2026 Ford Escape

SUV · 1.5L EcoBoost I3 · FWD

78/100

AutoVault's overall score, weighted for what a suv is actually for — performance, technology, comfort, reliability, safety and value.

Specifications

Engine	1.5L EcoBoost I3
Horsepower	181 hp
Torque	190 lb-ft
0–60 mph	7.8 sec
Top speed	112 mph
Drivetrain	FWD
Seats	5
Combined MPG	27 mpg (25 city / 30 hwy)
Range	427 miles
MSRP	$29,100
Body style	SUV

The verdict

What's good

Rear seats slide and recline, a feature most compact SUVs don't offer
Available plug-in hybrid variant extends everyday usability without range anxiety
Comfortable highway cruising composure for its size and price
SYNC infotainment responds quickly with large touch targets

What's not

Below-average reliability score is a consistent owner complaint pattern
Cabin feels noticeably louder than class leaders above 65 mph
Firm ride on broken pavement transmits impacts into the cabin clearly
Rear cargo area is narrower at floor level than many rivals

The engine

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.

See the rest in AutoVault

The six sub-scores behind the 78 — performance, tech, comfort, reliability, safety and value
Market value today and year-by-year value history
Studio photography — exterior, rear and interior
Side-by-side comparison with up to four cars

Open in AutoVault