Ford Escape: Which Should You Buy, 2021 or 2022?

Most significant changes: No changes beyond the addition of three new colors: Atlas Blue Metallic, Flight Blue Metallic and Iced Blue Metallic

Pricing: Prices start at $27,255 for a base Escape S with front-wheel drive and rise to $37,200 for a top Titanium; AWD adds $1,500 to S and SE trims, $2,145 to the SEL and is standard on the Titanium. Hybrids start at $29,740 for an SE, $32,205 for an SEL and $34,745 for a Titanium, all with FWD. Plug-in hybrids start at $34,785 for an SE, $37,520 for an SEL and $40,030 for a Titanium; AWD is not available. Destination remains unchanged at $1,245.

On sale: Now

Which should you buy, 2021 or 2022? With no changes other than a hefty price increase, a 2021 model is likely a better buy if you’re shopping for an S, SE or SEL trim. If you’re shopping for a Titanium model, the $100 price decrease makes a 2022 model appealing.

Ford redesigned its popular Escape SUV for the 2020 model year, but after adding a plug-in hybrid variant in 2021, little changes for the 2022 model year.

Related: 2021 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid Review: Infuriating Efficiency 

Features and Safety Tech

Base S trims come with a 4.2-inch multimedia screen and voice recognition, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, AM/FM stereo, manual climate control, cloth seats, remote keyless entry and a rotary gear shift with selectable drive modes. Options include a 12.3-inch touchscreen multimedia system, wireless device charging, 6.5-inch digital instrument cluster, navigation, satellite radio, a head-up display, a panoramic moonroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, remote starting, park assist, leather seating surfaces, heated front seats, power front seats, a heated steering wheel and a power liftgate.

Standard safety features include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane keep assist, blind spot warning with cross-traffic alert and post-collision braking. Options include a reverse sensing system and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability.

Engine

Base S and SE trims get a standard 181-horsepower, turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine, while a 250-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder is optional on the SEL and standard on Titanium trims. Both engines are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid models use a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine combined with a battery and electric motor, and are matched with a continuously variable automatic transmission.

Interior

The Escape offers a roomy interior, with sliding rear seats that by Ford’s accounting can add 6 inches of cargo space or allow extra room for backseat passengers. That’s a handy feature unusual in the category. Interior quality, however, is a mixed bag, with lower trims in particular looking somewhat low-rent compared to some competitors.

Prices

Starting prices for all 2022 Escape trim levels are as follows (prices include destination).

• S: $27,255 (up $455)
• SE: $28,740 (up $460)
• SEL: $31,215 (up $465)
• Titanium: $37,200 ($100 decrease)
• SE hybrid: $29,740 (up $465)
• SEL hybrid: $32,205 (up $460)
• Titanium hybrid:$34,745 ($100 decrease)
• SE Plug-In Hybrid: $34,785 (up $465)
• SEL Plug-In Hybrid: $37,520 (up $460)
• Titanium Plug-In Hybrid: $$40,030 ($100 decrease)

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More From Cars.com:

• Ford Escape: Which Should You Buy, 2020 or 2021?
• 2020 Ford Escape: 6 Things We Like and 2 Things We Don’t
• Here’s Every Car That Earned an IIHS Top Safety Award for 2021
• 2020 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid: Best-in-Class Equivalent Fuel Economy, Decent EV Driving Range

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