| Pros | Cons | What's New |
|---|---|---|
Amazing cargo versatility thanks to a sliding 2nd-row seat | Not so sporty handling | Traffic sign recognition comes along with a model that comprises adaptive cruise control |
A plethora of safety techs with Ford Co-Pilot360 | Lackluster interior quality | Minor changes in trim and packages |
Selectable drive modes for various purposes | It belongs to the fourth generation that was introduced for 2020 | |
Refined powertrains with a thrift for fuel economy |
$26,385
price181 hp @ 6000 rpm
horsepower190 lb.-ft. @ 3000 rpm
torque8-Speed Automatic w/od
transmission1.5L 3cyl AWD 8A
engine-
basic warrantyFord may be announcing some exciting vehicles to its lineup, including the likes of the Bronco Sport and many others. However, the Ford Escape remains its bread-and-butter car ever since its debut. Since its redesign last year, this family crossover has a lot of positive aspects to look forward to, like a range of powertrains, a plethora of standard features, and seating for 5 passengers.
We will definitely recommend the mid-of-the-range SEL trim if you decide to opt for the 2021 Ford Escape. This trim adds several features that family-conscious buyers will relish, including the likes of rear parking sensors, memory settings for the driver's seat and exterior mirrors, ActiveX simulated leather upholstery, remote start, a hands-free power liftgate, fog lamps, and roof-rack side rails. This trim fits well within the budgets of most compact SUV shoppers.
As the competition gets fiercer with each passing year, the Ford Escape equally faces the pressure to get all its priorities right. The 2021 Ford Escape is surely a step in the right direction, as the crossover has a host of active safety features and interesting gizmos in its arsenal to woo families over. It goes up against cars like Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and Chevrolet Equinox. However, can Escape be a genuine bestseller in its competitive segment? Let’s find out.
The Ford Escape is offered in 4 trim levels- S, SE, SEL, and Titanium. Ford retains most of its interior and exterior styling elements. A host of new features join the various packages at your disposal. For example, the Co-Pilot360 Plus package gets adaptive cruise control and traffic sign recognition as new features while the Technology package gets a hands-free power liftgate and memory settings for the driver's seat and exterior mirrors. Rest assured, the trim lineup remains unchanged. Each trim has its own perks and features, as discussed in the table below-
|
Trim |
S |
SE |
SEL |
Titanium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
MSRP (FWD) |
$25,555 |
$27,035 |
$29,505 |
NA |
|
MSRP (AWD) |
$27,055 |
$28,535 |
$33,205 |
$36,455 |
|
Key Features |
Ford Sync with 4.2-inch LCD Screen Display |
In addition to or replaces S trim features with: |
In addition to or replaces SE trim features with: |
In addition to or replaces SEL trim features with: |
|
Ford Co-Pilot360 |
Ford SYNC 3 with 8-inch LCD Screen Display |
ActiveX Premium Seating Upholstery |
Ford Co-Pilot360™ Assist+ |
|
|
Second-Row Sliding Seats, 60/40 Split-Fold Down |
17-inch Shadow Silver-Painted Aluminum Wheels |
Power Liftgate |
B&O Sound System by Bang & Olufsen, 10-Speakers and subwoofer |
|
|
FordPass Connect |
Intelligent Access with Push Button Start |
Reverse Sensing System |
Active Park Assist 2.0 |
|
|
Single-Zone Manual Climate Control |
SiriusXM |
Halogen Fog lamps |
Heated and Premium-wrapped steering wheel with cruise and audio controls |
|
|
Rotary gear shift dial |
Upper Grille-Black Mesh Chrome Surround |
18-inch Machined-Face Aluminum wheels with Dark Stainless-painted pockets |
Wireless Charging Pad |
|
|
Cloth front bucket seats |
Unique cloth front bucket seats |
Dual-Zone Automatic Temperature Control |
12.3-inch Full Digital Instrument Cluster |
Which Trim should you buy?
We will definitely recommend the mid-of-the-range SEL trim if you decide to opt for the 2021 Ford Escape. This trim adds several features that family-conscious buyers will relish, including the likes of rear parking sensors, memory settings for the driver's seat and exterior mirrors, ActiveX simulated leather upholstery, remote start, a hands-free power liftgate, fog lamps, and roof-rack side rails. This trim fits well within the budgets of most compact SUV shoppers.
The Escape’s most economical powertrain is definitely its base 3-cylinder engine. With FWD, the crossover lends out a city MPG of 28. On the highway, it returns an MPG of 34. EPA rates its combined MPG at an excellent 30. These figures are well within the highest fuel economy estimates of its segment. With a 14.8-gallon tank under the hood, the Escape shells out a spectacular mileage of 414 miles in the city and 503 miles on the interstates.
However, equipping the AWD drivetrain sheds a few digits of its MPG. The Escape with the AWD lends a city MPG of 26 and a highway MPG of 31, which brings down its combined MPG to 28. The more powerful 4-cylinder variant is rated at EPA estimates of 23 MPG city, 31 MPG highway, and 26 MPG combined, which are still above-average fuel economy figures.
|
Models |
2021 Ford Escape |
2021 Honda CR-V |
2021 Toyota RAV4 |
2021 Chevrolet Equinox |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
MPG (City) |
28 |
28 |
27 |
26 |
|
MPG (Highway) |
34 |
34 |
35 |
31 |
|
MPG (Combined) |
30 |
30 |
30 |
28 |
|
Fuel Capacity (Gallons) |
14.8 |
14 |
14.5 |
14.9 |
|
Range (City/Highway/Combined, in Miles) |
414/503/444 |
392/476/420 |
392/508/435 |
387/462/417 |
The Ford Escape is one of the most fuel-efficient SUVs in its class, with its MPG numbers right on par with the best of its segment. The Escape also provides the best city and combined mileage in its segment, making it a perfect choice for fuel-savvy drivers. On the other hand, the Chevrolet Equinox is a bit of a guzzler and it offers the lowest mileage in its segment and it makes you shell out more money on fuel.
The 2021 Ford Escape sports an elegant cabin that suits its active nature very well. Although there are some hints of low-quality plastic panels on the doors and lower center console, Ford has put in decent efforts to make sure the rest of its cabin looks elegant. Functionality is the key element in the Escape’s cabin, as all the controls are well within reach and the steering wheel controls help further as well. The driver’s seat can be adjusted in various ways as your incline and it offers a commanding view of the road ahead. The seats feature textured cloth upholstery as standard, while higher trims unlock faux leather upholstery.
The Platinum trim gets the privilege of genuine leather upholstery, to provide its passengers maximum comfort. We also have to commend the excellent management of space inside the Escape’s cabin, as the passengers get a plethora of small-storage amenities and commodious interior space. Behind its sliding 2nd-row rear seat, the Escape offers 33.3 cubes of space, a figure that satisfies every family's requirement if not the best. With those seats folded, that figure rises to a competitive 65.4 cubic feet.
|
Models |
2021 Ford Escape |
2021 Honda CR-V |
2021 Toyota RAV4 |
2021 Chevrolet Equinox |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Seating Capacity |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
|
Front Row (Headroom/Shoulder Room/Leg Room, in inches) |
40/57.6/42.4 |
40.1/57.9/41.3 |
39.5/57.8/41 |
40/57.2/40.9 |
|
Rear Row (Headroom/Shoulder Room/Leg Room, in inches) |
39.3/56/40.7 |
39.2/55.6/40.4 |
39.5/56.4/37.8 |
38.5/55.5/39.9 |
|
Trunk Capacity (cubic feet) |
33.5 |
39.2 |
37.6 |
29.9 |
In terms of interior dimensions, the Ford Escape sits right at the top of its segment. Its roomy interior dimensions and passenger volume are also at a competitive edge compared to its rivals when it comes to cargo capacity, the CR-V wins the competition by a substantial margin.
Some of the Key interior features include-
The base S models only get a 4.2-inch radio display and an AM/FM radio as their entertainment hub, which is very underwhelming in our opinion. However, SE models and higher unlock a decent-sized 8-inch touchscreen, integrated with Ford’s latest Sync 3 infotainment system. Ford also offers Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration as standard with this display.
Another gimmicky feature has to be the FordPass app that grants you numerous ownership benefits like remote start and complimentary maintenance services as you spend more time with your car. The Titanium trim gets the most cutting-edge tech, including a 10-speaker B&O Sound System by Bang & Olufsen, navigation, and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The infotainment suite of the 2021 Ford Escape includes-
Since its redesign last year, the 4th-gen Ford Escape has a broad urban appeal to it that gives it a distinctive appearance compared to other crossovers in its segment. Ford sacrificed Escape’s previous boxy design for a cleaner and well-shaped look. The Escape has gone the softer car-like style route, as evident by its sleek body lines and a nose resembling a Tesla Model 3. The Titanium trim gets sleeker LED headlights, DRLs, and fog lamps, thus raising the Escape’s sporty character. The rest of the Escape lineup looks very humble, that is a welcome refreshment over its more aggressive rivals.
|
Models |
2021 Ford Escape |
2021 Honda CR-V |
2021 Toyota RAV4 |
2021 Chevrolet Equinox |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Curb Weight (lb) |
3298 |
3337 |
3370 |
3274 |
|
Length (inches) |
180.5 |
182.1 |
180.9 |
183.1 |
|
Width (inches) |
74.1 |
73 |
73 |
72.6 |
|
Height (inches) |
66.1 |
66.1 |
67 |
65.4 |
|
Ground Clearance (inches) |
7.3 |
7.8 |
8.4 |
7.6 |
|
Wheelbase (inches) |
106.7 |
104.8 |
105.9 |
107.3 |
The Escape features an elegant exterior design thanks to its harmonic exterior dimensions. Also, the Escape sits at a lower ride height than the RAV4 and the Equinox. This justifies it as more of an everyday crossover rather than a rugged off-roader a nutshell, the key exterior elements of the Ford Escape are-
Ford has never compromised on the safety of its occupants, as every vehicle in its portfolio comes with a plethora of advanced safety tech. Every Ford Escape is equipped with its Co-Pilot 360 suite of advanced driver assistance systems. Key safety features include Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking, Auto High-Beam Headlamps, Lane-Keeping System, and a Rear View Camera.
Another optional tech that boosts the Escape’s safety quotient includes Blind Spot Information System with Cross-Traffic Alert, Active Park Assist 2.0, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go Lane Centering, and Evasive Steering Assist. An optional heads-up display relays the information of all driver assistance technologies and other data on your windshield Some other features include
Both the Honda CR-V and the Ford Escape are solid choices for the compact crossover SUV segment. However, when you analyze both of them from a critic’s perspective, several similarities and differences pop up before your eyes. Both crossovers offer excellent interior space, an all-wheel drivetrain, a number of hybrid variants and are priced in a similar price range as well.
However, the Honda CR-V has been a staple in its segment, thanks to its bulletproof reliability record, high resale value, and a plethora of driver assistance aids. The Escape also offers an excellent safety suite, a convenient second-row sliding seat, and more engine options. If you had to pick one of them as a long-term family ride, we would choose the Honda CR-V.
Both the Ford Escape and the Toyota RAV4 are their respective automakers’ best-selling vehicles. There is no doubt that their rivalry is very heated up. Both the crossovers offer splendid interior space for 5 passengers, high-end safety features and technology, and great ownership benefits. However, the Escape has a clear advantage over the RAV4 in terms of power and handling dynamics, as many customers loathe the RAV4’s unrefined engine response.
However, Escape’s basic interiors are no match compared to the RAV4’s well-appointed interiors. The RAV4 also retains its value better than any other crossover in the market, making it a better option for the long term. Still, if you prefer a fun driving experience over better value-for-money, you certainly will be pleased by opting for the Ford Escape.
In this hometown battle, two excellent SUVs from two of America's favorite manufacturers go head-to-head. Both Equinox and Escape share the same excellent safety ratings, a long list of driver assistance aids, commodious passenger space, and excellent warranty coverage.
The Chevrolet Equinox has its strengths like a more affordable starting price, rugged design, and a better infotainment suite within the base models. However, the Escape sends out a stern reply with its wide lineup of hybrids, more active safety features, and more space behind its rear seats. These qualities will certainly impress a wide majority of families, making the Escape a fresher alternative over its cross-country rival.
The new Ford Escape is definitely a fresh American buy in the overtly competitive compact crossover SUV segment. This car offers the best interior versatility and advanced driver-assistance technologies in an affordable package. The Escape is definitely a treat to drive, with a range of gasoline and hybrid powertrains at your disposal. This car is definitely one of the top family-friendly picks, thanks to an appealing design and a plethora of standard features.
Car Name | 0-60 MPH | Quarter Mile | Top Speed | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 Kia Sorento Ranked #1 | 6.5 sec | 15.0 sec | 135 mph | |||
2021 Buick Envision Ranked #2 | 6.8 sec | 15.2 sec | - | |||
2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Ranked #3 | 7 sec | - | - | |||
2021 Toyota RAV4 Ranked #4 | 7.8 sec | 15.6 sec | 119 mph | |||
2021 Volkswagen Tiguan Ranked #5 | 8.1 sec | 16.2 sec | - | |||
2021 Ford Bronco Sport Ranked #6 | 8.2 sec | 16.3 sec | - |
Car Name | MPG City | MPG Highway | MPG Combined | Fuel Tank Capacity | Range (C/H) | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 Kia Niro Ranked #1 | 53 mpg | 48 mpg | 50 mpg | 11.9 gal. | 630.70/571.20 mi. | |||
2021 Honda HR-V Ranked #2 | 28 mpg | 34 mpg | 30 mpg | 13.2 gal. | 369.6/448.8 mi. | |||
2021 Nissan Rogue Ranked #2 | 27 mpg | 35 mpg | 30 mpg | 14.5 gal. | 391.5/507.5 mi. | |||
2021 Toyota RAV4 Ranked #2 | 27 mpg | 35 mpg | 30 mpg | 14.5 gal. | 391.5/507.5 mi. | |||
2021 Subaru Forester Ranked #3 | 26 mpg | 33 mpg | 29 mpg | 16.6 gal. | 431.6/547.8 mi. | |||
2021 Chevrolet Equinox Ranked #4 | 26 mpg | 31 mpg | 28 mpg | 14.9 gal. | 387.4/461.9 mi. |
Car Name | Length | Width | Height | Ground Clearance | Wheelbase | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 Kia Sorento Ranked #1 | 188.9 in. | 74.8 in. | 66.7 in. | 6.9 in. | 110.8 in. | |||
2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Ranked #2 | 188.4 in. | 74.8 in. | 66.3 in. | 8.2 in. | 108.9 in. | |||
2021 Mitsubishi Outlander Ranked #3 | 185.8 in. | 71.3 in. | 67.3 in. | 8.5 in. | 105.1 in. | |||
2021 Volkswagen Tiguan Ranked #4 | 185.1 in. | 72.4 in. | 66.3 in. | 7.9 in. | 109.8 in. | |||
2021 Chevrolet Equinox Ranked #5 | 183.1 in. | 72.6 in. | 65.4 in. | 7.6 in. | 107.3 in. | |||
2021 Nissan Rogue Ranked #6 | 183 in. | 72.4 in. | 66.5 in. | 8.2 in. | 106.5 in. |
Car Name | Trunk Capacity | Passenger Volume | Max Trunk Volume | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 Buick Encore Ranked #1 | 18.8 cu.ft. | 92.8 cu.ft. | 48.4 cu.ft. | |||
2021 Subaru Forester Ranked #2 | 31.1 cu.ft. | 111.9 cu.ft. | 76.1 cu.ft. | |||
2021 Nissan Rogue Ranked #3 | 31.6 cu.ft. | 105.4 cu.ft. | 74.1 cu.ft. | |||
2021 Toyota RAV4 Ranked #4 | 37.6 cu.ft. | 98.9 cu.ft. | 69.8 cu.ft. | |||
2021 Honda HR-V Ranked #5 | 24.3 cu.ft. | 100.1 cu.ft. | 58.8 cu.ft. | |||
2021 Volkswagen Tiguan Ranked #6 | 12 cu.ft. | 123.9 cu.ft. | 65.7 cu.ft. |
Car Name | Cargo Volume | Cargo Volume w/ Seat Area | Max Cargo Volume | Bed Length | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 Kia Niro Ranked #1 | - | 12 cu.ft. | 54.5 cu.ft. | - | |||
2021 GMC Terrain Ranked #2 | 63.3 cu.ft. | 29.6 cu.ft. | 63.3 cu.ft. | - | |||
2021 Hyundai Tucson Ranked #3 | 6.8 cu.ft. | 31 cu.ft. | 61.9 cu.ft. | - | |||
2021 Chevrolet Equinox Ranked #4 | 14 cu.ft. | 29.9 cu.ft. | 63.9 cu.ft. | - | |||
2021 Jeep Compass Ranked #5 | - | 27.2 cu.ft. | 59.8 cu.ft. | - | Jeep USA | ||
2021 Subaru Crosstrek Ranked #6 | 55.3 cu.ft. | 20.8 cu.ft. | 55.3 cu.ft. | - |
Car Name | Towing Capacity | Payload Capacity | Weight | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 Kia Niro Ranked #1 | 2800 lbs. | 849 lbs. | 3100 lbs. | |||
2021 Mazda CX-5 Ranked #2 | 2000 lbs. | 1034 lbs. | 3552 lbs. | |||
2021 Ford Bronco Sport Ranked #2 | 2000 lbs. | - | 3467 lbs. | |||
2021 Kia Sorento Ranked #2 | 2000 lbs. | 1521 lbs. | 3794 lbs. | |||
2021 Kia Sportage Ranked #2 | 2000 lbs. | 1202 lbs. | 3305 lbs. | |||
2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Ranked #2 | 2000 lbs. | 1488 lbs. | 3649 lbs. |
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User Overall Rating
Posted On: August 21, 2024
Offers great gas mileage. The vehicle offers an overall smooth ride. I would change the back seat to be flat and smoother material to allow for things to slide when hauling cargo inside. The foot sensor to open back door doesn't work well with back up camera.
