Used 2021 Ford Escape for Sale nearSan Diego, CA

Compare 2021 Ford Escape Trims in San Diego, CA

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

• Starting at $10,000
• Best MPG/MPGe: 28 city / 34 hwy
• Most Popular: SE FWD

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 essential features without paying for extras. It's the most budget-friendly option.

• Avg. market price: $10,250 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 28 city / 34 hwy
• Inventory: 41 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 modern features without stepping up to higher trims. It's also the most popular trim.

• Avg. market price: $10,250 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 28 city / 34 hwy
• Inventory: 94 listings
• View SE FWD listings

S AWD — "Who It's For"

The S AWD is the pick for shoppers who want all-wheel drive without a significant price increase. However, availability is limited.

• Avg. market price: $10,250 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 31 hwy
• Inventory: 7 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 sporty features and all-wheel drive without going for the top trim.

• Avg. market price: $10,499 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 31 hwy
• Inventory: 91 listings
• View SE AWD listings

SEL FWD — "Who It's For"

The SEL FWD is the pick for shoppers who want a touch of luxury with leather seating and advanced tech without the highest price tag.

• Avg. market price: $10,250 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 28 city / 34 hwy
• Inventory: 32 listings
• View SEL FWD listings

SEL AWD — "Who It's For"

The SEL AWD is the pick for shoppers who want premium features and all-wheel drive without going for the top-tier Titanium trim.

• Avg. market price: $10,000 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 31 hwy
• Inventory: 58 listings
• View SEL AWD listings

Titanium AWD — "Who It's For"

The Titanium AWD is the pick for shoppers who want the most luxurious features and performance in the Escape lineup.

• Avg. market price: $10,250 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 23 city / 31 hwy
• Inventory: 57 listings
• View Titanium AWD listings

Trim Recommendations

Most Popular — SE FWD

With 94 active listings, the SE FWD is the clear volume leader in the lineup.

Browse SE FWD listings

Best Budget Option — SEL AWD

At $10,000 avg market price — below the lineup median of $10,250 — it's the most accessible entry point.

Browse SEL AWD listings

Best for Fuel Economy — S FWD

The S FWD offers the best fuel economy in the lineup at 28/34 MPG/MPGe.

Browse S FWD listings

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 22, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.

How much does the 2021 Ford Escape cost?

Prices have softened 13.87% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 4,391 listings available, which suggests solid inventory for comparison shopping.

Is the 2021 Ford Escape a good car?

Generally — the 2021 Ford Escape earns a 4/5 user rating and a 6.7/10 expert rating. The model scores 8/10 across Cost effectiveness and Safety.

It’s a practical compact crossover with multiple powertrain options, a comfortable ride, and easy-to-use technology. For you, that means it fits well if you want a mainstream small SUV that balances everyday usability with a broad range of configurations.

The trade-offs are clear: the styling is uninspired, the base engine is underwhelming, and the interior materials feel cheap. Even so, the Escape’s ride quality and powertrain variety help it stay competitive in a crowded segment.

31.9% of listings are priced as good or great deals, which points to decent market flexibility.

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 familiar, well-rounded crossover that carries forward its 2020 redesign with only minimal changes. Its powertrain lineup and mainstream-brand positioning support the idea that it’s built for everyday use rather than novelty.

The performance notes also point to a smooth transition between electric and gasoline propulsion in the hybrid setup, and the cost-effectiveness notes highlight Ford’s three-year, 60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and five-year, 60,000-mile powertrain warranty. For used buyers, the main long-term ownership risk is that the chassis tuning and lower-rent interior feel may age less gracefully than the mechanical basics.

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

Accident-free inventory is solid at 79% — always verify the vehicle history report.

You should still check the vehicle history report carefully and prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if you’re considering a higher-mileage example. Focus on overall condition, trim-specific equipment, and whether the features you want are actually present on the car you’re looking at.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The lineup includes S, SE, SEL, and Titanium. Base S models are the most stripped down, with a 4.2-inch touchscreen, while SE adds an 8-inch screen and Titanium brings a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. The SEL trim also gets dual-zone automatic climate control, which the base trim lacks.
• Powertrain: You can choose from a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine 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. The 1.5-liter can be paired with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, while the 2.0-liter is AWD only. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions are also mentioned, with the hybrid rated at 41 mpg combined in FWD form and 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 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. Some trim-level safety and lighting details vary.
• Infotainment: Base S models get a 4.2-inch touchscreen, while SE upgrades to an 8-inch touchscreen with pinch-and-zoom capability. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot are standard, and Titanium adds a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The system does not include wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
• Fuel efficiency: The base 1.5-liter engine is rated at 30 mpg combined, 28 mpg city, and 34 mpg highway. With AWD, it returns 28 mpg combined, 26 mpg city, and 31 mpg highway. The 2.0-liter AWD powertrain is rated at 26 mpg combined, 23 mpg city, and 31 mpg highway. The hybrid and plug-in hybrid deliver stronger efficiency figures.

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, but it’s the most basic version and misses out on the larger touchscreen and several comfort upgrades. It makes sense only if you’re focused on the lowest-cost way into the model.
• SE: This is the best-value trim for most shoppers because it adds the 8-inch touchscreen with pinch-and-zoom capability and keeps the Escape’s core strengths intact without pushing the price too far.
• SEL: This trim is the better pick if you want more comfort and convenience, including dual-zone automatic climate control and the available appearance package upgrades.
• Titanium: Choose this if you want the most upscale Escape, with the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio, and the most premium appearance package content.

The safety package is centered on Ford Co-Pilot360, with Co-Pilot360 Assist+ available for added driver assistance.

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

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market.

• Deal availability: 31.9% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 4,391 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 13.87% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 79.0% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $15,720, 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 $15,720 sits slightly below last year's $18,252.

That decline suggests the market has already adjusted downward, which can help you buy at a better entry point today. For a future seller, it also means you should expect resale value to depend heavily on condition, mileage, and trim desirability rather than broad market momentum.

Because the Escape has a wide inventory pool and a mainstream reputation, well-kept examples should remain easier to move than neglected ones. Strong equipment and a clean history will matter more if you want to protect value later.

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 an 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. 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.

One caveat is that IIHS gave the Escape only “Acceptable” and “Marginal” headlight ratings depending on trim level, so you should pay attention to lighting equipment when comparing used examples.

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:

• 31.9% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is solid at 79% — always verify the vehicle history report.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 13.87% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4/5 — a solid satisfaction signal.
• The 2021 model carries forward the 2020 redesign with only minimal changes, plus new appearance packages, exterior colors, an available tow package, and slightly improved fuel economy for the base powertrain.

Consider the 2020 if:

• At $14,750, the 2020 costs less than the current year's $15,720 average.
• It offers a more modern-feeling redesign with strong tech and multiple powertrain choices.

The bottom line: If you want the newer model-year version with a softer market price and broad inventory, the 2021 is the cleaner pick. If you’re mainly chasing the lowest purchase price, the 2020 can save you money while still giving you much of the same redesign-era appeal.

How does the 2021 Ford Escape compare to the 2021 Toyota RAV4?

Expert Pros & Cons (per CarGurus review team)

2021 Ford Escape:

• Pros: Multiple powertrain options, Great ride quality, Easy-to-use technology.
• Cons: Uninspired styling, Underwhelming base engine, Interior materials feel cheap.

2021 Toyota RAV4:

• Pros: Quiet cabin, Plenty of cargo space, Great safety ratings.
• Cons: Fairly pedestrian performance, Sluggish touchscreen response.

Our experts score the 2021 Ford Escape 6.7/10 and the 2021 Toyota RAV4 7.3/10. The Escape is the better fit if you value powertrain variety and user-friendly tech, while the RAV4 has the edge if you want a quieter cabin and more cargo space. The RAV4 also scores higher overall, but the Escape’s ride quality and easier technology may matter more if those are your priorities.

Read our full side-by-side expert comparison here.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 21, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.