![]() ![]() All-wheel drive is available as an option. The Base, Active and ST-Line trims are powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine (180 horsepower, 199 lb-ft of torque) paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission driving the front wheels. Check out the Expert Rating below to get our test team's full take on the Escape's utility, comfort and more. Overall, we like the Escape and think it's worth checking out if you're shopping for a small SUV with a satisfying mix of features, comfort and utility. Besides the Escape and Edge, Ford also offers the Bronco Sport, which is based on the Escape but has a more rugged, outdoorsy persona. Ford itself offers a wide array of SUVs as it's shifted its focus away from car production. Some of Edmunds' favorites include the CR-V, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5 and Nissan Rogue. The Escape has rivals from just about every corner. On the inside, the larger infotainment screens not only look more modern, they're also easier to use. The new styling should be an upgrade for most shoppers, as it gives the small SUV a stronger presence with its more upright and squared-off front end. The ergonomics can be a little strange, too, especially the start button, which is angled toward the steering column.For 2023, the Escape receives a significant refresh, with a new look in front and back, the new Sync 4 infotainment system, and an entire lineup that's been overhauled, with new trim levels and slightly different engine and feature availability. The "wood" trim on the dashboard and door panels is almost offensive in how obviously fake it is. Whereas the Bronco Sport seems like Ford put a lot of thought into it, the Escape comes off as a little more "They'll take what they get." Hard plastic surfaces abound, even with a base price pushing toward $40,000, and some of the stuff on the lower half of the cabin seems pretty easy to gouge on accident. I am a little less forgiving about the interior. ![]() I will say that my tester's $395 Rapid Red paint really pops in the sun. , that's for sure, but you also can't get a Bronco Sport PHEV, so there's that. Sure, it's a little fishy up front, and my tester's shiny Titanium grille evokes middle-school trips to the orthodontist, but I think it's fine. There are people who don't mind or don't care about how it looks, and then there are people who truly do not like it. I have discovered that there are two schools of thought surrounding the latest generation of Ford Escape. Andrew Krok/Roadshow You're not buying this for aesthetics Sync isn't the newest system on the block, but it's reliably good. Charging is a breeze for everyone, with a Qi wireless device charger under the climate controls and a pair of USB-A and USB-C ports for each row. My tester also has a head-up display, but it's one of those systems that uses a little pop-up plastic thing, which looks kind of cheap and is mounted too low for my preference. Both screens are responsive and good at highlighting pertinent information. The SE and SEL trims have a 6-inch LCD screen in the gauge cluster, but the Titanium replaces that with a flashy 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster that I really like. Infotainment system on an 8-inch touchscreen, which packs all the usual fripperies like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and SiriusXM satellite radio, and the Titanium trim beefs that up further with embedded navigation. Every plug-in trim comes standard with Ford's Since my Escape PHEV tester is decked out in its top Titanium trim, I'm granted access to all the tech Ford has to offer on this particular car. Andrew Krok/Roadshow Plenty of tech on offer The engine's not going to win any beauty contests, either.
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