version. With 40 mpg overall, this means that an Escape should travel about (11.1 x 40 ) + 37 electric miles, for a grand total of 481 miles on a full tank and charge. In my experience, this is absolutely accurate and about what I achieve, even with road trips that involve freeway driving (in which hybrid drivetrains typically provide less benefit). Only a handful of vehicles with an ICE engine that are available in the US have better gas mileage than the Escape PHEV. Consider its competition in the admittedly odd PHEV market. The Toyota Rav4 PHEV without a doubt provides vastly superior straight-line performance, but expect to pay a premium: the out-the-door price of Rav4 PHEV and comparably equipped Escape PHEV will be about $10,000 USD higher. Because of the wide availability of both factory and dealer discounts, the Escape PHEV will generally also be cheaper than the Hyundai Tucson (its most direct competition), even in spite of the fact the Escape is no longer eligible for federal subsidies. Meanwhile, its interior space is comparable or better than its competitors, and its cargo space is best in class. The car transitions very smoothly back and forth between the ICE and electric motor. Its eCVT is very similar to the transmission used by Toyota. Handling is fairly good, not quite as nimble but also nowhere as firm as my previous Ford Focus. With respect to on-the-fly battery management, the car can be set in auto mode, “EV now” (focus on gas savings), or “EV later” (focus on saving battery). In my experience, auto mode is extremely efficient already, with a strong bias towards using the battery. I almost never use “EV now” mode. Along an entirely different settings scale, the car also has eco mode (which I rarely use as normal mode is plenty efficient), slippery mode (for poor weather conditions), and a sport mode. The sport mode substantially alters the feel of the car. The programmatic gearing of the CVT becomes far more aggressive; the car will actually feel like a 200 hp vehicle. I opted for the premium package. I’m not bothered by the fact that the heads-up display is a pop-up rather than projection system, though admittedly this is one feature that I don’t rely on much. I absolutely love the 360-overhead view. This is modern tech that feels like voodoo magic compared to the 12-year-old car I replaced. I also think the premium B&O sound system sounds fantastic. While I would generally agree that the interior has some cheap elements, it’s a very comfortable and functional cabin. Ford’s heated seats and heated steering wheel (both standard for the PHEV) work extremely well. They heat up very quickly and strongly. I often find the lowest heat setting to be adequate. The large 13.2 touchscreen is also standard. While I would prefer physical buttons (particularly for climate controls), the touchscreen in the Escape is well done. It’s very responsive and the various animations are smooth and surprisingly good looking. I haven’t had the car long enough to comment on long-term reliability. I have had a few minor glitches with the windows. As noted, I wish there were more physical buttons. And I wish it were a wagon instead of an SUV/CUV. Why would you not get a Ford Escape PHEV? For one, if you absolutely need AWD. I personally believe that AWD is a bit oversold in the US. I have lived a good portion of my life in very snowy parts of the country and never had an AWD vehicle (until recently). But the Escape’s battery, like all EVs, also suffers when temperatures dip. Expect EV range to drop anywhere from 20% to 40% as the temperature plunge—it’s difficult to say as the battery mileage estimator in the Escape is notoriously conservative. This is an issue, obviously, that all PHEVs and EVs must contend with. Given the lack of AWD and cold-weather battery issues, I can understand if you opt for something else if you live, ie, in Canada. If you are positive you need a third row, then you may have to move up a half-segment to look at the Outlander PHEV or Sorento PHEV. If the Escape PHEV is simply not efficient for you, then you can look at the Kia Niro PHEV. Again because of availability and effective pricing, I suspect the purchase price of the Niro will at best be about the same as the Escape even though it is a half-segment below the Escape. I’d highly recommend a level 2 charger if you can manage and afford it. Owning and driving a PHEV is an interesting experience. There are many ways and choices for how you manage your energy while you drive. The only wrong way to drive a PHEV is to not charge it at all. A level 2 charger will make life more convenient and easier to maximize the utility of the car. Overall, this car is a fabulous package that balances utility, efficiency, price, and performance. I would highly recommend it, especially as rumors abound each year that Ford will cancel it. When shopping for the car, make sure you check prices at all the dealers in a wide range around you. You are almost certain to find very good deals that will at a minimum help negotiate down your final price. On another note while the Escape PHEV user score is somewhat middling (3.5) here on Edmunds, note that this is in part due to the confusing way Edmunds has reviewers categorize their ratings. There are quite a few favorable PHEV ratings lumped in with the non-PHEV trim ratings.
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24 Escape st line 1.5 Burning/sulfur Smell
Blackjac24, 04/27/2024
2024 Ford Escape ST-Line 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 3cyl Turbo 8A)
55 of 64 people found this review helpful
I just bought my 24 Escape on April 12, 24 I was driving to my parents house and the check engine light came on with a burning smell at 188 miles. Took car in the next day. They kept it for 1 day said they reprogrammed the module and couldn't duplicate the burning oil smell. Picked it up drove out to my parent the smell was still there and it fills the inside of the car. No check engine light but now there is a different dash light (back of car with slash through and lightning bolts on the ground). Took it back in after driving the car for a while to make sure they could smell it. Kept it for 2 days and said the battery wasn't charging right or something like that( no final paperwork was received) and they couldn't find the burning smell. The smell is now sulfur/burning smell and it sometimes starts earlier than 30 minutes and sometimes longer than 30 minutes. But it comes through the vents of the car. I have tried closing the vents, opening the windows, the smell is outside too. The dealer service says its just new car smell. I have owned enough cars in my life to know the difference of something burning/sulfur smell and new car smell. I am pretty sure the outside isn't supposed to smell like new car smell. The strongest smell is directly over the transmission, and around the car but mostly in the drivers side front, then it comes through the vents. This is one of the worst cars I have owned, I get sick every time I drive it. I will continue to take it in until someone believes me and helps me figure out what's wrong with this car.
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