2023 Ford Escape First Drive Review: New ST Line adds much-needed style
The refreshed Escape looks better, gets improved tech
John Beltz Snyder
Jun 7th 2023
autoblog.com
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — I’ve always liked the current Ford Escape and have been able to look past its flaws, chiefly uninspired looks and drab interiors, in favor of its respectable driving dynamics and overall practical execution within the small SUV segment. Its refresh for the 2023 model year helps smooth some of those rough edges out. It’s still nothing mind-blowing, and the Escape inhabits a mighty competitive slice of the market, but the new ST-Line Elite trim only reiterated why I like this vehicle, and now it’s even easier to recommend.
The 2023 Ford Escape gets subtle exterior updates that go a long way to making this little crossover more attractive. It sees the most improvements up front, where a new grille mimics the handsome looks of the Ford Edge, with even a whiff of Mustang Mach-E. The grille transforms in shape from a goofy smile to a determined grimace, and is moved higher in the fascia with the Blue Oval placed inside instead of above (which is why it now looks more like the Edge instead of the European-market Focus). The new LED headlights — reflectors are standard, but higher trims get projectors — get a more serious look to them, too. Our ST-Line Elite also has a fresh light bar spanning the width of the nose below the hood (it looks fantastic at night), which is a tad reminiscent of the thicker bar spanning the face of the F-150 Lightning. The hood is also slightly reshaped with more prominent creases.
CONTINUE AT LINK ABOVE
Images courtesy of, and credited to, autoblog.com
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The refreshed Escape looks better, gets improved tech
John Beltz Snyder
Jun 7th 2023
autoblog.com
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — I’ve always liked the current Ford Escape and have been able to look past its flaws, chiefly uninspired looks and drab interiors, in favor of its respectable driving dynamics and overall practical execution within the small SUV segment. Its refresh for the 2023 model year helps smooth some of those rough edges out. It’s still nothing mind-blowing, and the Escape inhabits a mighty competitive slice of the market, but the new ST-Line Elite trim only reiterated why I like this vehicle, and now it’s even easier to recommend.
The 2023 Ford Escape gets subtle exterior updates that go a long way to making this little crossover more attractive. It sees the most improvements up front, where a new grille mimics the handsome looks of the Ford Edge, with even a whiff of Mustang Mach-E. The grille transforms in shape from a goofy smile to a determined grimace, and is moved higher in the fascia with the Blue Oval placed inside instead of above (which is why it now looks more like the Edge instead of the European-market Focus). The new LED headlights — reflectors are standard, but higher trims get projectors — get a more serious look to them, too. Our ST-Line Elite also has a fresh light bar spanning the width of the nose below the hood (it looks fantastic at night), which is a tad reminiscent of the thicker bar spanning the face of the F-150 Lightning. The hood is also slightly reshaped with more prominent creases.
CONTINUE AT LINK ABOVE
Images courtesy of, and credited to, autoblog.com
