2023 Ford Escape

The 2023 Ford Escape is now the automaker’s smallest SUV, following the discontinuation of the EcoSport. It receives a considerable makeover this year, including reconfigured trim levels and a new ST-Line with black mesh grille, rear spoiler and upscale interior.

The new lineup consists of the Active (previously called the S), ST-Line, and Platinum (previously the Titanium). All but the Active are available as hybrids. A plug-in hybrid powertrain used to be available in three trim levels. It’s now down to a single trim, called simply the PHEV.

Other new-for-2023 changes include a mini spare tire as standard equipment, rather than an inflation kit; an eight-inch digital instrument panel screen replaces the previous four-inch screen; and there are standard LED reflector headlamps. The hands-free power liftgate is gone, as is the MyKey parental-control system. Ford Co-Pilot360, which includes blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, emergency front braking and automatic high-beam headlamps, is now standard on all trims where it used to be optional. Exterior colours Cinnabar Red Metallic and Vapor Blue Metallic are added, while Stone Blue Metallic and Iced Blue Silver Metallic are discontinued.

Performance

The 2023 Ford Escape offers four powertrains. The base engine is a turbocharged 1.5L EcoBoost three-cylinder that makes 180 horsepower and 199 lb-ft of torque; it’s found in the Active and ST. The Select, Platinum and ST-Line Elite start with a turbocharged 2.0L EcoBoost four-cylinder making 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. Both engines use an eight-speed automatic transmission.

All but the base Active can be optioned to a 2.5L four-cylinder engine with hybrid system that makes 163 horsepower on its own and up to 192 horsepower with gas-electric combined, along with 155 lb-ft of torque. The PHEV uses the same engine and hybrid system but makes a total of 210 horsepower combined. It has an NRCan-rated range of 60 kilometres on its battery when it’s fully charged, and when that runs out, it reverts to conventional gas-hybrid operation. The hybrid models use an automatic continuously-variable transmission (CVT). Note that all of Ford’s official horsepower and torque figures are for an engine running on premium-grade 93-octane gasoline, so expect less if you’re like most people in the real world and pump in 87-octane fuel.

Practicality

The Active and ST-Line trim lines are front-wheel drive (FWD) but can be optioned to all-wheel drive (AWD). The ST-Line Select, Platinum, and ST-Line Elite are AWD only, while the PHEV is strictly FWD.

The Escape is well-sized for city traffic and parking spots, and the availability of different engine sizes and hybrid options makes it a viable contender among small SUVs, especially with its driver-assist features now standard across all trims. Available or standard items, depending on trim, include dual-zone automatic climate control, wireless charging, panoramic sunroof, wireless phone connectivity, and premium Bang & Olufsen sound system.

Canadian Pricing

The 2023 Ford Escape Active, in gasoline only, starts at $32,849 in FWD, and $35,449 in AWD. The priciest gas-only model, the ST-Line Elite, is $43,379. Models with the available hybrid powertrain range in price from the ST-Line at $40,349 to the ST-Line Elite at $47,379. The PHEV comes in a single trim level at $47,499.