2023 Ford Escape

The 2023 Escape has seven trim levels to choose from: Base, Active, ST-Line, ST-Line Select, ST-Line Elite, Platinum, and Plug-In Hybrid. This SUV has a prominent, oval grille with the Ford blue oval in the middle, a smaller lower grille, and headlights that curve around the sides of the sculpted hood. You'll also get a chrome dual exhaust, a rear spoiler, 17-inch wheels, and a rear windshield washer and wiper.

You can add a power liftgate, fog lights, heated side mirrors, a rear skid plate, roof rails, privacy glass, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. With ST-Line trim levels, you can get 18- or 19-inch wheels. Available colors include Star White Metallic, Atlas Blue Metallic, Vapor Blue Metallic, Rapid Red Metallic, Cinnabar Red Metallic, Carbonized Gray Metallic, Iconic Silver Metallic, and Agate Black Metallic.

The 1.5-liter three-cylinder EcoBoost engine offers 180 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque. With the ST-Line Select, ST-Line Elite, and Platinum trim levels, you can choose a four-cylinder turbocharged 2-liter EcoBoost engine that provides 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. Both options have an eight-speed automatic transmission, and they use automatic start-and-stop systems to save fuel by reducing idling while keeping accessories such as the heater on. The ST-Line, ST-Line Select, ST-Line Elite, Platinum, and Plug-In Hybrid offer a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine and an 88-kilowatt electric motor. Together, they provide 200 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque. Both types of hybrid use a continuously variable automatic transmission (eCVT).

The 2023 Escape has excellent acceleration, maneuverable power steering, and electronic curve control for easier turning. You can choose eco, slippery, normal, sport, or deep snow/sand driving modes. There's also a manual mode with the 2-liter engine. All-wheel drive with a two-wheel-drive mode and an engine block heater is available, as well.

The interior comes with 65.4 cubic feet of cargo room with the rear seats folded. You'll also get Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, an 8-inch digital instrument cluster, a rotary gear shifter, cruise and audio controls on the steering wheel, two USB ports, and a 12-volt power outlet. A Wi-Fi hotspot, an overhead sunglasses compartment, an outdoor temperature display, a compass, and a six-speaker sound system are standard, as well. You can add dual-zone climate control, push-button start, remote start, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a head-up display.

The 2023 Ford Escape comes with a variety of high-tech safety features. The dual-stage front airbags can deploy at a range of speeds for better accident protection. You'll also get a rearview camera, automatic emergency braking, a security system, pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assistance, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. You can add parking assistance, evasive steering assistance, and adaptive cruise control with traffic sign recognition.