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The 2026 Ford Escape is the final model year for one of Ford’s most enduring nameplates — and it goes out with one of the strongest lineups the Escape has ever offered. Six trims, four powertrains, FWD and AWD configurations, and a technology package that competes with anything in the compact SUV class. This page covers everything you need to know about the 2026 Escape — what’s changed, how the trims compare, and which configuration is right for your situation.
What’s new for the 2026 Ford Escape?
The 2026 model year brings a focused set of changes to the Escape lineup. Here’s what’s different from the previous model year:
Changed for 2026:
- Platinum AWD 2.5L Hybrid (U9J/99Z/445) is now standard on 600A — previously, FWD Hybrid was available on this order code
- 19” Ebony-painted Machined-face Aluminum Wheels are now standard on Platinum
- 4G Modem replaces FordPass Connect™ across the lineup
- Vapor Blue Metallic (K1) is now an extra charge paint
- All 2026 Escape models can only be registered in Federal / Non-California states — registration is ineligible in California, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. Minnesota is a confirmed Federal / Non-California state.
Deleted for 2026:
- FWD 2.5L Hybrid on ST-Line (301A series deleted)
- FWD 2.5L Hybrid (U0J/99Z/445) on 600A
2026 Escape trim overview
The 2026 Escape lineup consists of six trims. Powertrain choice is directly tied to trim selection — not all engines are available on all trims.
Active — Order Code 200A
Entry-level trim. 1.5L EcoBoost® with 8-speed automatic. FWD standard, AWD available. Standard equipment includes SYNC® 4 with 8” touchscreen, Ford Co-Pilot360™, dual-zone climate control, 17” Shadow Silver wheels, unique cloth seats (6-way manual driver, 4-way manual passenger), 8 cupholders, and 4G LTE Wi-Fi® hotspot (3-month/3GB trial). Highly customizable through available packages including Tech Pack #1, Active Premium Tech Pack, Cold Weather Package, Power Liftgate, and Panoramic Vista Roof®.
Engine: 1.5L EcoBoost® · Drive: FWD or AWD
PHEV — Order Code 700A
Standalone plug-in hybrid trim. FWD only — no AWD option. Standard equipment includes the 2.5L PHEV powertrain with eCVT, 13.2” SYNC® 4 touchscreen, Ford Co-Pilot360™ Assist+ with Connected Navigation (1-year included), heated front seats, heated steering wheel, 8-way power driver seat, remote start, power liftgate, 18” Machined-face Magnetic Aluminum wheels, LED fog lamps, chrome beltline molding, roof-rack rails, and Mobile Power Cord. Available with PHEV Premium Package, Panoramic Vista Roof®, and Class II Trailer Tow Package.
Engine: 2.5L PHEV · Drive: FWD only
ST-Line — Order Code 300A
Built on the Active foundation with sporty exterior and interior character. Adds black mesh grille, large rear spoiler, black rear bumper, ST-Line badging, unique rear skid plate, 18” Rock Metallic wheels, sport contour bucket seats in partial vinyl and cloth with red stitching, flat-bottom sport steering wheel with red stitching, red-stitched armrest and console, dark sports headliner, and 8-way power driver seat. FWD standard, AWD available. 1.5L EcoBoost® only.
Engine: 1.5L EcoBoost® · Drive: FWD or AWD
ST-Line Select — Order Code 400A / 401A
AWD only. Engine choice: 2.0L EcoBoost® (401A) or 2.5L Hybrid (400A). Adds over ST-Line: LED fog lamps, body color and heated mirrors, power liftgate, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, illuminated vanity mirrors, power windows front and rear with one-touch up/down, and remote start. Available with Tech Pack #1 (Co-Pilot360™ Assist+, 13.2” touchscreen, Connected Navigation), Tech Pack #2 (adds 360-Degree Camera, 10-way power driver, 12.3” cluster, B&O® sound, wireless charging, memory package), Panoramic Vista Roof®, and Class II Trailer Tow Package.
Engine: 2.0L EcoBoost® or 2.5L Hybrid · Drive: AWD only
ST-Line Elite — Order Code 500A / 501A
AWD only. Engine choice: 2.0L EcoBoost® (501A) or 2.5L Hybrid (500A). Adds over ST-Line Select: body color front/rear fascia and rocker panels, black mesh grille upper/lower, painted bumpers, 19” Machined-face Ebony-painted aluminum wheels, 225/55R19 tires, 12.3” digital cluster display, memory package, 10-way heated power driver seat, 6-way heated power passenger, unique interior accents, auto-dimming rearview mirror, LED Light Bar headlamps, perimeter alarm, wireless charging pad standard, SYNC® 4 with 13.2” touchscreen, Universal Garage Door Opener, and Ford Co-Pilot360™ Assist+ with Connected Navigation (1-year included) standard. Available with Premium Technology Package, Panoramic Vista Roof®, and Class II Trailer Tow Package.
Engine: 2.0L EcoBoost® or 2.5L Hybrid · Drive: AWD only
Platinum — Order Code 600A / 601A
The flagship trim. AWD only. Engine choice: 2.0L EcoBoost® (601A) or 2.5L Hybrid (600A). For 2026, the AWD Hybrid is now standard on 600A. Standard equipment includes all ST-Line Elite features plus: ActiveX® trimmed seats with Mini-Perforation, chrome beltline molding, 19” Ebony-painted Machined-face aluminum wheels (new standard for 2026), sport contour bucket seats, 10-way heated power driver with memory, 6-way heated power passenger, heated steering wheel, remote start, wireless charging pad, LED Light Bar headlamps, auto-dimming rearview mirror, perimeter alarm, Universal Garage Door Opener, roof-rack side rails, and Ford Co-Pilot360™ Assist+ with Connected Navigation (1-year included) standard. Available with Premium Technology Package (adds 360-Degree Camera, B&O® sound, head-up display, front parking sensors, reverse brake assist, ActiveX® seats with quilting), Panoramic Vista Roof®, and Class II Trailer Tow Package.
Engine: 2.0L EcoBoost® or 2.5L Hybrid · Drive: AWD only
2026 Escape engine and powertrain options
The 2026 Escape offers four engines tied directly to specific trims. HP, torque, and fuel economy figures are listed as TBD in the 2026 order guide and are not confirmed at time of publication — this page will be updated when official EPA figures are released.
| Engine | Transmission | Final Drive Ratio | Available On | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5L EcoBoost® | 8-speed Automatic | 3.81 | Active, ST-Line | FWD or AWD |
| 2.0L EcoBoost® | 8-speed Automatic | 3.47 | ST-Line Select, ST-Line Elite, Platinum | AWD only |
| 2.5L Hybrid | eCVT | 2.91 | ST-Line Select, ST-Line Elite, Platinum | AWD only |
| 2.5L PHEV | eCVT | 2.91 | PHEV only | FWD only |
2026 Escape — key specs by trim
| Feature | Active | PHEV | ST-Line | ST-Line Select | ST-Line Elite | Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1.5L | 2.5L PHEV | 1.5L | 2.0L or Hybrid | 2.0L or Hybrid | 2.0L or Hybrid |
| Drive | FWD/AWD | FWD only | FWD/AWD | AWD only | AWD only | AWD only |
| Heated Front Seats | w/ Cold Weather | ✓ Std | w/ Cold Weather | ✓ Std | ✓ Std | ✓ Std |
| Remote Start | w/ Cold Weather | ✓ Std | w/ Cold Weather | ✓ Std | ✓ Std | ✓ Std |
| Power Liftgate | Optional | ✓ Std | Optional | ✓ Std | ✓ Std | ✓ Std |
| Wireless Charging | w/ Premium Tech | w/ Premium Pkg | — | w/ Tech Pack #2 | ✓ Std | ✓ Std |
| 13.2” Touchscreen | w/ Tech Pack | ✓ Std | w/ Tech Pack #1 | w/ Tech Pack | ✓ Std | ✓ Std |
| 12.3” Cluster Display | w/ Premium Tech | w/ Premium Pkg | — | w/ Tech Pack #2 | ✓ Std | ✓ Std |
| Towing (Class II) | — | Optional | — | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| LED Light Bar Headlamps | — | w/ Premium Pkg | — | — | ✓ Std | ✓ Std |
2026 Escape technology and safety
Every 2026 Escape comes standard with SYNC® 4, Wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility, a 4G Modem, Ford app remote features (remote start/lock/unlock, vehicle locate, status check), and Ford Co-Pilot360™ — including Auto High Beam, BLIS® with Rear Cross-Traffic Braking, Lane-Keeping System, Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking and Pedestrian Detection, Rear View Camera, and Road Departure Warning.
Upper trims and available packages expand the driver assistance suite significantly. Ford Co-Pilot360™ Assist+ adds Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go and Lane Centering, Connected Navigation (1-year included), Evasive Steering Assist, Intersection Assist, and Rear Parking Sensors. Tech Pack #2 on ST-Line Select and the Premium Technology Package on ST-Line Elite and Platinum step up to Ford Co-Pilot360™ Assist 2.0 with a 360-Degree Camera with Split View, Front Parking Sensors, Reverse Brake Assist, and B&O® Sound System by Bang & Olufsen®.
Notable 2026 Escape packages and options
- Cold Weather Package (19H) — Active and ST-Line. Adds heated front seats, heated mirrors, heated steering wheel, and remote start. Included in Active Premium Tech Pack (66N).
- Tech Pack #1 (68B) — Active, ST-Line, ST-Line Select. Adds Ford Co-Pilot360™ Assist+, 13.2” touchscreen, Connected Navigation (1-year included).
- Active Premium Tech Pack (66N) — Active only. Adds everything in Tech Pack #1 plus B&O® sound, 12.3” cluster, 10-way power driver, 6-way power passenger, memory package, power liftgate, wireless charging, and Cold Weather Package.
- Tech Pack #2 (68C) — ST-Line Select. Adds Ford Co-Pilot360™ Assist 2.0, 360-Degree Camera, 10-way power driver, 12.3” cluster, B&O® sound, wireless charging, and memory package. Mutually exclusive with Tech Pack #1.
- Premium Technology Package (66D) — ST-Line Elite and Platinum. Adds 360-Degree Camera with Split View, B&O® sound, head-up display, front parking sensors, reverse brake assist, and ActiveX® seats with quilting.
- PHEV Premium Package (66H) — PHEV only. Adds 360-Degree Camera, 10-way power driver, 6-way heated power passenger, auto-dimming mirror, B&O® sound, head-up display, 12.3” cluster, ActiveX® seats, memory package, perimeter alarm, wireless charging, and Universal Garage Door Opener.
- Panoramic Vista Roof® (43M) — Available on all trims. Includes roof-rack side rails and power open/close with power shade.
- Class II Trailer Tow Package (536) — Available on PHEV, ST-Line Select, ST-Line Elite, and Platinum. Not available on Active or ST-Line.
- Engine Block Heater (41H) — Available on all trims. Strongly recommended for Minnesota buyers who park outside.
Go deeper — 2026 Escape topic guides
We’ve built a full series of guides covering every major decision point for 2026 Escape shoppers:
- 2026 Escape Trim Levels Explained — Active, ST-Line, ST-Line Select, ST-Line Elite, Platinum, and PHEV compared
- 2026 Escape: Hybrid vs. PHEV vs. Gas — Which Powertrain Is Right for You?
- 2026 Ford Escape: Final Model Year — Why Now Is the Time to Buy the Last Escape
- 2026 Ford Escape Technology Guide — SYNC 4, Co-Pilot360, and Connected Features Explained
- 2026 Ford Escape in Minnesota Winter — AWD, FWD, and Cold Weather Capability Guide
- Ford Escape vs. Bronco Sport — Which Compact Ford SUV Is Right for You?
2026 Escape — Key Takeaways
- Six trims for 2026: Active, PHEV, ST-Line, ST-Line Select, ST-Line Elite, and Platinum
- Four powertrains: 1.5L gas, 2.0L gas, 2.5L Hybrid, and 2.5L PHEV
- FWD is only available on Active, ST-Line, and PHEV — upper trims are AWD only
- The PHEV is FWD only — no AWD available on the PHEV trim
- The 2.5L Hybrid with AWD is the only hybrid AWD configuration in the lineup
- Platinum AWD Hybrid is now standard on 600A for 2026
- 19” Ebony-painted wheels now standard on Platinum for 2026
- HP, torque, and fuel economy figures are TBD — this page will be updated when confirmed
- 2026 is the final model year for the Ford Escape
- Minnesota is a confirmed Federal / Non-California emissions state — all 2026 Escape trims are available here
Frequently Asked Questions
What trims does the 2026 Ford Escape come in?
The 2026 Escape is available in six trims: Active, PHEV, ST-Line, ST-Line Select, ST-Line Elite, and Platinum.
Is the 2026 Ford Escape available in AWD?
Yes. AWD is available on the Active and ST-Line (optional), and is standard on ST-Line Select, ST-Line Elite, and Platinum. The PHEV trim is FWD only in every configuration.
Is 2026 the last year for the Ford Escape?
Yes. 2026 is the final model year for the Ford Escape. If you’ve been considering an Escape, this is the last opportunity to buy one new. Jay Malone Ford in Hutchinson carries the full 2026 Escape lineup.
Can I buy a 2026 Ford Escape in Minnesota?
Yes. Minnesota is a Federal / Non-California emissions state, which means all 2026 Escape trims and powertrains are available for registration here. The 2026 Escape is not available for registration in California, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Vermont, or Washington.
Where can I buy a 2026 Ford Escape near Hutchinson, MN?
Jay Malone Ford carries the 2026 Ford Escape at 1165 Highway 7 West in Hutchinson, MN. We serve buyers from Hutchinson, Willmar, Litchfield, Glencoe, Waconia, and communities across central Minnesota. If we don’t have your exact configuration in stock, we’ll locate it — and we never charge extra. Call us at (320) 587-4748 or browse inventory online.