by Aiden Eksteen
Despite having undergone a complete redesign last year for 2020, the 2021 Ford Escape is still put forward with some more new improvements and alterations this year. With alternatives such as the Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4 raising the bar in the US market, Ford is continuously pushing the envelope to stay competitive. With just 181 horsepower offered in the entry-spec models of the Escape, performance can be a little too sedate for some; power can be especially lacking at highway speeds. Upper-tier models are, however, offered with a burlier 250-hp motor that significantly improves the overall driving experience. With its unproven dependability expectations and limited towing capacity, some may still prefer to look elsewhere. But with its $25,555 starting price, the 2021 Ford Escape SUV in its fourth-generation guise is highly appealing.
The Ford Escape SUV was completely redesigned for the 2020 model year and received a much smarter design while growing slightly in size. For 2021, the hybrid powertrain becomes available for the SE and SEL models. too. We review the hybrid Escape separately. For the rest of the models, several of the options packages have been revised, with extra features added to the CoPilot360, Technology, and Convenience packages. A new style of 19-inch alloy wheel is now available on the Titanium model and all models optioned the 2.0-liter turbocharged gas engine get an available Class II Trailer Tow Package. There have also been a few changes to the available exterior paint colors.
See trim levels and configurations:
| Trim | Engine | Transmission | Drivetrain | Price (MSRP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S |
1.5L Turbo Inline-3 Gas
|
8-Speed Automatic
|
Front-Wheel Drive
All-Wheel Drive
|
$25,555 |
| SE |
1.5L Turbo Inline-3 Gas
|
8-Speed Automatic
|
Front-Wheel Drive
All-Wheel Drive
|
$27,035 |
| SE Hybrid |
2.5L Inline-4 Hybrid
|
Continuously Variable Automatic (CVT)
|
Front-Wheel Drive
All-Wheel Drive
|
$28,030 |
| SEL |
1.5L Turbo Inline-3 Gas
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas
|
8-Speed Automatic
|
Front-Wheel Drive
All-Wheel Drive
|
$29,505 |
| SEL Hybrid |
2.5L Inline-4 Hybrid
|
Continuously Variable Automatic (CVT)
|
Front-Wheel Drive
All-Wheel Drive
|
$30,500 |
The 2021 Ford Escape is an exceptional vehicle and a far better version of the Escapes of old. In 2020, Ford bestowed the Escape with a new more daring and contemporary design. It's sporty looking on the outside and modern and tech-laden on the inside. Ford has also standardized its Co-Pilot360 suite of driver assists throughout the Escape line, which has solidified the car's high safety standards - a significant factor in family cars today. The 2021 Escape also boasts a spacious cabin appointed with good quality materials and many desirable features. The eight-inch infotainment system with the SYNC3 software is exceptional, too, albeit present only in the higher-spec models. The NHTSA gave the SUV a near-perfect five-star safety rating and the IIHS was equally as impressed in its review of the 2021 Ford Escape, having awarded it with a Top Safety Pick. The Escape is an exceptional 5-door family runabout, but it's not the SUV to go for if you ever want to tow anything.
The most popular competitors of 2021 Ford Escape:
Acura
Alfa Romeo
Aston Martin
Audi
Bentley
BMW
Bollinger
Bugatti
Buick
Cadillac
Caterham
Chevrolet
Chrysler
Dodge
Ferrari
Fiat
Fisker
Ford
Genesis
GMC
Hennessey
Honda
Hyundai
Infiniti
Jaguar
Jeep
Karma
Kia
Koenigsegg
Lamborghini
Land Rover
Lexus
Lincoln
Lordstown
Lotus
Lucid Motors
Maserati
Mazda
McLaren
Mercedes-Benz
Mini
Mitsubishi
Nissan
Pagani
Polestar
Porsche
Ram
Rimac
Rivian
Rolls-Royce
Spyker
Subaru
Tesla
Toyota
Volkswagen
Volvo