Ford gives Escape buyers a choice of five trims – Active, ST-Line, ST-Line Select, ST-Line Elite, and Platinum – with two powertrains offered. A 180-horsepower 1.5-liter EcoBoost, which comes standard on the two lowest trims, is the more efficient, while the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine (standard on the ST-Line Select, ST-Line Elite, and Platinum) provides a little more excitement with an output of 250 hp. Both engines pair with an 8-speed automatic transmission. While the base engine can be combined with front- or all-wheel drive, the larger motor only comes with the latter. The ST-Line Select and ST-Line Elite also have a sport-tuned suspension for more spirited driving around bends and corners. When it’s properly equipped, the Escape can tow a maximum of 3,500 pounds.
The 2024 Escape with the base engine and FWD has been rated by the EPA to achieve 27 mpg in city driving and 34 mpg on the highway; with AWD, this base powertrain returns 26 city/32 highway. The 250-hp EcoBoost engine with its standard all-wheel drivetrain is EPA rated for 23 city/31 highway.
A few prominent features on the Active trim are dual-zone automatic temperature control, a power liftgate, an 8-way power driver’s seat, push-button start, an 8-inch color instrument cluster, eight cupholders, a premium-wrapped steering wheel, dual chrome exhaust tips, second-row sliding seats with a 60/40 split-fold, two USB ports in the first row, two USB ports in the second row, LED exterior lighting, and 17-inch Shadow Silver aluminum wheels. The ST-Line adds unique style with sport contour bucket seats in a blend of vinyl and cloth upholstery with red contrast stitching, a flat-bottomed steering wheel with red stitching, trim-specific badging, black upper window molding, black beltline molding, a black mesh grille, a single-wing rear spoiler, a rear skid plate, and 18-inch Rock Metallic aluminum wheels. The ST-Line Select adds heated front seats, a heated steering wheel (flat-bottomed), and LED fog lamps.
The ST-Line Elite’s cabin has ambient lighting with floor lights, a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, wireless device charging, a 10-way power driver’s seat, and a 6-way power passenger’s seat. Its exterior is upgraded with a trim-specific rear skid plate, a lightbar that spans between the headlights, and 19-inch Ebony machine-faced aluminum wheels. The Platinum is loaded, getting rain-sensing front windshield wipers, a premium-wrapped heated steering wheel, sport bucket seats, micro-perforated ActiveX upholstery, and 19-inch machine-faced aluminum wheels with dark-tarnished painted pockets.
Every 2024 Ford Escape is equipped with high-tech driver aids via the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite. Those standard features are pre-collision assist with automated emergency braking, pedestrian detection, dynamic brake support, forward collision warning, lane-keep assist, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic braking. The ST-Line Elite and Platinum also get evasive steering assist, a surround-view monitor, front and rear parking sensors, and intelligent adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, speed sign recognition, and lane centering.
The base SYNC 4 infotainment system found in the Active, ST-Line, and ST-Line Select centers on an 8-inch capacitive touchscreen (which can be upgraded to the 13.2-inch touchscreen that the two highest trims get standard). All trims have wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, FordPass Connect with a 4G Wi-Fi hotspot, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a sound system with six speakers, except for the Platinum, which gets a standard 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio unit (the lower trims can add this as an option). Navigation is added to the ST-Line Elite and Platinum.
