Order banks for the 2023 Escape are open now, Ford said. The base model starts at $28,995, including a $1,495 shipping fee. That’s about $300 more than the 2022 model’s starting price.
The most expensive trims — the plug-in hybrid and the ST-Line Elite — start at $39,995 including shipping.
Ford added the ST-Line trim, found on other nameplates such as Explorer, to give customers a more sporty option. Buyers can choose from the ST-Line, ST-Line Select and ST-Line Elite, all of which come with unique styling cues.
Officials expect ST-Line trims to account for half of the Escape’s sales mix moving forward.
All engine options from the current model carry over to 2023. Those include the 2.5-liter Atkinson cycle hybrid engine found in the plug-in hybrid that’s expected to get up to 37 miles of electric-only range.
Ford said it updated the front end with a more “athletic, energetic” design. This includes more compact headlamps, a wider grille and an available light bar spanning the front end. Designers also moved the Blue Oval badge into the grille from above it.
The interior features an available 13.2-inch center screen as well as an available 12.3-inch digital instrument panel cluster.
U.S. sales of the Escape are down 2.2 percent year-over-year through September, according to Ford. The crossover is built at the Louisville Assembly Plant.
