The assembly line has gone cold. Ford ended Escape production.
You have until the inventory runs dry to get your hands on a 2026 model.
Five trim levels. Two non-hybrid powertrains. Plenty of units still sitting on lots.
Here is the play if you want power without emptying your bank account: skip the base models, avoid the top-heavy Platinum, and land on the ST-Line Select.
The Horsepower Leap
Base Active models. Standard ST-Line. They run on the same 1.5-liter three cylinder. It makes 181 hp. It works, but it doesn’t thrill.
The ST-Line Select changes the math.
Ford drops in a 2.0-liter turbocharged four. It pushes 250 hp. The price is $35,385 to start. It gets standard all-wheel drive too.
What does that extra muscle actually buy you?
Time.
The 1.5-liter version hits 60 mph in a sluggish 7.7 seconds. The 2.0-liter in our tests did it in 5.8. That is nearly a full two-second gap. You feel it at stoplights. You notice it when merging onto the highway.
Is it the fastest crossover out there? No.
It’s just much more capable than the entry level, for a modest price hike.
Style on a Budget
It’s not just about the engine. The ST-Line Select borrows heavily from the highest trims. It looks expensive because, in many ways, it is dressed like the top dog.
- 18-inch aluminum wheels
- A sportier front grille
- A power liftgate
- Unique rear skid plate
- A large rear spoiler
Inside, it keeps the temperature right with a heated steering wheel. Seats are heated vinyl and cloth. There’s red stitching everywhere.
It feels put together.
Adding Gadgets Later
The base price isn’t the end of the story. You can layer on packages if you’re stingy. Or not.
Two tech packs dominate the conversation. Tech Pack #1 runs $995. It gives you navigation and basic driver-assist features. Tech Pack #2 costs $3,700. You get those same features, plus memory seats, an upgraded stereo, wireless charging, and a 360-degree camera.
Need to tow? Add the $495 package for the hitch and wiring. The 2.0 can haul up to 3,500 lbs.
Want sky view? Slap $1,595 down for a panoramic sunroof.
What Are You Actually Saving?
Why not just buy the Platinum or the ST-Line Elite?
The Platinum is nicer, sure. Memory front seats. Synthetic leather. Wireless charging as standard gear. But it costs more. The ST-Line Elite looks similar to the Select outside, but it sits on bigger 19-inch wheels and has driver-assistance tech baked in from day one.
Here’s the reality though. The ST-Line Select feels almost identical to the Elite inside. You have the heated wheel, the stitching, the general quality vibe. The wheels are two inches smaller. The tech suite might be lighter unless you opt into Pack #2.
But you have that V6-esque torque from the turbo four. You save money.
If you don’t need plug-in hybrid capability—because let’s face it, those are different cars entirely—and you aren’t married to 19-inch alloys, the Select hits a weird sweet spot.
High performance. Decent tech. A look that commands attention.
The window is closing though. The conveyors are still. When the current stock sells, the Ford Escape is a thing of the past.
