Used 2021 Ford Escape

Completely redesigned for the 2020 model year, the Ford Escape plows into 2021 with no major changes but a host of small trim and equipment changes.

Ford’s compact crossover SUV continues to be offered with front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), and the engine choices remain a turbocharged 1.5-liter EcoBoost 3-cylinder with 180 horsepower or an optional EcoBoost 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with 250 hp. An Escape Hybrid and an Escape PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) also continue to be available.

The Escape Hybrid, which has a 2.5-liter gas engine and an 88-kW electric motor, gets up to 44 mpg in the city. The Escape PHEV, with a 14.4-kWh battery that can be fully charged in about 3.5 hours, has an electric-only range is 37 miles. Total range of the Escape PHEV exceeds 500 miles.

The 5-seat 2021 Ford Escape is a comfortable and refined crossover SUV with modern connectivity, a good safety suite, and pleasant driving manners. And with its roomy back seat and varying powertrains, there’s an Escape for multiple different buyers.

Competitors for the Ford Escape abound. The Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V are two of the most formidable.

The Ford Escape comes with a 1.5-liter EcoBoost inline-3 making 180 horsepower and 190 lb-ft of torque or a 2.0-liter EcoBoost 4-cylinder that produces 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. There’s also a 2.5-liter gas/electric hybrid version with 200 horsepower, and a plug-in hybrid model also with 200 hp. The Escape PHEV has a pure-electric range of 37 miles.

Power from the 2.0-liter EcoBoost 4-cylinder is excellent. The engine has a feisty feel, and the 8-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly, when you’d expect. It has no trouble finding the right gear for the driving situation. And if you want to shift it for yourself, the 2.0-liter Escape has shift paddles behind the steering wheel.

While we’re big fans of the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder, we’re not as impressed by the 1.5-liter 3-cylinder. It feels a bit coarse, and it always seems like it’s working harder than the 2.0-liter engine.

The CVT in the Escape Hybrid models does a good job of mimicking the gear ratios of an automatic transmission, and we’re pleased that it lacks that rubber-band quality and droning sensation we get with other CVTs. Power arrives quickly in the Escape Hybrid, and the regenerative brakes have a natural feel.

On another positive note, notable differences can be felt among the Escape’s five drive modes: Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery, and Snow & Sand.

Underbody suspension subframes help to absorb vibration while contributing to a comfortable ride. At the same time, the 2021 Escape is far from sloppy on a winding road, owing to its excellent suspension damping.

The Escape PHEV, it should be noted, has four of its own drive modes: Auto EV, which decides when the Escape should switch to all-electric motoring; EV Now, which shuts the gasoline engine off; EV Later, which saves battery power for use later (perhaps for driving in a European city with strict C02 rules); and EV Charge, which uses the engine to recharge the battery for use later.

The 2021 Ford Escape has a simple but intuitively arranged center stack, with a good balance of touchscreen controls and actual physical buttons. The back seat offers great legroom, although three adults across would be a squeeze. The new fold-down center armrest in the SEL, with two cupholders, is appreciated.

The Escape front seats prove comfortable over the long haul, and the view out of the vehicle is good, if a bit hampered by the slightly thick C-pillars. There’s enough room in the back for four sets of golf clubs, and the rotary shifter on the center console works well.

The 2021 Escape looks just like the 2020 model, which is to say it’s a big departure from the boxy earlier generations of Ford’s compact SUV. The front fascia looks like it might come from a Kia or some Euro-market crossover SUV. Whatever the case, it’s clear that aerodynamics has played a big role in the shape of the current Ford Escape, which helps improve fuel economy. Even the roof racks have a low profile to reduce wind resistance.

SLIDING REAR SEAT
The 2021 Ford Escape has a particularly roomy 2nd-row seat that slides fore or aft up to six inches. This way, you can prioritize legroom or cargo capacity, whichever’s most needed.

THE ESCAPE PHEV MODEL
The plug-in hybrid version of the Ford Escape impresses us with its EPA fuel-economy rating of 100 MPGe and an all-electric driving range of 37 miles. Using a 240-colt Level 2 charger, the 14.4-kWh battery pack can be fully recharged in about 3.5 hours.

The base 2021 Ford Escape S comes with the 1.5-liter EcoBoost 3-cylinder engine and an 8-speed automatic transmission with a rotary shifter. Standard fare includes 17-inch steel wheels, cloth seats, front bucket seats, a 6-speaker stereo, and Sync infotainment with Bluetooth, voice recognition, and in-vehicle Wi-Fi for up to 10 devices.

At the Escape SE level, you get a power driver’s seat, heated front seats, automatic climate control, 17-inch alloy wheels, adaptive cruise control, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity. The SE also has heated side mirrors and push-button ignition.

With the Escape SEL, you still get the 1.5-liter engine, but the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine becomes available. Standard SEL fare includes ActiveX simulated leather seating, sport bucket seats, 18-inch alloy wheels, fog lamps, a foot-operated hands-free liftgate, and a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The Escape SE Sport – with a gas/electric hybrid powertrain featuring an efficient 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, an electric motor, and a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) – has a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and active noise cancellation.

A Ford Escape Hybrid in top Titanium trim, not surprisingly, is loaded with standard equipment. In addition to leather seat trim, power front seats, and a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, the Escape Hybrid Titanium has adaptive cruise control, 19-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, and acoustic laminated front glass.

Options on the 2021 Ford Escape include AWD, which is available on all models except the PHEVs, and the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine (on the SEL).

Among the numerous packages available are a Technology Package ($1,050), a Class II Trailer Tow Package ($495), and a Cold Weather Package ($645). Notable stand-alone options include a space-saver spare tire ($110), a panoramic vista roof ($1,495), and minor items like a cargo cover ($135), splash guards ($210), and roof rail crossbars ($145).

On the base Escape S, SE, and SEL models, a 1.5-liter EcoBoost 3-cylinder engine is standard. This turbo powerplant produces 180 horsepower and 190 lb-ft of torque. In the Escape, it doesn’t feel particularly smooth or powerful. On the plus side, the 1.5-liter has a fuel-saving cylinder-deactivation feature.

The 2021 Ford Escape SE Sport has the 2.5-liter hybrid powertrain. With 200 total horsepower, the SE Sport (and all the other Escape Hybrids) never feels like it’s lacking power.

Our favored Escape engine is the 2.0-liter EcoBoost four. With 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, it feels ideally suited for the Escape, and it never lacks personality. Available exclusively with AWD on the Ford Escape SEL, the 2.0-liter EcoBoost also gets excellent highway fuel economy.

Turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-3
181 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
190 lb-ft of torque @ 3,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 28/34 mpg (FWD), 26/31 mpg (AWD)

Turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4
250 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
280 lb-ft of torque @ 3,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 23/31 mpg (AWD)

2.5-liter inline-4 + 88-kW electric motor
200 horsepower
155 lb-ft of torque
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 44/37 mpg (FWD), 43/37 mpg (AWD)

2.5-liter inline-4 + 88-kW electric motor
200 horsepower
155 lb-ft of torque
EPA combined fuel economy: 100 MPGe (electric), 41 mpg (gas & electric)