- Ford Edge – At a Glance
- Ford Escape – At a Glance
- Tech, Convenience & Safety
- Design
- Performance: Turbos And Turbo Hybrids
- Size: Compact and Compact(er)
- What kind of buyer is the Edge best suited for?
- What kind of buyer is the Escape best suited for?
- Verdict: Ford Edge vs. Ford Escape – Which SUV Is Better?
Two Ford crossovers may both appeal to your needs, but which one is better for you?
Read in this article:
- Ford Edge – At a Glance
- Ford Escape – At a Glance
- Tech, Convenience & Safety
- Design
- Performance: Turbos And Turbo Hybrids
- Size: Compact and Compact(er)
- What kind of buyer is the Edge best suited for?
- What kind of buyer is the Escape best suited for?
- Verdict: Ford Edge vs. Ford Escape – Which SUV Is Better?
With a variety of models and trims available to choose from, picking out the perfect car to suit your lifestyle can be a daunting task. From luggage capacity to mobile connectivity to parking assistance, there are hundreds of features to consider.
The Ford Edge and Ford Escape might seem near-identical at first glance, as they occupy a very similar place in the market and have many features in common, but there are some differences that can help you make a decision about which car best suits your motoring needs.
Ford Edge – At a Glance
Price: Starting at $37,945
Powertrain configurations available: 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder with eight-speed automatic gearbox or 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 with seven-speed automatic gearbox. Intelligent all-wheel drive (traction optimized by a computer that balances torque between front and rear wheels).
Trim levels available: SE, SEL, ST-Line, Titanium, ST
Seating capacity: 5
Maximum cargo space: 73.4 cubic feet
Ford Escape – At a Glance
Price: Starting at $28,000
Powertrain configurations available: 1.5-liter EcoBoost, 2.0-liter EcoBoost, 2.5-liter Hybrid (all with eight-speed auto), or 2.5-liter Plug-in Hybrid. All-wheel drive with AWD Disconnect (system that detects when AWD isn't needed and switches to FWD mode) available on ST-Line Select, Platinum, and ST-Line Elite trim)
Trim levels available: ST-Line, ST-Line Select, Platinum, ST-Line Elite, Plug-in Hybrid
Seating capacity: 5
Maximum cargo space: 65.4 cubic feet
Tech, Convenience & Safety
One of the main differences between the Edge and the Escape is in the infotainment system. The Escape comes with a “traditional” eight-inch touchscreen as standard (13.2 inches in higher trim versions) and Ford's SYNC 4 infotainment system, which includes navigation, mobile connectivity (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), a Wi-Fi hotspot, and voice control.
The Edge, on the other hand, comes with a tablet-like, vertical 12-inch touchscreen and the more advanced SYNC 4A infotainment system, which builds on SYNC 4 and makes the experience more user-friendly thanks to a streamlined user interface and a “recently used features” (Adaptive Dash Cards) function. The Adaptive Dash Cards allow the user to access their most frequently used features, such as music and navigation, without going through several layers of menus.
There are some minor differences in terms of comfort and convenience features. The hands-free liftgate is only available on the Edge, making it the car of choice for those who frequently find themselves with their hands full with small children and all the gear that comes with them.
The powered driver's seat is available on both models except the Edge's base trim, so if you frequently share driving duties with a taller or shorter partner, the Edge SE might not be the car for you. There is also an Active Park Assist feature, but again, this is only available on selected trim levels (Titanium and ST for the Edge, Platinum, ST-Line Elite, and Plug-in Hybrid for the Escape), so if parking is not your strength, one of these options may be the right one to go for.
Design
The Edge comes with two choices of Appearance Package: the Black Appearance Package for the base-level SE trim and the Sport Appearance Package for the next level up (SEL trim). The former includes 19-inch black-painted wheels and black accents all over the body (front grille, mirror caps, bodyside molding), while the latter gives the SEL a sporty edge with orange stitching on the seats and 18-inch gray-painted wheels and a black grille.
Though the Escape lacks the variety of appearance packages available with the Edge, there are still options available for buyers who consider design and looks a deciding factor. The ST-Line trim option shares many styling cues with the high-performance series it gets its name from, such as sporty bucket-style seats and body-color exterior accents. Meanwhile, the Escape Platinum features even more stylish touches that boost its appearance: a spruced-up interior with unique accents, larger (19-inch) wheels, and an LED light bar make the Platinum the classy option for the design-conscious looking to buy an Escape.
Performance: Turbos And Turbo Hybrids
The Edge offers two choices of engine: the 2.0-liter EcoBoost (250 hp, 280 lb-ft torque) with the four non-ST versions, paired with an eight-speed gearbox, and the 2.7-liter EcoBoost with the Edge ST, delivering 335 hp and 380 lb-ft (paired with a seven-speed gearbox). All models have an intelligent all-wheel drive system that finds the perfect balance between front and rear wheels and ensures optimized traction regardless of driving conditions.
The Escape is less focused on performance, with no ST version available and smaller engine options, but impressive when it comes to fuel economy. There are four possible powertrain configurations: the 1.5-liter EcoBoost, delivering 181 hp and 190 lb-ft, comes as standard on the base-trim ST-Line, while the 2.0 EcoBoost is the default option for the upper three trim levels. A 2.5-liter hybrid engine that uses regenerative braking is offered as an option on all ICE trims; there is also a plug-in hybrid version combining the 2.5-liter engine with battery power.
If performance is your main focus, the Edge ST is the best option for you, with its 2.7-liter engine and the Performance Brake package available as an option: 21-inch black-painted wheels with vented disc brakes plus red brake calipers. Paddle shifters are also available, and while the Edge ST is not exactly a track-day weapon, they add a layer of interaction to the performance crossover.
Size: Compact and Compact(er)
The main difference between the Edge and the Escape is their size: the Edge's wheelbase is nearly six inches longer (112.2 in vs. 106.7 in for the Escape), but this does not have an impact on leg room, which is roughly the same for both front (42.6/42.4 in) and rear (40.6/40.7 in) seats.
Cargo capacity, on the other hand, is much higher in the Edge, which can hold up to 73.4 cubic inches as opposed to the Escape's 65.4. Even with all seats in place, only two cubic feet separate these two. You can view a full size comparison between the two Ford crossovers here.
Ford Edge (left) cargo space versus Ford Escape (right) cargo space
What kind of buyer is the Edge best suited for?
With its larger capacity for cargo and hands-free tailgate, the Edge is well-suited to growing families with large amounts of luggage and kit to drive around.
Design-conscious buyers will also find a variety of options available for them, with appearance packages available for each trim level to give their car a premium look.
The Edge is also the optimal choice for tech enthusiasts who want the most modern infotainment system Ford currently offers; with a large multi-function screen that takes styling cues from Tesla and the state-of-the-art SYNC 4A system powering it all, the Edge can proudly call itself a high-tech vehicle.
What kind of buyer is the Escape best suited for?
With its slightly smaller dimensions and lower starting price, the Escape is well suited to the urban motorist on a budget who doesn't want to sacrifice the advantages and creature comforts of a crossover; if you are looking for a compact crossover that won't break the bank but will still offer practicality and comfort, the Ford Escape might just be the choice for you.
Verdict: Ford Edge vs. Ford Escape – Which SUV Is Better?
While the Ford Edge was previously the better option for families because of the extra space on offer, the two are now closer than ever, to within a few inches in most areas when it comes to interior space. The Edge is still better performance-wise, particularly with an available ST variant, while the Escape is more frugal thanks to a smaller engine, less weight, and available hybrid system.
Which is better may come down to your needs and the size of your family, but the new Escape is surprisingly good value for money and treads on the toes of the Edge, which is perhaps why the Edge is being discontinued at the end of 2023.
Keyword: Ford Edge Vs. Ford Escape: A Complete Guide To Help You Choose The Right Model