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Identifying the First-Gen Ford Mustang2024 Ford Escape Review
The 2024 Ford Escape suits many buyers with six trims and three powertrain options. However, it fails to stand out in the crowd. Read our full review here.
2024 Ford Escape – ford.com | Shop 2024 Ford Escape on Carsforsale.com
What’s New for the 2024 Ford Escape ?
The 2024 Ford Escape is part of the model’s fourth generation and is available in six trim levels. Among them, four different powertrains are available along with front or all-wheel drive.
Ford brings the Escape to market in 2024 with only one major change and that’s the deletion of the base trim from 2023. Now, the base model is the Active trim starting at $29,345.
Carsforsale.com Score
7.75/10
Powertrain
Score
7.75/10
Interior
Score
7.75/10
Technology
Score
8.25/10
Value
Score
7.5/10
The Breakdown
Great fuel economy
An engine for everyone
Comfortable interior
Underwhelming handling
Limited AWD availability
Uncompetitive warranty
A middling crossover
2024 Escape Specs
- 180 horsepower from base engine
- 199 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 6 available trims
- 37.3 cu-ft of cargo capacity
- 65.4 cu-ft of cargo capacity with seats folded
- Available 13-inch infotainment system
- Standard blind-spot warning
- Basic three-year warranty
2024 Ford Escape Powertrain 7.75/10
The Escape comes standard with a turbocharged three-cylinder engine that makes just 181 hp and 199 lb-ft of torque. That power goes through an eight-speed automatic straight to the front wheels by default, with all-wheel drive optional while on some trims, like the ST-Line Select, it’s standard. In fact, that same trim sees an improvement under the hood too with a standard turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 250 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. It’s stout enough to tow up to 3,500 pounds which is impressive in this class.
Most Escape trims are available with a hybrid 2.5-liter powertrain that makes 192 hp but can achieve up to 42 mpg in the city and 36 on the highway. That’s considerably better than the 1.5-liter engine which gets at best 27 mpg in the city and 34 on the highway and the 2.0-liter which scores 23 and 31 respectively.
Finally, a plug-in hybrid powertrain is the only one found in the suitably named Escape PHEV. It has a combined MPG rating of 40 mpg and can go up to 37 miles on electricity alone. Notably, it’s only available with front-wheel drive.
While many competitors offer a slew of different trims to suit different interior preferences we love that Ford has gone that route on the powertrain front. The Escape can be anything from a low-power fuel sipper to a relatively high-powered romper.
That said, it still lacks a lot of the driving feedback that we love so much about cars like the Mazda CX-5, CX-50, and Kia Sportage. The real fly in the ointment so to speak is the gearbox which can be laggy and slow to respond despite clear prodding of the throttle.
2024 Ford Escape Interior 7.75/10
It’s the small touches about the Escape’s interior that really stand out. The seats are comfortable and nicely contoured but they also get unique stitching. The dash and door cards also feature small thoughtful patterns that help to elevate some of the plastic bits and bobs found in the cabin. Beyond that Ford incorporates some excellent soft-touch surfaces that improve comfort too.
Ford offers everything from vinyl and cloth upholstery to genuine quilted leather depending on trim choice. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel are about as posh as the options list goes though. That doesn’t bode well for the sometimes buzzy ride quality in the Escape. It’s not uncomfortable but road noise and vibration do make their way into the cabin somewhat regularly.
Behind the second row seats, you’ll find 37.3 cubic feet of storage which is fantastic for the segment. To put that into perspective it’s the same as you’d get in the Jeep Grand Cherokee which is a much larger vehicle overall. Fold down the rear seats and cargo volume expands to 65 cubic feet.
2024 Ford Escape Technology Features 8.25/10
Ford provides a solid set of technologies in the Escape. It starts off with an 8-inch infotainment system and Sync 4, Ford’s user interface. It’s proven to be smooth, easy to use, and mostly easy to navigate too. The available 13.1-inch infotainment system is positively gigantic for the space. In fact, where we’ve found many systems in other cars to be obviously too small for the dash, this one looks almost too big.
Nevertheless, it offers a few more functions including integrated navigation and an available heads-up display. Buyers can also add a Bang & Olufsen sound system with 10 speakers and a subwoofer should they prefer it. We think it’s a nice package but not one that is dramatically improved over the standard system. A 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster is another optional feature that we’d tick the box yes for. It adds configurability and functionality far superior to that of the stock cluster.
In terms of safety tech, the Escape comes with forward collision mitigation, lane-keep assist, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high beams. We’d love to see Ford prioritize its customers’ safety more by adding more standard driver aids. For now, it’s achieved a five-star crash test rating with the NHTSA but failed to win any awards with the IIHS.
2024 Ford Escape Trims & Pricing
Active – $29,345
The base Escape comes with 17-inch wheels, a power liftgate, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, dark-tinted rear windows, dual-zone climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, satellite radio, two USB power ports, and an 8-inch infotainment system.
ST-Line – $30,340
This trim adds 18-inch wheels, underbody skid plates, roof rails, a flat-bottom steering wheel, and a mix of vinyl and cloth upholstery.
ST-Line Select – $34,040
This mid-level trim includes all-wheel drive, LED fog lights, heated mirrors, remote start, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel.
Platinum – $36,965
This trim is equipped with faux leather upholstery and a universal garage door opener.
ST-Line Elite – $37,960
The ST-Line Elite gets 19-inch wheels, LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, a keyless entry keypad, a digital gauge cluster, driver’s seat memory functions, a power-adjustable front passenger seat, a 13.2-inch infotainment system, integrated navigation, ambient interior lighting, a wireless charging pad, and a surround-view camera system.
Plug-In Hybrid – $40,500
The PHEV version of the Escape is most similar to the Active trim. It has 18-inch wheels, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, vinyl and cloth upholstery, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, evasive steering assist, and rear parking sensors.
2024 Ford Escape Overall Value 7.5/10
The Escape is no doubt a good car but it’s overshadowed in this very crowded segment by cars that lean into specific aspects of design. Some drive better, some have better storage, others offer more cargo room, and still others provide far more warranty coverage.
For those reasons, we’d look at cars like the Honda CR-V, Kia Sportage, and Toyota RAV4 before plopping down cash on a Ford Escape no matter how good the new car incentives might be. On the other hand, if you were looking at something even less impressive like the Chevy Equinox, the Escape could be a clear winner.
CarsForSale.com Overall Score 7.75/10
2024 Ford Escape – ford.com | Shop 2024 Ford Escape on Carsforsale.com
I’d love to see Ford really lean into one specific niche with the Escape like comfort, driving prowess, or value. To that end, it could use more interior comfort features, full-time RWD-biased AWD, or even a more competitive warranty package.
2024 Ford Escape FAQ
How much can a Ford Escape tow?
When properly equipped the Ford Escape can tow up to 3,500 pounds.
Is the Ford Escape all-wheel drive?
The Ford Escape can be equipped with all-wheel drive in most cases, yes.
Which is bigger, the Ford Escape or the Ford Edge?
The Ford Edge is larger and has more standard features.
