DecodedCars2026 Ford Escape
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2026 models.
- Class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
- Body styles
- 4dr SUV 1.5l AWD, 4dr SUV 1.5l FWD, 4dr SUV 2.0l AWD, 4dr SUV 2.5l Hybrid AWD
- Engines
- 2.5L 4-cyl, 1.5L 3-cyl turbo, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive, Part-time 4-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Plug-in Hybrid, Hybrid, Regular Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 40 combined · 42 city / 37 hwy
- Length
- 180.7 in
- Curb weight
- 3,283–3,904 lb
- NHTSA rating
- Not rated
- Recalls
- 3 campaigns
Pros & cons
What's good
- Excellent fuel economyUp to 40 MPG combined — 32% better than the average 2026 small SUV (30.2 MPG).
- Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid and plug-in hybrid as well as gas.
- AWD / 4WD available
- Lots of standard safety tech4 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
Watch out for
No weak spots against similar models in the data.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 41 similar 2026 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2026 Ford Escape is a small SUV offered with 3 engines (2.5L 4-cyl, 1.5L 3-cyl turbo and 2.0L 4-cyl turbo), including a hybrid version and front-wheel drive, part-time 4-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
It measures about 181 inches long and 74 inches wide on a 107-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,419 lb (4dr SUV 1.5l AWD).
EPA rates its most efficient version at 40 MPG combined (42 city / 37 highway), 32% better than the 2026 small SUV average of 30.2 MPG, for an estimated $1,700 a year in fuel.
It has 3 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the engine.
What changed for 2026
No changes to engines, powertrains, drivetrains, size, EPA ratings or NHTSA crash rating compared with the 2025 Escape — a carry-over year in the data.
Compared with 2025; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2025 Escape →
Trims, performance & features
Trims
Safety & driver-assist features
Built in: Louisville, Kentucky
NHTSA vPIC, as reported by the manufacturer for 3 2026 Escape configurations; may not list every trim. How we calculate this →
Dimensions & weight
| Body | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Track F / R | Curb weight | Weight F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4dr SUV 1.5l AWD | 180.7 in | 74 in | 66.1 in | 106.7 in | 62.6 / 61.8 in | 3,419 lb | 58/42 |
| 4dr SUV 1.5l FWD | 180.7 in | 74 in | 66.1 in | 106.7 in | 62.6 / 61.8 in | 3,283 lb | 59/41 |
| 4dr SUV 2.0l AWD | 180.7 in | 74 in | 66.1 in | 106.7 in | 62.6 / 61.8 in | 3,543 lb | 58/42 |
| 4dr SUV 2.5l Hybrid AWD | 180.7 in | 74 in | 66.1 in | 106.7 in | 62.6 / 61.8 in | 3,904 lb | 58/42 |
| 4dr SUV 2.5l Hybrid FWD | 180.7 in | 74 in | 66.1 in | 106.7 in | 62.6 / 61.8 in | 3,519 lb | 59/41 |
| 4dr SUV 2.5l PHEV AWD | 180.7 in | 74 in | 66.1 in | 106.7 in | 62.6 / 61.8 in | 3,684 lb | 58/42 |
Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.
Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Escape FWD PHEV Plug-in Hybrid | 2.5L 4-cyl | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 42 / 37 / 40 | +32% | $1,700 | 222 |
| Escape AWD HEV Hybrid | 2.5L 4-cyl | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 42 / 36 / 39 | +51% | $1,700 | 225 |
| Escape FWD | 1.5L 3-cyl turbo | Automatic 8-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 / 34 / 30 | -1% | $2,250 | 298 |
| Escape AWD | 1.5L 3-cyl turbo | Automatic 8-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 26 / 32 / 28 | +8% | $2,400 | 317 |
| Escape AWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic 8-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 23 / 31 / 26 | 0% | $2,600 | 342 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2026 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2026 Ford Escape.
Similar 2026 small SUVs
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Ford Escape (this car) | 40 MPG | Not rated | 3 |
| 2026 Toyota RAV4 | 43 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2026 Honda CR-V | 40 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2026 Hyundai Tucson | 38 MPG | Not rated | 6 |
| 2026 Subaru Forester | 35 MPG | Not rated | 4 |
| 2026 Mazda CX-5 | 26 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
| 2026 Kia Seltos | 29 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
Recalls (3)
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Internal › Park Pawl · May 12, 2026
NHTSA campaign 26V301000 · 208 vehicles
- Problem
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Escape and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The integrated park module may fail to lock into the park position when the driver shifts into park. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
- Risk
- A loss of park function can allow the vehicle to rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- The Secondary On Board Diagnostic Module C (SOBDMC) software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 16, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C69. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 15, 2026. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V863.
Electrical System › Propulsion System › Traction Battery · Feb 17, 2026
NHTSA campaign 26V091000 · 25,237 vehicles
- Problem
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Ford Escape and 2023-2026 Lincoln Corsair plug-in hybrid vehicles. A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure.
- Risk
- Battery failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Battery failure can also increase the risk of a fire.
- Fix
- Dealers will update the battery energy control module (BECM) and hybrid powertrain control module (HPCM) software, free of charge. Owners are advised to only use "Auto EV" mode and will be instructed by mail to limit the maximum charge of the battery until the remedy has been completed. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SC4. This recall expands previous recall numbers 24V954 and 25V489. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 18, 2026.
Seat Belts › Rear/Other › Retractor · Dec 12, 2025
NHTSA campaign 25V862000 · 780 vehicles
- Problem
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Corsair and Escape vehicles. The seat belt retractors for the left and right rear passenger seats may not be securely fastened.
- Risk
- An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will inspect and secure, or replace the seat belt retractor bolts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 26, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C68. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on December 15, 2025.
Not every 2026 Ford Escape is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Other Escape years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Escape | 40 | 180.7 in | Not rated | 10 | 31 |
| 2024 Escape | 39 | 180.7 in | ★★★★★ | 10 | 88 |
| 2023 Escape | 40 | 180.7 in | ★★★★★ | 13 | 138 |
| 2022 Escape | 41 | 180.7 in | ★★★★★ | 21 | 386 |
| 2021 Escape | 41 | 180.7 in | ★★★★★ | 21 | 498 |
| 2020 Escape | 41 | 180.7 in | ★★★★★ | 25 | 1,908 |
| 2019 Escape | 26 | 178.7 in | ★★★★★ | 3 | 597 |
| 2018 Escape | 26 | 178.7 in | ★★★★★ | 4 | 1,822 |
| 2017 Escape | 26 | 178.7 in | ★★★★★ | 4 | 2,702 |
| 2016 Escape | 26 | 178.7 in | Not rated | 4 | 1,170 |
| 2015 Escape | 26 | 178.7 in | Not rated | 9 | 1,131 |
| 2014 Escape | 26 | 178.7 in | Not rated | 16 | 2,023 |
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Ford. How we calculate this →