2026 Ford Escape Release Date, Pictures, Engine – The company that sells more full-size pickups than any other has made its triumphant return to the increasingly crowded compact truck segment. The 2026 Ford Escape isn’t about the glamour – that’s left for the Jeep Gladiator – but it’s still an important piece of Ford’s car-free puzzle.
This is a handsome truck, especially with the honeycomb black grille that comes with the lower XL and XLT trims. It’s not aggressive and in-your-face like the F-150 – or the larger Super Duty trucks from Ford – and it’s certainly not as expressive as the Jeep Gladiator, but if you’re shopping for a truck this size you’ll be well served by the Escape’s understated looks. Its overall shape is more complex than a first glance reveals, especially in the rear, giving passersby plenty to look at down the road. 2026 Ford Escape Release Date
2026 Ford Escape Redesign and Update Plan
Exterior and Interior
Pickups are all about ease of use, and that should be the case both inside and out. Ford gets points here for giving just about every control a real button or knob for you to push and twist. The Sync infotainment system’s screen is responsive and works quickly. Some of the controls, though, are tougher to use than others. The low-contrast temperature adjustment controls are the most prominent example, requiring long looks down while driving to see them (and usually requiring me to remove my sunglasses, too). A brighter colour or some contrast highlighting would make this one much easier to use.
Bigger feet and the narrow side steps could pose a challenge for getting in and out, but Ford offers a number of choices in this regard, and at least one should suit most. The interior materials and shapes feel dated – like the previous generation of Ford design that they originate from – but against the rest of the compact field, the Escape presents itself well.
2026 Ford Escape Specs
Ford’s included an 8.0-inch touchscreen here running its Sync 3 infotainment interface, so it gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Likewise, there is a rear defroster and opening rear window, but it’s not a power-opening panel. The 110V power plug, multiple USB ports, and spray-in bedliner are all features we’re glad to have, as is Ford’s keyless entry keypad that lets you pop out to grab something from the truck without your keys or to lock them inside when you’re outdoors.
Engine and Performance
With only a 2.3L turbocharged four-cylinder on offer, the Escape doesn’t exactly make truck-like noises, nor does it look particularly truck enough on a spreadsheet. But this engine, combined with an excellent 10-speed automatic transmission, does a great job of moving the Escape along whether it’s empty or full. The motor is more whirry than rumbly at low engine speeds, but it sounds the part when you’re on it. 270 hp and 310 lb-ft is plenty, and you don’t need to wind it up to that torque to make an appearance.
2026 Ford Escape Fuel Economy
What that smaller engine lacks in aural sensation it makes up for with fuel consumption. Ford’s four-cylinder beats much of the competition’s sixes (their fours offer much less power), with the 11.8 L/100 km city rating in particular significantly better. Our own driving – in winter weather and with plenty of time spent using the four-wheel drive system – returned roughly 10.5 L/100 km, marginally beating the Escape’s 10.9 L/100 km combined rating from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). 2026 Ford Escape Release Date
2026 Ford Escape Safety Features
Ford’s Co-Pilot 360 comes standard, adding pre-collision emergency braking, automatic high-beams, blind-spot alerts that extend to include a trailer, cross-traffic alerts, and lane-keeping help. This truck had the Technology add-on, which brought navigation but also adaptive cruise control and SiriusXM Traffic and Travel link, giving it all the driver aids you really want. 2026 Ford Escape Release Date
2026 Ford Escape Price and Release Date
When it comes to compact pickups, value is a tough proposition to measure. Compare it directly with Ford’s own F-150, and whether you cut it kilo for kilo and cubic foot for cubic foot, it looks like a terrible deal. Given the steep discounts commonly applied to full-size trucks, it’s not unthinkable to get an F-150 in a higher trim for the sticker price of this truck. But value is about more than size per dollar. The F-150 will use much more fuel, take up much more space, and just generally need more thought and attention all of the time due to its dimensions. (Parking further away in parking lots and navigating narrow city streets spring to mind.)
Compared with the other options in the segment, the Escape offers better value, especially when fuel economy is in the mix. The Escape starts at $32,159 before freight, fees, and taxes, but includes standard four-wheel drive, which isn’t the case with the F-150. The tester here, a Escape XLT FX4, starts at $38,329 but features enough add-ons to push the price $50,389 with destination and A/C tax. 2026 Ford Escape Release Date