2026 Ford Escape

• The 2026 Escape continues to offer strong fuel efficiency with multiple powertrain options, including hybrid variants.
• Interior updates deliver intuitive infotainment, improved connectivity, and advanced safety aids for daily driving confidence.
• Active and ST-Line trims provide tailored styling, with Active focusing on outdoor versatility and ST-Line on sportier character.

Yes -- the 2026 Ford Escape is confirmed and marks the final model year for this longstanding compact SUV as Ford transitions its lineup toward electrification. For 2026, the Escape receives refreshed styling with updated front and rear fascias, a new grille, and revised headlights and taillights that give the SUV a more rugged, contemporary appearance. The model continues to offer a variety of powertrains, including traditional gasoline, hybrid (192 hp), and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) options.

Notably, all hybrid and PHEV versions for 2026 are available exclusively with All-Wheel Drive, enhancing traction and overall capability. The trim lineup carries forward familiar names such as Active, ST-Line, ST-Line Select, and Platinum, with pricing typically ranging from the low $30,000s into the $40,000s depending on equipment and options.

While the 2026 Escape is generally available across the United States, it cannot be sold in certain states -- including California, New York, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Washington -- due to stricter emissions regulations that affect a portion of its powertrain lineup.

Order banks are currently open for this final iteration of the popular compact SUV, giving buyers a last chance to purchase a new Escape before it is discontinued. This final model year blends updated design, broad powertrain choices, and modern tech in a familiar, well-rounded package that honors the Escape's place in Ford's history.

The 2026 Ford Escape sees noticeable price increases across much of the lineup, with several trims costing more than $2,000 above their 2025 counterparts. Entry-level models like the Active and ST-Line rise by $835 each, while mid-tier trims such as the ST-Line Select jump by $1,820. Higher-end versions take some of the steepest hikes--both the Platinum and ST-Line Elite now cost $2,030 more than before. One change for 2026 is the removal of the ST-Line Hybrid trim, reducing hybrid-specific options slightly compared to the previous model year.

Not all models become more expensive, however. The ST-Line Select Hybrid drops by $300 for 2026, while the ST-Line Elite Hybrid sees a more significant $900 reduction. The biggest price decrease goes to the plug-in hybrid (PHEV), which becomes $2,000 cheaper and therefore a more compelling choice for buyers seeking efficiency and incentives. Still, for most trims, especially the premium ones, shoppers will encounter higher pricing--reflecting the Escape's final model-year updates before its discontinuation.