Ford Escape

The Ford Escape is a compact SUV built for everyday American driving rather than off-road adventure. Now offered with gas, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid powertrains, it leans toward efficiency and easy daily usability over flash. A 2023 refresh updated its looks and tech, including a larger touchscreen. It competes in one of the most crowded segments around, where the question is less about capability and more about value, comfort, and fuel bills.

Ford pitches the Escape as a sensible family hauler, and on that count it largely delivers. The base 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder produces 180 horsepower and moves the SUV with adequate, unremarkable pace, while an available 2.0-liter turbo four adds real muscle for buyers who want it. The standout choice for most shoppers is the hybrid, which pairs a 2.5-liter four with electric assist for roughly 37 MPG combined and notably smoother low-speed manners. The plug-in hybrid extends that further with about 37 miles of electric-only range, useful for short commutes.

Inside, the Escape is roomy for its class, with supportive front seats and a rear bench that slides to trade legroom for cargo. The 2023 update brought a 13.2-inch touchscreen running Ford's SYNC 4 software, which is responsive and supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Material quality is acceptable rather than premium; you'll find plenty of hard plastics lower in the cabin, and some rivals feel a notch more upscale at similar money.

On the road the Escape rides comfortably and steers lightly, prioritizing ease over engagement. It isn't the sharpest-handling compact SUV, and the gas three-cylinder can sound coarse under hard acceleration. Ford's Co-Pilot360 suite bundles automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping, and blind-spot monitoring as standard, which is a genuine strength. The main knocks are an interior that trails the class leaders in polish and a value equation that gets tighter once you climb into upper trims.