Used 2021 Ford Escape for Sale near Illinois

Compare 2021 Ford Escape Trims

The 2021 Ford Escape offers a range of trims from budget-friendly options to sportier models, all with impressive fuel efficiency.

• Starting at $14,000
• Best MPG/MPGe: 28 city / 34 hwy
• Most Popular: SE AWD

Trim Overview

Prices updated weekly from CarGurus listings.

Quick Compare Table

Listing prices sourced from CarGurus — updated weekly. OEM specs from manufacturer data.

Missing data displayed as "—".

Trim Deep Dives

S FWD — "Who It's For"

The S FWD is the pick for shoppers who want a budget-friendly option without sacrificing essential features.

• Avg. market price: $14,855 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 28 city / 34 hwy
• Inventory: 838 listings
• View S FWD listings

SE FWD — "Who It's For"

The SE FWD is the pick for shoppers who want a well-rounded vehicle with added comfort features without a hefty price tag.

• Avg. market price: $14,873 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 28 city / 34 hwy
• Inventory: 2,636 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View SE FWD listings

S AWD — "Who It's For"

The S AWD is the pick for shoppers who want all-wheel drive capability without breaking the bank.

• Avg. market price: $14,000 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 31 hwy
• Inventory: 156 listings — lower availability; may limit negotiating room
• View S AWD listings

SE AWD — "Who It's For"

The SE AWD is the pick for shoppers who want a sporty feel with all-wheel drive and popular features.

• Avg. market price: $16,811 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 31 hwy
• Inventory: 3,500 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View SE AWD listings

SEL FWD — "Who It's For"

The SEL FWD is the pick for shoppers who want a blend of luxury and practicality without going over budget.

• Avg. market price: $16,320 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 28 city / 34 hwy
• Inventory: 702 listings
• View SEL FWD listings

SEL AWD — "Who It's For"

The SEL AWD is the pick for shoppers who want a sporty experience with added luxury features and all-wheel drive.

• Avg. market price: $17,796 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 31 hwy
• Inventory: 1,489 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View SEL AWD listings

Titanium AWD — "Who It's For"

The Titanium AWD is the pick for shoppers who want top-tier luxury and performance in a compact SUV.

• Avg. market price: $20,246 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 23 city / 31 hwy
• Inventory: 1,753 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View Titanium AWD listings

Trim Recommendations

Most Popular — SE AWD

With 3,500 active listings, the SE AWD is the clear volume leader in the lineup.

Browse SE AWD listings

Best Budget Option — S AWD

At $14,000 avg market price — below the lineup median of $16,320 — it's the most accessible entry point.

Browse S AWD listings

Best for Fuel Economy — S FWD

The S FWD offers the best fuel efficiency in the lineup with 28/34 MPG/MPGe.

Browse S FWD listings

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 2, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.

How much does the 2021 Ford Escape cost?

Prices have softened 13.23% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 4,451 listings available, which suggests you have a healthy amount of inventory to compare.

If you find a listing below $16,347.62, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

Is the 2021 Ford Escape a good car?

Generally — 4/5 from users and 6.67/10 from experts, the 2021 Ford Escape lands as a practical compact crossover with broad appeal. The model’s strengths are its multiple powertrain options, great ride quality, and easy-to-use technology, which fit shoppers who want flexibility and a straightforward feature set.

The trade-offs are just as clear: the styling is uninspired, the base engine is underwhelming, and the interior materials feel cheap. Even so, the Escape’s car-like redesign, fuel-efficiency focus, and mainstream crossover mission make it a sensible choice if you value comfort and versatility over flash.

32.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals, which gives you some room to shop selectively.

Is the 2021 Ford Escape reliable?

Owners rate it 4/5, a solid signal of long-term satisfaction. The 2021 Escape is described as a refinement of the redesigned model rather than a major reinvention, and that usually helps reduce the risk of surprise changes from one year to the next.

Its powertrain lineup is broad, and the available hybrid and plug-in hybrid options add flexibility for buyers who want efficiency. Ford also backs it with a three-year, 60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a five-year, 60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

The main long-term ownership risk for used buyers is that the Escape’s cheap-feeling interior and underwhelming base engine may be harder to live with over time if you buy too low on the trim ladder.

What should I look for when buying a used 2021 Ford Escape?

Accident-free inventory is solid at 80.5% — always verify the vehicle history report.

You should still run a history report on any candidate and prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if the listing price looks unusually strong. Focus on overall condition, trim equipment, and whether the vehicle has the features you actually want, since the Escape’s value changes a lot by configuration.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The S trim is the most basic, with a small 4.2-inch touchscreen, while the SE adds an 8-inch screen with pinch-and-zoom capability and SiriusXM. The SEL brings dual-zone automatic climate control, and the Titanium adds a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. Base-trim feature gaps are worth checking closely if you want a more modern cabin.
• Powertrain: You can choose a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder with 181 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque, or a 2.0-liter turbo-four with 250 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions are also available, with the plug-in hybrid offering 37 miles of electric range and 105 MPGe combined in electric mode.
• Safety package: Ford Co-Pilot360 includes automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package adds adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and lane centering, traffic-sign recognition, park assist, and Evasive Steering Assist.
• Infotainment: The Escape uses Sync 3, not Sync 4. Base models get a 4.2-inch touchscreen, while higher trims move to an 8-inch display; Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot are standard, but wireless smartphone integration is not offered.
• Fuel efficiency: The base 1.5-liter engine is rated at 30 mpg combined, or 28 mpg combined with AWD. The 2.0-liter AWD model returns 26 mpg combined. The hybrid is rated at 41 mpg combined with FWD and 40 mpg combined with AWD, while the plug-in hybrid is rated at 105 MPGe combined in electric mode and 40 mpg in hybrid mode.

Which 2021 Ford Escape trim should I buy?

The 2021 Ford Escape is offered in 4 trim levels: S, SE, SEL, Titanium.

Here's the short version:

• S: This is the entry point, and it makes sense only if you want the lowest price and can live with the smallest touchscreen and the most basic cabin presentation. It gets the core tech and safety features, but it is the least appealing choice if you care about everyday comfort or a more modern-feeling interior.
• SE: This is the best-value trim for most shoppers because it adds the larger 8-inch touchscreen with pinch-and-zoom capability and SiriusXM without pushing you too far up the price ladder. If you want the sweet spot between cost and equipment, this is the trim to target.
• SEL: This is the better pick if you want a more polished daily driver, since it adds dual-zone automatic climate control and can be paired with appearance upgrades. It suits you if comfort and a nicer cabin matter more than keeping the budget as low as possible.
• Titanium: This is the trim to buy if you want the most upscale Escape experience, with the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. It is the right choice if you want the most features and are willing to pay for them.

The standard safety package is strong across the lineup, while the optional Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package adds more advanced driver assistance.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2021 Ford Escape?

This is a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop carefully without expecting every listing to be a bargain.

• Deal availability: 32.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 4,451 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 13.23% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 80.5% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $16,347.62, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2021 Ford Escape's resale value?

The current average of $16,344 sits slightly below last year's $18,836.

That price decline suggests the Escape has become more buyer-friendly in the used market, which can help you enter at a lower cost. For a future seller, the same trend means you should expect more competition when it is time to list, especially if your vehicle is a higher-mileage example or lacks desirable equipment.

The good news is that the Escape’s broad appeal, multiple powertrain choices, and practical crossover format should continue to support demand. Well-equipped trims and cleaner-condition examples are likely to hold up better than bare-bones versions.

Vehicles with solid owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2021 Ford Escape safe?

The 2021 Escape earns a Top Safety Pick rating from IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA, with five-star ratings in frontal and side crash tests and four-star ratings in rollover crash tests.

It earns a 8/10 safety score from our experts.

Ford Co-Pilot360 is standard and includes automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. If you want more advanced assistance, the optional Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package adds adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and lane centering, traffic-sign recognition, park assist, and Evasive Steering Assist.

IIHS also noted that headlights vary by trim, with some versions earning only acceptable or marginal ratings, so trim choice matters if safety is a top priority.

Should I buy a 2021 Ford Escape or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2021 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2021 if:

• 32.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is solid at 80.5% — always verify the vehicle history report.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 13.23% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4/5 — a solid satisfaction signal.
• The 2021 model keeps the redesigned Escape’s multiple powertrain choices, great ride quality, and easy-to-use technology.

Consider the 2020 if:

• At $15,438, the 2020 costs less than the current year's $16,344 average.
• It aims to deliver more than the basics with impressive tech, performance, and cabin quality.

The bottom line: If you want the newer year with a softer price trend and strong inventory, the 2021 is the better default choice. If your priority is spending less up front, the 2020 is the smarter value play, especially if you find a clean example with the equipment you want.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 4, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.