The Ford Escape went through a complete redesign in 2020 which gave it a new modern sleek look with a more angular, crossover-type styling. However, the 2021 Ford Escape does get some upgraded standard and optional features. For instance, the hybrid powertrain is now available with the SE and SEL trims. Apart from that, the Co-Pilot 360 Plus package gets adaptive cruise control and traffic-sign recognition. The Technology Package gets a hands-free power liftgate and memory settings for the driver's seat and exterior mirrors. Lastly, the Convenience Package now also gets you a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, a keyless-entry keypad, and LED exterior lighting.
The 2021 Ford Escape is available in a total of 5 trims - S, SE, SE Sport, SEL, and Titanium. There are also the Ford Escape Hybrid and Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid variants, they are reviewed separately for better understanding. The prices of the 2021 Ford Escape starts from $24,885 for the base S trim and ranges up to $36,435 for the top-of-line Titanium variant. For leasing, consider the 2021 Ford Escape to cost you around $199 per month for 24 months.
Vehicle images are guides only and may not reflect the model's exact specifications/features– exact specifications/features should be confirmed with the seller.
Ratings
Pricing And Features
7.3
Engine And Performance
8.5
Fuel Economy
7.9
Interior
7.7
Exterior
7.3
Safety
8.1
Competition
7.0
Final Verdict
6.8
7.5
OVERALL RATING
Expert Review, Pricing Analysis and Buying Guide
7.5
Overall Rating
Every Escape is comfortable and easy to drive, and equipped with automatic emergency braking and active lane control along with a stellar crash-test scorecard. -TheCarConnection
The 2021 Ford Escape, out for sale now. The Escape offers decent cabin space, an attractive and powerful looking silhouette, along with a revamped suspension, and a lighter body that ultimately helps it to stand out in a crowded and competitive segment. The 2021 Ford Escape gets a 181-hp turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine. There are two more engine options - a 250-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and two electric motors which combine to make 221-hp.
The 2021 Ford Escape is aimed at bringing a more complete and mature package of the previous iterations of the Escape, and so the feature list has also been reshuffled, although mildly for 2021. Its competition, however, remains intact with the likes of Mazda CX-5, Toyota RAV4, and Honda CR-V fighting it out in this straight-forward bunch of compact SUV titles. Here’s our take on the 2021 Ford Escape that’s soon going on sale in the market.
2021 Ford Escape front third quarter view
2021 Ford Escape rear and side view
7.3/10 Pricing and Features
8.5/10 Engine and Performance
7.9/10 Fuel Economy
7.7/10 Interior
7.3/10 Exterior
8.1/10 Safety
7.0/10 Competition
6.8/10 Final Verdict
2021 Ford Escape Pricing and Features
7.3/10
The 2021 Ford Escape is expected to carry over its five trim levels namely, S, SE, SE Sport, SEL, and Titanium ranging between $24K and $36K. The FWD comes standard across all the trims, but one has the option for AWD too.
Base trim S starts at $24,885 and it comes equipped with a 1.5L Turbo engine, dual exhaust chrome tips and a rear spoiler as standard. SE trim priced at $27,105 comes with Sync3 infotainment, Panoramic sunroof and more creature comforts.
Model
S
SE
SE Sport
SEL
Titanium
MSRP
$24,885
$27,105
$28,265
$29,265
$36,435
Key Features
1.5L Three-cylinder engine
Adds on to S
Add ons to SE
Add ons to SE Sport
Add ons to SEL
Dual-Chrome exhaust tips
Power Adjustable driver seat
2.5L four-cylinder engine
1.5L Three-cylinder engine
2.0L Turbocharged four-cylinder engine (optional)
Manual Climate Control
Push-Button Start
Leather-wrapped steering wheel
Hands-free liftgate
Leather-trimmed upholstery
Configurable DRL
Sync3 infotainment system
12-inch digital gauge display
Remote Start
Upgraded sound system
Rear Spoiler
Panoramic Vista Roof
Heated steering wheel
Advanced driver aids
Roof side rails
A 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine is offered by Ford as an option for the SEL and Titanium trim priced at $29,265 and $36,435 respectively. The engine is mated with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Ford also offers the model in the PHEV hybrid version, and the model comes in SE, SEL, and Titanium trim levels.
2021 Ford Escape Buying Advice
We would recommend the SEL trim level if one is looking to buy the 2021 Ford Escape SUV. The SEL trim has all the basic features of the lower trims like power-adjustable seats, Sync3 infotainment system, and other added features like roof rails, rear parking sensors, and a heated steering wheel for an MSRP of $30,450. The Escape offers several features at each trim level and some premium features as the trim level gets higher up but all these features and packages come at a high price for a small compact SUV.
We tested the Escape SEL with the turbocharged 2.0-liter engine. This engine makes plenty of power, allowing it to easily squirt through traffic and accelerate up to highway speeds. -Edmunds.com
The 2021 Ford Escape will offer the same powertrain as the 2020 model, as it’s a carryover. The behavior of the engine perfectly fits the exterior styling of the Escape. The S and SE trim levels have the 1.5L EcoBoost three-cylinder engine that can be had with either front or all-wheel drive. This mechanism is designed such that one of the cylinders out of three shuts off when the power need is low and to maintain a thrilling driving experience one has to continue pushing the engine.
2021 Ford Escape engine
Ford also offers a 2.0L EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine as an option for the SEL and Titanium trim levels. This gives the engine extra feedback and very impressive torque whose effects can be easily felt and is a boon for speed junkies. There is also a hybrid version of the Escape available which pairs a 2.5 L four-cylinder engine with two electric motors.
Models
2021 Ford Escape (Expected)
2020 Honda CR-V
2020 Toyota RAV4
2020 Mazda CX-5
MSRP
$25,000(EST)
$25,050
$25,950
$25,190
Engine
1.5L Turbo Inline -3
1.5L Turbo Inline -4
2.5L Inline-4
2.5L-INline -4
Drivetrain
AWD/FWD
AWD/FWD
FWD
FWD
Transmission
8-Speed Automatic
8-Speed Automatic
8-speed automatic
6-Speed shiftable automatic
Power
181 hp @ 6000 rpm
190 hp @ 5600 rpm
203 hp @ 6600 rpm
187 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque
190 lb-ft @ 3000 rpm
179 lb-ft @ 3900 rpm
184 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm
186 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
0-60 MPH
8.9 seconds
9.3 seconds
9.1 seconds
8.3 seconds
Quarter Mile
16.6 seconds
16.0 seconds
16.4 seconds
16.4 seconds
Top Speed
130 MPH
127 MPH
130 MPH
130 MPH
Ford Escape SUV gives a somewhat poor power performance when compared to its rivals with Toyota Rav-4 having the most powerful engine in the segment that churns out 203hp. The Escape has the highest torque figure at 190lb-ft. The optional 2.0L engine does give an advantage to Ford in terms of power capacity.
The Escape offers surprisingly good acceleration and it takes the compact SUV only around 8.4 seconds to reach from 0 to 60 mph. The vehicle has a light body, more gears, refined aerodynamics that combine to make the 2021 Ford Escape swift on the road. The 2021 Ford Escape can clock the quarter-mile lap in 16.6 seconds and has a top speed of 130 mph.
The 2021 Ford Escape not only carries the 2020 model’s engagement, driving experience, and powertrain but also its impressive fuel efficiency figures. The three-cylinder is overall good for efficiency as it returns 27 mpg in the city, 33 in the highway and 30 mpg combined and further increases the frugality of the vehicle with its low base price. It comes equipped with a 14.7-gallon fuel tank with an impressive range.
Adding all-wheel drive drops those numbers by 2 mpg each. The larger turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with all-wheel drive is rated for 23 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined. The most efficient Escape will be the plug-in hybrid model, which has fuel economy ratings as high as 44 mpg city.
Model
2021 Ford Escape (Expected)
2020 Honda CR-V
2020 Toyota RAV4
2020 Mazda CX-5
MPG (City)
27
28
26
25
MPG (Highway)
33
34
35
31
MPG (Combined)
30
30
30
28
Fuel Capacity
14.7 gallons
14.0 gallons
14.5gallons
14.8gallons
Range (City/Hwy/Combined)
396/485/441 miles
392/476/420miles
377/508/435miles
370/459/414miles
All the rivals in this highly competitive segment have very similar fuel efficiency ratings. The Ford Escape has the largest fuel tank combined with its three-cylinder engine and light bodyweight which is a big reason for its large overall range. The Honda CR-V has the smallest fuel tank of the lot.
The Escape's cabin, while handsomely styled and spacious for both front- and rear-seat occupants, suffers from several low-rent plastic panels, including those on the doors and lower center console. -CarAndDriver
The interior of the 2021 Ford Escape is very stylish and spacious, just like the 2020 model. The Escape has a pretty trendy and upscale layout for its cabin with intuitive ergonomics. The cloth seat upholstery is high textured and rich in vibrancy, with top trims having genuine leather upholstery adorning the cabin. The cabin does suffer from the use of cheap plastic panels in some places but overall the cabin is striking and delightful.
There are wooden inserts and soft-touch plastics giving a distinct premium flavor to the whole interior layout. The seats are very much comfortable and provide a good all-round space with ample legroom and headroom. Power-adjustable and heated front seats are also available depending on the trim one chooses to buy. The rear seats recline at an angle that adds to the comfort level of the Escape. This inclination helps in increasing the legroom and also makes more cargo space.
Model
2021 Ford Escape (Expected)
2020 Honda CR-V
2020 Toyota RAV4
2020 Mazda CX-5
Seating Capacity
5
5
5
5
Front Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)
40.0/57.6/42.4
40.1/57.9/41.3
39.5/57.8/41.0
39.7/57.1/41.0
Rear Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)
39.3/56.0/40.7
39.2/55.6/40.4
39.5/56.4/37.8
39.0/54.8/39.6
Cargo capacity (cu-ft)
33.5
37.6
37.6
30.9
The cargo capacity on the Ford Escape is at par with the competition but it is the most comfortable for the occupants due to the larger interior dimensions. The redesign for the Escape has certainly helped it close the gap to the segment leader the Honda CR-V. The 2021 Escape will be carrying the same proportions and roominess as the 2020 model Escape.
The 2021 Ford Escape features an 8.0-inch floating infotainment screen that is very intuitive to operate. The system is very aptly packed with features and has a clean interface as well. A manual gauge cluster is standard but the Titanium variant gets a 12.3-inch digital cluster.
However, with the finicky graphics and awful animation along with complex configurability, the digital gauge is not as effective and useful to operate like the ones available in its rivals.
Some of the most eminent interior and infotainment features of the 2021 Ford Escape are:
Urethane steering wheel with cruise and audio controls
Manual tilt and telescoping steering column
Visor Vanity Mirrors (Driver and Front Passenger)
3 Powerpoints– Front of Center Console, Rear of Center Console, and Cargo Area
The clean and shapely body lines of the exterior are visible in the Ford Escape that gives it a more sporty and aggressive style, making it look more like a sedan than an SUV especially when compared to its heavier and bulkier rivals. The rear end of the vehicle looks very simple and humble with the LED headlights looking as sleek as ever. The curves are more oval than they used to be and just adds to the distinct styling of the SUV.
Model
2021 Ford Escape (Expected)
2020 Honda CR-V
2020 Toyota RAV4
2020 Mazda CX-5
Curb Weight
3299 lbs
3473 lbs
3370 lbs
3541 lbs
Length
180.5”
180.6”
180.9”
179.1”
Width
74.1”
73.0”
73.0”
72.5”
Height
66.1”
66.1”
67.0”
66.2”
Ground Clearance
N/A
7.8”
8.4”
7.5”
Wheelbase
106.7”
104.7”
105.9”
106.2”
Ford Escape is very much similar in styling to the Mazda CX-5. Overall, the Ford looks very humble and modest compared to its larger and powerful rivals like Toyota and Honda. Ford also has the largest wheelbase with Toyota being the clearest from the ground.
Ford has upgraded a number of safety and driver assistance features for the Escape in recent models. This includes Ford's Co-Pilot 360 plus driver assistance features. The vehicle is very high on its safety features and it's no surprise that it received a five-star rating from the NHTSA and was a top safety pick by the IIHS.
The various safety features available in the 2021 Ford Escape are:-
The Toyota RAV is one of the top-performing SUVs in the segment and went through a similar refreshment as the Ford Escape. The RAV has a powerful punchier engine when compared to the Escape and a more striking cabin.
2021 Toyota RAV4
The RAV also handles pretty well and makes for an overall enjoyable ride. At the end of the day, with similar pricing one’s choice can be based totally on loyalty and taste.
2021 Ford Escape V/S Honda CR-V
The Honda CR-V is the top-performing and selling car in the segment and betters the Ford in a lot of aspects. The CR-V sets a high bar with an upscale interior, powerful engine, amazing utility, and impressive design.
2021 Honda CR-V
The CR-V has an abundance of tech features and various other titbits that make it a superior SUV when compared to the Ford Escape.
2021 Ford Escape V/S Mazda CX-5
The Mazda CX-5 looks far more compact than the Escape, however, and that may appeal to a certain set of customers that want to purchase a relatively bigger car, but also one that fits into constrained parking spaces. Riding experience within the CX-5 can also be pretty cushiony, and comfortable overall.
2021 Mazda CX-5 SUV
But the CX-5 suffers in terms of performance but has better and more comfortable interiors. Overall however, the Ford Escape is a better car.
2021 Ford Escape Final Verdict
6.8/10
The 2021 Ford Escape is a fourth-gen compact SUV offered by the American manufacturer and is a really well built vehicle. The vehicle strikes the right balance between dynamics, performance, and interior utility topping it all off with a surprisingly appealing exterior style. The vehicle is overall very spacious, agile, and loaded with a lot of advanced comfort and safety features that make for a very comfortable, content, and relaxed drive. It can be said that it’s one of the most practical vehicles in the compact SUV segment.
