Your Guide to Finding the Perfect 2025 Escape

The Ford Escape is a stylish compact SUV that’s remarkably fun to drive, with great features for you to enjoy inside and out. That being said, when you come to us looking for a Ford Escape for sale, you’ll find numerous trim levels and a wide range of options to choose from. We love being able to offer all of these different choices to our customers, though we recognize that it can be difficult to decide on which model has everything you are looking for. That’s why we work so hard to understand what our customers need and make sure you find the perfect vehicle that you will love driving. We also know that many people like to have things figured out before visiting us, so let’s check out the different options and trim levels you should consider as we prepare you to make your Escape.

First Consideration: Which Engine Is Right for You?

When you’re looking for a compact SUV, you might not be too worried about its engine, but Ford is well known for vehicles with powerful engines that make them fun to drive. A lot of similar SUVs perform just fine but don’t have much that makes them particularly exciting; that’s not what you’ll find with the 2025 Ford Escape. In fact, not only do you get great performance with this vehicle, but you have four different engines available to you. That’s one of the reasons we’re starting with this, especially since your choice of engine can guide which trim levels and other options are best for you.

The standard engine is the perfect place to start and it provides plenty of power, making it a great choice for a wide range of drivers. It’s a 1.5L EcoBoost turbocharged I-3 engine that provides 180 hp and 199 lb-ft of torque, which is great performance for a small SUV like this. You get an estimated 27 MPG in the city and 34 MPG on the highway for fuel efficiency with this engine and front-wheel drive (FWD), making it sporty and efficient. If you’re looking for boosted performance, then there’s an available 2.0L EcoBoost turbocharged I-4 engine that delivers a remarkable 250 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque—the most power for the Escape. With this engine, you get an estimated 23 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highway, partly because it’s only offered with all-wheel drive (AWD)—we’ll get into that more in a moment.

If you’re looking for greater fuel efficiency, then Ford gives you two different hybrid options for the 2025 Escape, both of which let you go a lot further between stops for gas. To start, there’s a 2.5L hybrid that provides 192 hp, which is paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) rather than the standard eight-speed automatic that you get with the previous two. You can choose this engine on any of the ST-Line or Platinum trims (more on those later). This one gets an estimated 42 MPG in the city, 36 MPG on the highway, and 39 MPG of combined fuel efficiency. By comparison, the standard engine gets 30 MPG of combined gas mileage, so that’s a significant difference and a big advantage for this engine.

For something a bit different, though incredibly fun to drive, there’s also a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) version of the 2025 Escape. This model comes with a 2.5L plug-in hybrid engine that delivers 210 hp and also comes with a CVT like the other hybrid. What sets this apart, however, is that it not only provides fantastic overall gas mileage but also offers up to 37 miles of all-electric range, so you can make short trips without using any gas. This is a great one to consider if you’re interested in seeing how an electric vehicle might work for you but are not ready to go all-electric just yet. You can’t go wrong with any of these engines; the right one simply depends on what you’re looking for from your SUV.

Second Consideration: What Drivetrain Do You Prefer?

We’ve already mentioned that you can get both FWD and AWD with the 2025 Ford Escape, but we wanted to go into a little more detail here. Starting trim levels come with FWD as the standard drivetrain, which is perfect for getting around town each day and enjoying what the Escape has to offer. It feels nimble and sporty, beautifully complementing the standard 1.5L EcoBoost engine while providing impressive fuel efficiency. For most drivers, FWD can be perfect, and it feels natural for a small SUV like this.

If you’re looking for something with enhanced overall traction and control, then you should consider a Ford Escape with AWD instead. This is available for the starting trims, and it comes standard on Escape models with the 2.0L EcoBoost engine. AWD on the Escape feels fantastic, keeping you in control with enhanced traction even in rough weather and on dirt or gravel roads. It also beautifully pairs with the increased power of the available engine, providing you with a vehicle that you’ll love driving each day. If you go with the standard or hybrid engine, you can choose between these two options, so keep that in mind.

Third Consideration: Which Trim Level Has What You Need?

Once you’ve considered the kind of performance you want, it’s a good idea to decide which trim level (or a couple possibilities) has what you’re looking for. You have six different trims to choose from, but your choice of engine greatly impacts which model or models you should focus on. If you like the standard 1.5L EcoBoost engine, then the Active and ST-Line trims are the ones you want to look at. The Active comes with impressive safety tech like Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking and a Blind Spot Information System, plus an eight-inch infotainment screen and a six-speaker sound system. Choosing the ST-Line gives you similar features, though it has Sport Contour Bucket Seats up front with distinct Red stitching and an eight-way power driver’s seat for you to enjoy.

For enhanced performance with the 2.0L EcoBoost engine, you should check out the ST-Line Select, ST-Line Elite, and Platinum models. Along with the more powerful engine, the ST-Line Select trim comes with 18-inch wheels, a power liftgate in the rear, and many of the same interior features as the standard ST-Line model. With the ST-Line Elite, you get 19-inch wheels, gorgeous exterior details including dual chrome exhaust tips, and an upgraded interior that features a 12.3-inch Full Digital Instrument Cluster and 13.2-inch infotainment display. The Platinum trim represents everything the Escape offers, with gorgeous features inside and out, including comfortable ActiveX seating with a 10-speaker B&O sound system available.

Finally, there’s the Escape Plug-in Hybrid model, which is the way to go if you’re interested in a PHEV—this is the only trim with this engine. Along with the plug-in hybrid powertrain, you get 18-inch wheels, a Piano Black front grille with a stylish chrome strip, body color and chrome details across the exterior, and the power liftgate at the back. Inside, this model features the 13.2-inch infotainment display and comfortable sport contour seating; available options include the large 12.3-inch Full Digital Instrument Cluster, the B&O sound system, and ActiveX trimmed seating with quilting and mini-perforation for added comfort.

We Can Help You Escape the Ordinary

When shopping for a 2025 Ford Escape, the best approach is to start with the engines since that will guide your other decisions. If you like the standard powertrain, then check out the Active and ST-Line models; for enhanced performance, go with the ST-Line Select, Elite, or Platinum trims—these also give you access to the available hybrid engine. Finally, if you want a plug-in hybrid, then you have just one trim to choose from, which makes finding the right one a lot easier. From there, you can explore different available options and features across the trim levels since your selection becomes more focused. And if you’re still unsure what you want from your next SUV, don’t worry because we’re here at Parks Ford Hendersonville to help you with everything you need and get you in the perfect vehicle.