2023 Ford Escape

Dragon

1.5L Turbo I3

This little turbo triple punches above its size with roughly 181 hp and strong low-end torque, plus the characterful, slightly thrummy exhaust note unique to three-cylinder engines. It feels eager and torquey in stop-and-go driving rather than buzzy and strained.

Part of Ford's EcoBoost 'Dragon' family, the 1.5-liter three-cylinder is an enlarged relative of the 1.0-liter triple and was introduced around 2018. It powers the Bronco Sport and the Escape, among other global Fords.

• It uses cylinder deactivation, shutting down one of its three cylinders under light load, an unusual feat for an engine that already has so few cylinders.
• It features an exhaust manifold cast directly into the cylinder head to speed warm-up and improve efficiency.