If you’ve been driving a Ford Escape or Ford Edge, you’ve probably heard the news: Ford is winding down both models. The Edge concluded production after the 2024 model year. The Escape’s final model year is 2026. These are two of Ford’s most popular SUVs in central Minnesota — vehicles that tens of thousands of families in Hutchinson, Willmar, Waconia, and the surrounding region have trusted for years. And the buyers who loved them are now asking a natural question: what comes next?

For many Escape and Edge owners, the answer is the 2026 Ford Explorer®. It’s a bigger vehicle, a more capable vehicle, and a more expensive vehicle — but for families whose needs have grown since they bought their Escape or Edge, it may be exactly the right fit. This guide is an honest comparison built for central Minnesota buyers: what you’re giving up, what you’re gaining, and how to know whether the Explorer is actually the right move for your family.

What Is Happening With the Ford Escape and Edge?

Ford has made the decision to end production of both the Escape and the Edge as part of a broader product lineup shift. The Edge concluded after the 2024 model year — if you’re driving a 2024 or earlier Edge, you’re driving a vehicle that is no longer in production. The Escape is in its final model year with 2026 — the last new Escapes are being built and sold now.

For owners in central Minnesota, this creates a practical planning question. When it comes time to replace your Escape or Edge — whether that’s in one year or five years — the direct replacement won’t exist. Ford’s expectation is that many of these buyers will move into the Explorer or the Bronco Sport, depending on their priorities.

This guide focuses on the Explorer path — specifically for families in the Hutchinson area whose needs may have grown since they bought their two-row SUV and who are now wondering whether the step up to a three-row SUV makes sense.

Ford Escape vs Explorer — What Is the Difference?

The Escape and Explorer are both Ford SUVs — but they are meaningfully different vehicles built around different buyer needs. Here’s the honest comparison:

The fundamental difference between Escape and Explorer: The Escape is a compact two-row SUV built for efficiency, maneuverability, and value. It is genuinely excellent at what it does — a right-sized vehicle for a couple, a small family, or a commuter who wants an SUV without the bulk. The Explorer is a midsize three-row SUV built for families who need more passenger capacity, more cargo space, and more towing capability.

The Escape’s hybrid and PHEV advantage: One area where the Escape has a genuine advantage over the Explorer is electrification. The Escape offers both a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid option. The Explorer does not. For Escape PHEV owners who chose it specifically for its electric range and fuel efficiency, the Explorer is a step in a different direction on that dimension. If electrification is a priority, this is worth factoring honestly into your decision.

Who the move from Escape to Explorer makes sense for: Escape owners whose families have grown — added a child, started carpooling, need to regularly carry more than four passengers — and who find themselves wishing for a third row. Escape owners who tow a boat or trailer and want more than the Escape’s towing capability. Escape owners who want a dedicated off-road capable SUV. Escape owners who are ready to move up in size and comfort.

Ford Edge vs Explorer — What Is the Difference?

The Edge comparison is a different conversation than the Escape comparison — because the Edge is a closer sibling to the Explorer in size and positioning. Edge owners are often already in the midsize SUV category and are considering whether the step to a three-row makes sense for their next vehicle.

What Edge owners gain in the Explorer: The third row is the most obvious addition — and for Edge owners whose families have grown or who want the flexibility of occasional seven-passenger capacity, it’s a significant upgrade. The Explorer also brings a Class III Trailer Tow Package standard on every trim, BlueCruise hands-free highway driving (not available on any Edge), a 10-speed automatic vs the Edge’s 8- or 7-speed, and the new Tremor® off-road trim that has no equivalent in the Edge lineup.

What Edge ST owners should know: The Edge ST with its 2.7L V6 was a genuinely fun sport SUV. The Explorer ST carries the performance torch forward with a 3.0L V6 twin-turbocharged engine, sport-tuned suspension, performance brakes with red-painted calipers, and standard BlueCruise. It’s a larger vehicle — three rows vs two — but for Edge ST owners who want to stay in the performance SUV lane, the Explorer ST is the natural progression.

What Edge Titanium owners should know: The Titanium was the Edge’s premium trim — hands-free foot-activated liftgate, heated seats, B&O audio, and a genuinely comfortable daily driver. The Explorer Platinum™ carries that comfort-focused philosophy into a larger, three-row package. Standard massaging front seats, 14-speaker B&O 980W audio, standard BlueCruise, and heated second-row captain’s chairs make the Platinum™ the closest equivalent to the Edge Titanium experience in Explorer form.

Which Escape and Edge Owners Should Consider the Explorer?

The Explorer is the right move for Escape and Edge owners who check one or more of these boxes:

• Your family has grown. A couple who bought an Escape five years ago and now has two or three kids is the most common scenario we see at Jay Malone Ford. The two-row SUV that was right at purchase doesn’t fit the same family three kids later. The Explorer’s third row changes what’s possible — grandparents on the trip to the lake, three kids across the second row, room for the whole team on a carpool run.
• You tow more than your Escape handles comfortably. The Escape is not a heavy towing vehicle. The Explorer’s 5,000 lb Class III towing — standard on every trim — covers most Minnesota recreational towing needs including pontoon boats, snowmobile trailers, and light utility trailers that push the limits of what an Escape handles confidently.
• You want gravel road and off-road capability. Neither the Escape nor the Edge offered a dedicated off-road trim. The Explorer Tremor® is brand new for 2026 and brings genuine off-road hardware — TORSEN® differential, all-terrain tires, underbody protection — that neither predecessor could match. For central Minnesota buyers who deal with farm lanes, gravel township roads, and rural property access, this is a new option that didn’t exist before.
• You want BlueCruise for long highway runs. BlueCruise hands-free highway driving was not available on the Edge and is not available on the Escape. For buyers who regularly drive longer highway stretches between Hutchinson and the Cities or up to Willmar and beyond, BlueCruise is a genuine upgrade in daily comfort that the Explorer delivers and its predecessors didn’t.
• You want to stay in a Ford for the long term. With both Escape and Edge being discontinued, the Explorer is Ford’s continuing midsize SUV platform. Buying an Explorer means buying into a model that Ford is actively investing in — including the new Tremor® trim, the new Active Base entry point, and the continued development of the platform.

Who Should Look at Something Other Than the Explorer?

The Explorer is not the right answer for every Escape or Edge owner — and being honest about that matters more than selling every buyer up to a larger vehicle.

• If you specifically want a hybrid or PHEV. The 2026 Escape is available in hybrid and PHEV configurations. The Explorer is not. If fuel efficiency and electrification are your primary reasons for your next vehicle choice, the final 2026 Escape — particularly the Escape PHEV — may be the right move before the model ends, or you may want to look at other Ford electrified options.
• If a smaller, more maneuverable SUV is genuinely what you need. The Explorer is a larger vehicle than the Escape — longer, wider, and more to park. For buyers who live in tighter urban or suburban environments, frequently park in compact spaces, or genuinely don’t need three rows, moving to the Explorer adds size without adding proportional benefit. The Bronco Sport is worth a look for Escape owners who want to stay in a smaller, more maneuverable footprint with better off-road capability than the Escape offered.
• If budget is the primary constraint. The Explorer starts at a higher price point than the Escape. If the monthly payment or purchase price of the Explorer doesn’t fit your budget, that’s a real consideration — not one to rationalize around. Our team at Jay Malone Ford can help you find the configuration that fits both your needs and your budget, including looking at certified pre-owned Explorer options.

Is the Explorer Third Row Worth the Step Up in Size?

This is the core question for most Escape and Edge owners considering the Explorer — and the answer depends entirely on how often you actually need that third row.

The case for the third row: If you use it even once a month — grandparents on a road trip, a carpool rotation, cousins visiting for the weekend — the third row earns its space. The Explorer’s third row offers 38.9” of head room and 31.8” of leg room — genuine seating for kids and workable seating for adults on shorter trips. When the third row is folded, the Explorer opens up to 46.0 cu ft of cargo space behind the second row — significantly more room than a two-row compact SUV when you need to haul gear.

The case for staying two-row: If you genuinely never need more than five passengers and the step up in vehicle size and price doesn’t match your actual use, the Explorer’s third row is real estate you’re paying for but not using. Be honest with yourself about the last twelve months of driving — how often did you wish you had a third row?

The full breakdown of Explorer seating, cargo, and third-row dimensions is covered in detail in our 2026 Explorer seating and cargo guide.

How Does the Explorer Compare for Minnesota Winters?

For central Minnesota buyers, winter capability is always part of the SUV conversation. Here’s how the Explorer stacks up against the Escape and Edge for winter driving:

Explorer vs Escape in winter: The 2026 Escape is available in AWD on most trims and handles Minnesota winters adequately. The Explorer 4WD brings Intelligent 4WD with Trail drive mode, a more capable system for uneven and loose winter terrain. The Explorer is a heavier, larger vehicle which generally translates to more stable behavior in crosswinds and better straight-line traction confidence on open highway. For buyers who felt their Escape was adequate in winter but wanted more, the Explorer 4WD is a genuine step up.

Explorer vs Edge in winter: The Edge was AWD-only across all trims — a genuine winter strength. The Explorer matches that with Intelligent 4WD on 4WD-equipped models. The Explorer Tremor® significantly exceeds what any Edge trim offered in winter off-road conditions, adding all-terrain tires and a TORSEN® limited-slip differential that no Edge trim could match.

Winter capability details for the Explorer are covered in full in our 2026 Explorer Minnesota winter and 4WD guide.

What Does the Explorer Tremor® Offer That Escape and Edge Couldn’t?

Neither the Ford Escape nor the Ford Edge ever offered a dedicated off-road trim. Both were capable all-weather vehicles, but neither had the off-road hardware to handle seriously challenging terrain confidently. The 2026 Explorer Tremor® — brand new this model year — changes that entirely for buyers moving from those vehicles into the Explorer family.

What the Tremor® brings that no Escape or Edge ever offered:

• TORSEN® limited-slip rear differential — automatic torque distribution to the wheel with traction
• All-terrain tires as factory standard — 31.5” diameter
• 8.7” ground clearance — more than any Escape or Edge offered
• Underbody protection — front and rear deflection plates
• Off-Road Grille Lights
• Terrain Management System™
• Tow hooks for trail recovery
• Dedicated Off-Road drive mode

For Escape or Edge owners in central Minnesota who always wanted a family SUV that could handle more than pavement — gravel roads, farm lane access, boat ramps, trail use — the Tremor® is a genuinely new option in the Ford SUV lineup. The full Tremor® capability breakdown is in our 2026 Explorer Tremor off-road guide.

How to Decide If the Explorer Is Right for You

Here’s a practical decision framework for Escape and Edge owners evaluating the Explorer:

1. Count your actual passenger needs over the last year. If you regularly carry more than four passengers or find yourself wishing you had more room, the third row is a real solution. If five seats consistently covers your family, the size and cost step up to the Explorer may not be justified by passenger capacity alone.
2. Evaluate your towing use. The Explorer’s 5,000 lb Class III towing is a meaningful capability step over both the Escape and Edge in most configurations. If you tow a boat, snowmobile trailer, or utility trailer that pushed the limits of your current vehicle, the Explorer covers it confidently.
3. Consider your terrain. If you drive gravel roads regularly, access rural property, or want off-road capability that neither the Escape nor Edge could deliver — the Explorer 4WD and especially the Tremor® open new territory.
4. Be honest about the hybrid decision. If fuel efficiency drove your Escape choice and the Escape hybrid or PHEV was a specific consideration, the Explorer doesn’t offer that path. Factor it honestly rather than rationalizing around it.
5. Come sit in it. The size difference between an Escape and an Explorer is real — but it feels different in person than it reads on a spec sheet. Sitting in the Explorer, loading gear into it, and driving it is the step that clarifies whether it’s the right fit for your daily life.

For the complete picture of every 2026 Explorer trim, technology feature, and configuration option, visit our 2026 Ford Explorer complete overview at Jay Malone Ford.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ford discontinuing the Escape and Edge?

Yes. The Ford Edge concluded production after the 2024 model year and is no longer being built. The Ford Escape is in its final model year with 2026 — the last new Escapes are being produced now. Ford’s expectation is that buyers from both models will transition to the Explorer, Bronco Sport, or other Ford SUVs depending on their priorities.

What Ford SUV replaces the Edge?

Ford hasn’t named a direct one-to-one replacement for the Edge. The Explorer is the most natural upgrade path for Edge owners who want more passenger capacity and a continuing Ford midsize SUV. Edge ST owners have a strong equivalent in the Explorer ST. Edge Titanium owners have a strong equivalent in the Explorer Platinum™. Buyers who prefer a smaller two-row SUV may want to explore the Bronco Sport.

What Ford SUV replaces the Escape?

Ford hasn’t named a direct one-to-one replacement for the Escape either. For Escape owners who want more passenger space and capability, the Explorer is the upgrade path. For Escape owners who want to stay in a similarly sized, maneuverable SUV with better off-road capability, the Bronco Sport is worth considering. Escape hybrid and PHEV owners looking for electrified options should discuss Ford’s current electrified lineup with a Jay Malone Ford sales team member.

Is the Explorer bigger than the Edge?

Yes — the Explorer is a larger vehicle than the Edge. The Explorer seats 6 or 7 passengers across three rows; the Edge seats 5 passengers across two rows. The Explorer is longer and taller than the Edge. For buyers transitioning from an Edge, the size step up is real — worth experiencing in person before making a decision.

Does the Explorer have a hybrid option like the Escape?

No — the 2026 Ford Explorer does not offer a hybrid or plug-in hybrid option. The Escape is available with hybrid and PHEV powertrains; the Explorer is not. For Escape hybrid or PHEV owners who are prioritizing electrification and fuel efficiency, this is an important distinction to factor into any comparison with the Explorer.

Does Jay Malone Ford offer factory ordering on the Explorer?

Yes — Jay Malone Ford in Hutchinson, MN factory orders any 2026 Explorer configuration at no extra charge. If the exact trim, color, or package combination you want isn’t on our lot, we can order it built to your specifications. We never charge extra to locate or order a vehicle. Contact our team at (320) 587-4748 or stop by at 1165 Hwy 7 W in Hutchinson.

My Take: Who Should Make the Move to Explorer

I’ve had this conversation with a lot of Escape and Edge owners at Jay Malone Ford over the past several months. The buyers who clearly belong in an Explorer are the ones who look back at the last year and realize they’ve been making the two-row SUV work for a family that has genuinely outgrown it. Three kids, aging parents who travel with them, a growing need for cargo space, or a towing situation that always felt slightly underpowered — those are the buyers the Explorer was built for.

The buyers who should think twice are the ones whose family hasn’t grown and whose driving patterns don’t demand what the Explorer adds. Stepping up in vehicle size because your previous model is being discontinued is not a good reason to buy a larger vehicle than you need.

If you’re not sure which side of that line you’re on, come in and we’ll figure it out together. We’d rather put you in the right vehicle than sell you a bigger one. That’s how we’ve operated in Hutchinson since 2005 and it’s not changing.