By the early 2000s, more and more SUV buyers were completely forgoing their rugged, body-on-frame SUVs that weren't too dissimilar to pickup trucks, in favor of smaller, more car-like SUVs that used car platforms and a unibody construction. There are many disputes about who was the first to take on this unique new form of SUV, but it's generally agreed that Jeep were among the first with the XJ Cherokee, which is now rising becoming collectible. Honda and the original CR-V, meanwhile, popularized the small unibody SUV for road use, rather than off-road use.
Ford's response to this market trend arrived in the form of the Escape in 2001. While it was a Mazda-based effort at first, by the early 2010s, the Escape morphed into an altered version of the European market Kuga. That's still true today, and for 2023, the Escape gets some welcome new changes.
2023 Ford Escape
- Updated styling
- Updated powertrains
- More technology
- Model: Escape
- Engine/Motor: 1.5-liter turbo three-cylinder / 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder / 2.5-liter hybrid four-cylinder
- Horsepower: 180-250 hp
- Torque: 190-280 lb/ft
- Drivetrain: Transverse front-engine, FWD / AWD
- Transmission: 8-speed automatic / CVT
- Much improved tech
- Better, more modern styling
- Good to drive
- The lower end trims don't exactly hide it
- PHEV loses power
- Not the best interior quality
2023 Escape Overview
The Ford Escape has been Ford's compact crossover offering for the past two decades. The current generation car first debuted in 2019 for the 2020 model year. For 2023, the Escape includes updated styling, new technology, and improvements on the currently available powertrains. The biggest changes to the design are on the front end. Ford is slowly eschewing the Aston Martin-style grille in favor of this more distinctive grille, which moves the blue oval directly in the center, as opposed to above the grille. There is a brand-new set of headlights, and a completely redesigned front fascia.
The rear end remains mostly the same, with some new taillights rounding out the notable changes on the exterior. New for 2023 is the debut of the ST-Line Elite and ST-Line Select trim levels. The most notable external change for both of these is that all the otherwise unpainted plastic cladding comes in the exterior color, not unlike the Turbo Signature trim level on the competing Mazda CX-5 that debuted earlier in the year. Some fresh new alloy wheel designs are also on the menu. As well as the two new ST-Line iterations, and the regular ST-Line, the Escape is also available in Base, Active, Platinum, and the PHEV at the top of the line. Yes, the PHEV is a separate trim level. The 2023 Escape continues to battle in this highly competitive segment with the likes of the aforementioned Mazda CX-5, the ubiquotous Toyota RAV4, the Kia Sportage, the Hyundai Tucson, and the best-selling Volkswagen Tiguan.
2023 Escape Powertrains And Drivetrains
Ford offers a pretty good choice when it comes to powertrains on the 2023 Escape. The lineup kicks off with a 1.5-liter turbocharged EcoBoost three-cylinder, developing 180 hp and 190 lb-ft of torque. The next one up is a 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder. Both of these powertrains are also available on other Ford models, like the related Maverick and Bronco Sport. In the Escape, it develops a pretty healthy 250 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. However, some of the biggest news about the 2023 Escape regard the electrified powertrains.
You have a choice between a regular hybrid or a plug-in hybrid. Both versions use a 2.5-liter Atkinson cycle four-cylinder engine, and the PHEV bumps up the battery pack size (in comparison to the regular HEV) to around 14.4 kWh. The regular Escape hybrid now develops 210 hp, which is up from the previous hybrid's 194. However, the PHEV also develops 210 hp, which is actually slightly less than the previous PHEV's 221 hp. The PHEV has an EPA-estimated electric-only range of 37 miles, and you can top up the battery in around three and a half hours using a 240-volt Level 2 charger. Every Escape is available with either FWD or AWD. The gasoline models are available exclusively with an eight-speed automatic transmission, whereas both of the hybrids use a CVT.
2023 Escape Comfort And Quality
The biggest change to the 2023 Escape's interior is the new infotainment system. Gone is the smaller screen running SYNC3, and in its place we have a pretty sizable 13.2-inch screen running the latest SYNC4 software, which other Ford products like the Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning also use. SYNC4 includes a bunch of exciting stuff like built-in Amazon Alexa, Power-Up over-the-air updates, and enhanced voice recognition. The customary Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also here, but Ford did have to sacrifice physical HVAC controls for the new infotainment system. For some consolation, the A/C controls are always pinned at the very bottom part of the screen, regardless of which menu you're on.
Also, new for 2023 is a host of new driver assistance systems. The CoPilot360 suite of ADAS systems is here, and it now includes Intersection Assist and Blind Spot Assist, the latter working in conjunction with the blind spot monitoring system. Forward collision warning, auto-emergency braking, and lane departure warning with lane keep assist are also here. The Escape seats five passengers, and its cargo area boasts 37.5 cubic feet of space.
2023 Escape Pricing And Launch
The 2023 Ford Escape is available to order as of November 2022, and Ford is shooting for it to arrive in dealerships in early 2023. Prices start at $27,500 for the base trim level. The Hybrid is available on the ST-Line and upwards, with the ST-Line Hybrid starting at a pretty reasonable $32,340. It does demand a slight premium over the ST-Line with the EcoBoost, however, the ST-Line Select and ST-Line Elite Hybrid cost exactly the same as the EcoBoost. Finally, the PHEV comes in at $38,500. All things considered, the 2023 Ford Escape is pretty good value.