2026 Ford Escape

The 2026 Ford Escape lineup keeps the walk-up simple while letting the exterior attitude change in meaningful ways: Escape Plug-in Hybrid, Escape Active, Escape ST-Line, Escape ST-Line Select, Escape ST-Line Elite, and Escape Platinum. Active sets the tone with LED headlamps, a clean street-ready profile, and 17-inch Shadow Silver–painted aluminum wheels; ST-Line and ST-Line Select sharpen the silhouette with 18-inch Rock Metallic–painted wheels, while ST-Line adds sport-forward cues like a black mesh grille and a large single-wing rear spoiler that looks right at home whether we’re threading Burlington streets or hopping onto I-94 toward Milwaukee. As we move up, the Escape starts dressing with more deliberate visual punctuation. ST-Line Select brings exterior upgrades such as LED fog lamps and body-color heated mirrors, then ST-Line Elite raises the stance with 19-inch machined-face Ebony-painted wheels; Platinum finishes the look with its own 19-inch Ebony-painted machined-face wheels and adds styling touches like an LED light bar, chrome beltline molding, and LED fog lamps. For drivers who want the electrified trim to look as purposeful as it drives, the Plug-in Hybrid carries 18-inch Magnetic-painted machined-face aluminum wheels with painted pockets, and it’s paired with practical exterior convenience like a power liftgate; across the model range, we can also target key design extras like the available LED light bar, available power liftgate, and available panoramic Vista Roof with power shade.

Ford builds the 2026 Escape around three engines and four powertrains: a 2.5L iVCT Atkinson Cycle I-4 Hybrid, a 2.5L iVCT Atkinson Cycle I-4 Plug-In Hybrid, a 1.5L Ti-VCT GTDI I-3, and a 2.0L Ti-VCT GTDI I-4. The 1.5L EcoBoost is rated at 180 horsepower and 199 lb-ft of torque, while the 2.0L EcoBoost steps up to 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque; that’s the gas option we point to when we want the Escape to feel genuinely eager on on-ramps and two-lane passes out toward Racine or Kenosha. Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid deliver their strength differently. Both use a 2.5L engine rated at 163 horsepower and 155 lb-ft of torque, then build total system output to 192 horsepower for Hybrid and 210 horsepower for Plug-in Hybrid, with the Plug-in Hybrid also carrying an EPA-estimated 101 MPGe combined and an EPA-estimated 37 miles of all-electric range. Power delivery is matched to the hardware: EcoBoost models run an 8-speed automatic, while Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid use an eCVT, and driveline choices follow suit—front-wheel drive or available all-wheel drive with AWD Disconnect on 1.5L, AWD with AWD Disconnect on 2.0L, AWD with AWD Disconnect on Hybrid, and front-wheel drive on Plug-in Hybrid.

Escape performance is less about theatrics and more about choosing the exact blend we want for daily life in southeast Wisconsin. The 2.0L EcoBoost is the most powerful available gas engine in the lineup, and it’s also the key to the Escape’s top towing capability: when equipped with the required Class II Trailer Tow Package on an Escape with the available 2.0L EcoBoost and AWD, maximum towing reaches 3,500 pounds. The 1.5L EcoBoost is rated to tow up to 2,000 pounds, while Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid are rated at 1,500 pounds—useful for smaller trailers and weekend gear, with the understanding that the Plug-in Hybrid remains front-wheel drive and does not offer the AWD Disconnect setup. Efficiency stays measurable rather than vague. Ford lists estimated ratings that include 27 city and 34 highway on 1.5L front-wheel drive, 26 city and 32 highway on 1.5L with AWD, 23 city and 31 highway on 2.0L with AWD, and 42 city and 36 highway on 2.5L Hybrid with AWD, giving us clear lanes to choose from depending on how much of our week is Burlington stop-and-go versus longer highway miles toward Milwaukee or Janesville.

The 2026 Escape interior is built around adjustability—space that changes shape without drama. A sliding second row is part of the core cabin concept, and Ford notes we can slide the 60/40 split-fold second-row seats back for up to 5.9 extra inches, which is exactly the kind of small detail that makes day-to-day comfort feel intentional instead of accidental. Cargo capacity reinforces the point: maximum space behind the first row is listed at 65.4 cubic feet on 1.5L and 2.0L models, and 60.8 cubic feet on Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid; behind the second row, the maximum is listed at 37.5 cubic feet for 1.5L and 2.0L, and 34.4 cubic feet for Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid. Trim-to-trim, the cabin experience tightens around real comfort features rather than fluff. Escape Active pairs dual-zone electronic automatic temperature control with cloth front bucket seats and a straightforward driver-seat setup, while Escape ST-Line leans into a sport-styled vibe with a flat-bottom steering wheel and red accent stitching that shows up immediately in the driver’s seat. ST-Line Select layers in cold-weather livability with heated front-row seats and a heated steering wheel, plus remote start; ST-Line Elite and Platinum step up with a larger 13.2-inch center display and convenience tech like a wireless charging pad, while Platinum adds seats trimmed in ActiveX with perforated inserts for a more finished feel. For the Plug-in Hybrid, Ford calls out a 13.2-inch center display, heated steering wheel and front-row seats, and an 8-way power driver seat, which lands well for drivers who want electrified commuting without giving up everyday comfort.

Ford builds Escape safety around a familiar set of driver-assist fundamentals, then expands it meaningfully when we choose higher equipment. Across the lineup, key systems include Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking, Pedestrian Detection, Forward Collision Warning, and Dynamic Brake Support, along with a Lane-Keeping System that includes lane-keeping assist, lane-keeping alert, and driver alert; blind-spot coverage is handled through BLIS with rear cross-traffic braking. In real Burlington driving—tight parking lots, fast-changing traffic near Milwaukee, and winter visibility that turns “fine” into “not fine” quickly—those are the features that earn their keep. When we move into the Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+ equipment, the Escape adds higher-level support such as Adaptive Cruise Control with stop-and-go, Lane Centering, and Predictive Speed Assist, plus tools like Evasive Steering Assist, Intersection Assist, and rear parking sensors. It’s the kind of coverage that feels calm instead of bossy, the kind that helps smooth the rough edges of the drive without trying to replace it.