The Car Connection Expert Review
Likes
- Big powertrain lineup
- Athletic handling
- Sleek styling
- Good gas mileage
- Big standard touchscreen
Dislikes
- Not as sporty as it looks
- Plug-in hybrid is front-wheel drive only
- Dull interior
- Gets expensive
Buying tip
features & specs
With frugal hybrid powertrain options and engaging handling, the 2024 Ford Escape is a good mainstream crossover for the masses.
What kind of car is the 2024 Ford Escape? What does it compare to?
The Ford Escape is a five-passenger compact crossover SUV. Rivals include the Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Toyota RAV4, and related Ford Bronco Sport.
Is the 2024 Ford Escape a good SUV?
Yes. Sporty styling, good driving dynamics, and top safety ratings help the Escape earn a TCC Rating of 6.7 out of 10. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
What's new for the 2024 Ford Escape?
The 2024 Ford Escape carries over unchanged, although the lineup now starts with the Active model, which means a 13.2-inch touchscreen now comes standard.
A bold grille and fresh front lighting signature lend the Escape confidence, though that doesn’t carry over inside, as even the top trim levels’ cabins fall short of the design and materials found in some rivals.
Ford offers the Escape with four engines, starting with the 181-hp turbo-3 and moving through two hybrid variants, including a plug-in with 37 miles of range, and the top-end turbo-4 with 250 hp. The hybrids are the better choices in terms of a balance between frugality and performance. All versions boast a smooth ride and taut steering.
The cabin isn’t particularly large, but the Escape makes great use of the space in both rows as well as the cargo area.
The Escape fares well in the IIHS and the NHTSA crash-testing programs, and Ford includes active lane control and automatic emergency braking across the lineup.
How much does the 2024 Ford Escape cost?
Prices stayed steady this year, though Ford cut last year’s base model so the lineup now starts with the Escape Active, at $30,840 including a $1,495 destination charge. That model gets cloth upholstery, a 13.2-inch touchscreen, and a power tailgate. The Escape Plug-in Hybrid tops the lineup with a starting price of $41,995.
Where is the 2024 Ford Escape made?
Ford builds the Escape in Kentucky.
2024 Ford Escape Styling
The 2024 Ford Escape looks sportier than it is, but it works.
Is the Ford Escape a good-looking car?
With a sleek profile and a front end that’s bold but not brash, we give two points above average for a 7.
While Ford’s other small crossovers, and most rivals, hint at ruggedness, the Escape takes pride in its car-like look and feel. The ST-Line adds bigger wheels and more cladding for a sportier look, but the difference is still subtle.
That said, we like the exterior more than the interior. The 13.2-inch touchscreen, newly standard, serves as a focal point for a somber backdrop, and even though Ford offers lighter color schemes and more upscale materials higher in the trim ladder, many rivals are fresher and more elegant.
2024 Ford Escape Performance
Every 2024 Escape offers a fun drive and a comfortable ride.
The Escape’s four distinct powertrains all deliver the goods. We award a point for their overall polished performance, for a 6, though if we were scoring the plug-in hybrid separately, it might earn a 7.
Is the Ford Escape AWD?
It can be. All-wheel drive is available across the lineup, with the exception of the Escape Plug-in Hybrid. This system gives the Escape confidence in inclement weather, but with low ground clearance, the Escape is no off-roader.
How fast is the Ford Escape?
The base Escape, rated for 181 hp from its 1.5-liter turbo-3, meets demand in city traffic but highway speeds feel like work. For most driving, the Escape is a better choice when fitted with the optional 2.0-liter turbo-4, good for 250 hp and more potent acceleration.
The Escape is offered in two hybrid versions, a standard and a plug-in. Both get a 2.5-liter inline-4 engine with two electric motors and a lithium-ion battery pack. They’re quick from a stop and easily maintain speed while delivering good efficiency. Plug-in models can charge to full in about 3.5 hours from a Level 2 charger, which yields 37 miles of range. The CVT can be a little loud, though, particularly in the plug-in model.
The Escape’s ride is fantastic across the board, and the steering offers a nice heft. Don’t be fooled by ST-Line models’ sportier looks, though, as it’s all for show. Hybrids feature low-resistance tires and a softer ride.
2024 Ford Escape Comfort & Quality
Ford makes the most of the Escape’s cabin space.
Though the front seats could be more supportive, the 2024 Escape has a good cabin, with points awarded for its reasonably spacious second row and its big cargo area. It’s a 7.
Short, narrow-bolstered front seats make the Escape a bit unwelcoming toward taller or wider passengers. Cloth upholstery comes standard across most of the lineup, and you’ll spend a lot to get a model fitted with leather.
Gas-only models offer up almost 39 inches of rear legroom, and though the hybrid versions claim an inch or so of that space for the battery packs, there’s still plenty of space thanks to the rear-sliding bench, reclining seat backs, and wide doors. Standard models get a 37.5-cubic-foot cargo area, and hybrid models check in at 33 cubes.
2024 Ford Escape Safety
Good crash-avoidance tech and decent crash-test scores make the 2024 Escape a safe pick.
How safe is the Ford Escape?
With mostly good results in crash tests and plenty of driver-assistance features across the lineup, it’s a solid choice. We rate it a 7 for the NHTSA’s five-star overall rating and a list of features that includes automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitors.
The NHTSA gives the Escape five stars overall, but the updated side-impact test is a “Marginal” stain on the Escape’s otherwise “Good” record with the IIHS. Ford offers the Escape with a surround-view camera system, adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, and automatic parking assist.
2024 Ford Escape Features
A new base trim means a higher base price, but the Ford Escape is still a good value.
For 2024, Ford axes the old base Escape from the lineup, making the slightly more expensive Active trim the new point of entry. It’s still a good deal, just shy of $31,000, and includes a 13.2-inch touchscreen, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a power driver’s seat and tailgate, and an average warranty of 3 years/36,000 miles. The standard features, big touchscreen, and long list of options, as well as strong value, add up to a 9.
Which Ford Escape should I buy?
The base Escape Active is a solid pick, at $30,840 including destination, and there are some tempting options, such as a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, adaptive cruise control, and a Bang & Olufsen audio system. With all-wheel drive tacked on, it’ll run about $35,000, which pushes the Escape right past the ST-Line and into ST-Line Select territory. Budgeting about $37,000 or so will get you a hybrid with all-wheel drive.
How much is a fully loaded Ford Escape?
The ST-Line Elite starts at $39,455, but it’s far from loaded at this price. You’ll still need to pay for upgrades like a panoramic sunroof and leather upholstery, and the price quickly climbs to about $45,000.
The Plug-in Hybrid starts at $41,995 and runs to about $47,000 fully loaded.
2024 Ford Escape Fuel Economy
Hybrid models are the best of the Escape bunch.
Is the Ford Escape good on gas?
The gas models are decent, but the hybrid is, unsurprisingly, the thriftiest of the bunch. We rate it at a 4, for the base model’s EPA rating of 27 mpg city, 34 highway, 30 combined.
Adding all-wheel drive to the 1.5-liter inline-3 drops ratings to 26/32/28 mpg, and the turbo-4 gets 23/31/26 mpg.
The Escape Hybrid is rated for 42/39/36 mpg, and the Escape Plug-in Hybrid is rated for 37 miles of all-electric range as well as 40 mpg combined.
