2024 Ford Escape vs 2023 Ford Escape

The 2023 Ford Escape showcased a departure from the rugged, boxy aesthetic of its predecessors, embracing a more European design language. This model featured a refreshed front end with a traditional grille and a stylish LED light bar, giving it a more upscale appearance akin to a Mazda CX-5. The ST-Line Elite trim, which we tested, boasted 19-inch wheels and body-color mirror caps, enhancing its sleek design. Inside, the Escape offered diamond-stitched leather upholstery that, while visually appealing, felt hard and plasticky. Despite this, the seats were comfortable, and the 10-way power adjustable driver's seat provided excellent ergonomics for long drives. However, the interior was dominated by plastic materials, some of which felt scratchy and poorly reinforced.

In contrast, the 2024 Ford Escape retained the updates from the previous year, including the aggressive front-end styling and revamped trim lineup. The ST-Line Elite trim we tested came with Rapid Red paint, black 19-inch wheels, and a Panoramic Vista Roof, priced at $43,650. The interior featured diamond-stitched, perforated leather, but the glossy surfaces and stiff upholstery detracted from its upscale appearance. Despite these shortcomings, the 2024 model offered ambient lighting, dual-zone climate control, and heated front seats. However, the lack of ventilated seats was noticeable during a Southern California heatwave. The back seat was comfortable when slid to its rearmost position, and the cargo space was generous, though slightly less than some competitors.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered multiple powertrain options, including a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, available with FWD or AWD. The ST-Line Select, Platinum, and ST-Line Elite trims featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, exclusively with AWD. While the four-cylinder provided impressive acceleration, the Escape's suspension remained soft, and the transmission lacked performance tuning. The brakes offered predictable stopping power, and the steering was well-weighted, avoiding the twitchiness seen in some competitors.

For the 2024 Ford Escape, the ST-Line Elite trim offered a choice between a 192-horsepower hybrid powertrain and a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. Our test vehicle featured the turbo engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and AWD. The driving modes included Eco, Normal, Sport, and Slippery, but no Off-Road mode. The turbo engine allowed for quick acceleration, but the ride was soft, and the handling felt nimble yet allowed unwanted body motion. The brake pedal was responsive, but the steering felt sluggish. The turbo engine's performance was underutilized, and the hybrid powertrain was recommended for better fuel economy.

The 2023 Ford Escape provided a comfortable driving experience with soft, supportive seats and excellent ergonomics. The steering wheel felt great to hold, and the armrests were well-positioned. The head-up display was easy to adjust, but the Escape fell short in cargo space compared to segment leaders, offering 37.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 65.4 cubic feet with the seats folded. Rear-seat legroom was slightly less than competitors, but headroom was impressive, and the front-seat backs were padded to maximize space for tall passengers.

In the 2024 Ford Escape, the ST-Line interior was available only in black, with cloth inserts and artificial leather bolsters. The ST-Line Elite trim offered leather seats, but they were not recommended due to their uncomfortable feel. The front seats were large and supportive, and the back seat was comfortable when slid to its rearmost position. Interior storage was generous in the front, but rear passengers had less accommodation. Cargo volume was 37.5 cubic feet behind the back seat and 65.4 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. The test vehicle included deep storage areas and a grocery bag hook.

The 2023 Ford Escape featured Sync 4 technology, with an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims and a 13.2-inch screen standard on the ST-Line Elite and Platinum. The larger screen enhanced the cabin's look and offered an intuitive layout with easy navigation between applications. However, Sync 4 was occasionally slow to respond, and the volume knob's placement was inconvenient. Despite these minor annoyances, the system's feature set and ease of use were impressive.

In the 2024 Ford Escape, digital instrumentation was standard, with a 12.3-inch display on upper trims. The 13.2-inch Sync 4 infotainment system was presented in a landscape format, offering an intuitive layout. However, the color theme appeared washed out, and the climate controls were integrated into the screen, which was not ideal. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with a larger screen adding Amazon Alexa and connected navigation. The Bang & Olufsen sound system was available, but the test vehicle's speakers were damaged. The voice recognition system was excellent, but the wireless charger heated the phone excessively. The engine start/stop button's placement was unconventional, and the head-up display was part of the optional Premium Technology Package.

The 2023 Ford Escape received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in frontal and side-crash tests and four stars in the rollover test. The IIHS did not grant a Top Safety Pick designation due to a Marginal score in the side-impact test. The Escape came standard with Ford's Co-Pilot360 suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and more. Co-Pilot360 2.0 added adaptive cruise control, road sign recognition, and a surround-view camera.

The 2024 Ford Escape included a post-collision automatic braking system and the standard Co-Pilot360 suite. The ST-Line Elite trim featured adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, lane-centering assist, and a 360-degree camera. The lane-keeping systems were inconsistent on certain roads, and the predictive speed assist was overly cautious. On freeways, the Co-Pilot360 technology performed better. The NHTSA awarded the 2024 Escape five-star ratings, except for a four-star rollover rating. The IIHS had not rated the 2024 model at the time of writing.