Ford Edge vs. Escape: A Comparison

• The Ford Edge and Escape cater to similar markets but differ in features; the Edge offers higher safety ratings and power, while the Escape is more fuel-efficient and affordable.
• Both SUVs offer ample cargo space and modern interior features, but the Edge provides slightly more room.
• They have capable towing and engine options; however, the Escape offers better fuel efficiency through its hybrid model.

For some potential buyers, it’s all about car make and model. If you’re stuck between the Ford Edge and the Escape, the table below illustrates the main differences separating these SUVs from the Blue Oval: 

To make your decision even more complicated, the Ford Explorer offers a larger platform with even more of the capabilities Ford is known for. Check out the comparisons between the Ford Explorer vs. Expedition and the Ford Edge vs. Explorer to learn more about Ford’s larger SUV. 

Between the Ford Escape and Edge, the Escape starts at a lower price. The table below demonstrates the pricing and trims available for each platform: 

Learning how to buy a car online requires understanding that the MSRP listed above doesn’t include several dealership fees associated with your purchase. For example, the taxes, titling, and registration can add several thousand dollars to the above MSRP. Keep this in mind if you’re working off a budget. 

The Ford Edge and Escape share similar dimensions and seat up to five people. The 2024 Ford Edge has a wheelbase of 112.2 inches with a maximum height of 68.3 inches. Max width is 85.8 inches at the widest, with a maximum length of 188.8 inches. The back seat legroom measures 40.6 inches. 

Comparatively, the 2023 Ford Escape has a 106.7-inch wheelbase with a max height of 66.1 inches. The widest part of the Escape measures 85.6 inches, and it’s slightly shorter than the 2024 Edge at 181.2 inches in length. The rear-seat legroom in the Escape measures up to 40.7 inches with the gas-powered variants but only 38.9 inches in plug-in hybrid and hybrid models. 

Interior features on the Ford Edge and Escape aren’t strikingly different at first glance if you ignore the orientation of the center infotainment screen. Besides integrating this critical element in various ways, the Ford Edge and Escape offer cloth and leather seating, a power liftgate, and heated front seats, depending on which trim you choose. The Escape features a panoramic vista roof and ambient lighting, while the Edge incorporates a heated steering wheel and easy-release second-row seats. 

Cargo volume on the 2024 Ford Edge maxes out at 73.4 cubic feet behind the first row. With the second-row seats folded up, that number decreases by about half to 39.2 cubic feet. Compare that to the cargo capacity on the 2023 Ford Escape, which maxes out at 65.4 cubic feet on gas-powered variants and 60.8 cubic feet on hybrid and plug-in hybrid models. Behind the Escape’s second row, drivers can expect up to 37.5 cubic feet of cargo space with gas models and 34.4 cubic feet with alternatively fueled variants. 

The Ford Escape and Edge can tow up to 3,500 pounds when properly equipped. Both SUVs rely upon similar cues in exterior styling, with the broad Blue Oval grille surrounded by headlights that flare back along key body lines. The Edge retains the rounded appearance characteristic of many midsize SUVs. However, the Escape incorporates a forward-looking design with a tapered rear section and dynamic sails that suggest movement. 

The Ford Edge features two powerplants: a 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder and a 2.7-liter turbo V6 EcoBoost engine. The smaller Edge engine puts 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque to the pavement. The V6 model sports 335 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque. 

In contrast, the Ford Escape calls upon smaller engine options with less power. The 1.5-liter turbo EcoBoost has 180 horsepower and 199 lb-ft of torque. A larger 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine matches the 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque of the small Edge engine. In addition, a 2.5-liter inline-four hybrid powertrain makes 192 horsepower and 155 lb-ft of torque, while the plug-in version ups the ante to 210 horsepower. 

The 2024 Ford Edge AWD makes 19 city and 25 highway miles-per-gallon (MPG) with the V6 EcoBoost engine and 21 city and 28 highway MPG with the smaller four-cylinder engine. In contrast, the 2023 Ford Escape AWD makes 23 city and 31 highway MPG with the 2.0-liter engine. The 1.5-liter models reach 26 city and 32 highway MPG, while hybrid powerplants make 42 city and 36 highway MPG. Front-wheel drive 2023 Escape models achieve 27 city and 34 highway MPG. 

The 2024 Ford Edge technology includes the SYNC 4A infotainment system, a 12-inch touchscreen, and available wireless phone charging. The Edge also has Alexa Built-In, Ford Power-Up, and the FordPass Connect 4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot. Ford’s Co-Pilot360 suite of available safety features includes the Lane-Keeping System, Rear View Camera, Blind Spot Information System with Cross-Traffic Alert, and Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking. 

The 2023 Ford Escape incorporates several technological advances for the Blue Oval, including the SYNC 4 infotainment system, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Escape also features Alexa Built-In, a B&O Sound System courtesy of Bang & Olufsen, and a 360-degree camera system. Available driver-assistance technology and safety features include a Rear View Camera, Evasive Steering Assist, a Lane-Keeping System, Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control, and many Co-Pilot360 features found on the 2024 Ford Edge. 

The 2024 Ford Edge earned “Good” ratings in all categories from the IIHS. Similarly, the NHTSA awarded the front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) 2024 variants with a five-out-of-five-star overall safety rating. In contrast, the 2023 Ford Escape received “Good” ratings in all categories from the IIHS, except the “Side: updated test,” where it scored “Marginal.” However, the NHTSA also rated the 2023 Ford Escape gas, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid models with five-out-of-five-star overall safety ratings. 

Technically considered a midsize SUV, the Ford Edge has begun to show its age. As Ford shifts the lineup, the Edge may be on the chopping block, with 2024 models closing out the books for this nameplate. However, the Edge has dutifully carried the Blue Oval’s name since the early 2000s and will likely remain popular in the used car arena for quite some time. 

The Ford Escape does well among customers looking for a compact SUV that’s as design-forward as it is technologically capable. The Escape received a more recent update than the Edge and resembles a slightly more rounded, smaller version of the Explorer. The Ford Escape offers a hybrid variant and represents less of a financial investment than the Edge, at least for 2024.