Detroit Bureau Chief Aaron Bragman and Road Test Editor Brian Normile got behind the wheel of the refreshed 2023 Ford Escape ST-Line Elite for the first time as part of Cars.com’s 2023 Compact SUV Challenge.
The Escape ST-Line Elite has a lot to offer from a driving performance perspective, particularly with its 2.0-liter EcoBoost powertrain. Aaron and Brian enjoyed driving the Escape on the twisty roads above Palm Springs, Calif., which isn’t something they can say about every compact SUV. But the Escape is not without its flaws: Our experts weren’t fans of the Escape’s interior despite its big, user-friendly touchscreen display. Materials quality could be better, especially for something as expensive as the Escape they tested, and the Escape just isn’t all that comfortable when compared with others in the class.
If this review only whets your appetite, check out Cars.com’s full comparison here on YouTube or head to Cars.com to (gasp) read the full results and see how the Escape fared against five other compact SUVs.
Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
Content
0.226 -> - This is the 2023 Ford
Escape ST-Line Elite.
4.47 -> It's our first chance to
drive it after it's refreshed,
6.93 -> and we had it as part of
a recent comparison test.
9.51 -> Here's what we think.
10.795 -> (upbeat music)
13.02 -> - We haven't seen one
of these for a while.
15.12 -> It's been refreshed
for the '23 model year.
17.19 -> What did you think about it?
18.69 -> - I really liked it.
19.523 -> I think the Escape ST-Line Elite
21.54 -> lives up to the ST-Line
part of things here.
24.948 -> It's one of the most fun to drive.
26.64 -> It's one of the two sort of
sports cars we have here.
29.31 -> Thought the powertrain was great.
30.93 -> Lots of power.
31.86 -> Also the most fuel efficient,
which is a nice bonus.
34.948 -> Very nimble, agile handling.
37.08 -> But there are some penalties.
38.58 -> - [Aaron] Yeah, the ride
quality is just okay.
41.07 -> It is kind of bouncy.
41.94 -> That's part of the whole, I think,
43.29 -> sporty atmosphere of this thing.
45.15 -> I would definitely agree
45.983 -> with you on that EcoBoost powertrain.
47.46 -> It was one of the most
powerful engines here,
49.732 -> and it felt like it,
especially when you're up
51.63 -> in the twisties in the
mountains like above us here.
53.88 -> The thing felt nimble.
54.96 -> It felt light, it felt agile.
56.73 -> And I think that's also partly due
58.05 -> to the fact that it's
really not necessarily
59.58 -> the biggest vehicle in this group.
61.59 -> That shows up in the
cargo numbers as well.
64.17 -> - Yeah, and you know, if fun to drive
66.66 -> were a really important
part of this testing,
69.39 -> this would be a great choice.
70.89 -> But these are family cars,
72.09 -> and it's not really
what you're looking for.
75.09 -> But what really let the
Escape down was its interior.
79.26 -> I thought the quality was just subpar,
81.87 -> especially for what's the
most expensive vehicle here.
85.95 -> And comfort was also an issue.
87.63 -> We rated it least comfortable upfront.
90.24 -> I felt like I was sitting
on top of the seats
92.07 -> instead of in them.
93.99 -> We do enjoy the large SYNC 4 touchscreen.
96.84 -> That's a bonus.
97.8 -> Great graphics, very nice configurability
100.343 -> in the digital instrument panel as well.
103.35 -> But the interior is really
where this falls flat.
105.42 -> - Yeah, some of the
plastic quality in here,
106.86 -> you're not talking about hard plastics,
108.63 -> but you do feel like
they're cheap plastics.
110.384 -> And that also shows up in some
of the technology as well,
112.83 -> like the very unusual heads
up display that operates
116.46 -> on this flip-up transparent
plastic panel that then
120.06 -> essentially puts the
information on the hood.
122.88 -> If you're over five foot six,
to have to lower this thing
125.34 -> far enough to actually see
it, it really would wash out,
128.13 -> especially if you had a white vehicle.
129.3 -> You have the white text on the white hood,
130.86 -> you're not gonna be able to see it.
132.09 -> And there's also a little
unusual plastic button
134.61 -> that controls a number
of different features.
137.04 -> - Yeah, you get your camera controls.
139.53 -> your automatic parking assist,
also your max defrost button.
143.46 -> It just feels like they
wanted to put a set
145.77 -> of physical buttons in the car
147 -> and then were told by
accounting we can only do one.
149.67 -> - Yeah, and it's one button that knows
152.01 -> where your finger is on the strip,
153.12 -> but when you push the entire
thing, the entire thing moves.
155.25 -> And that and a couple of
other issues just made it feel
157.62 -> like they've cheaped out on
some parts of the interior.
159.69 -> So, great vehicle in
terms of fun to drive,
162.245 -> not terribly comfortable,
163.92 -> not great in terms of
plastic and interior quality,
166.17 -> which really shows up
when you've got a number
167.64 -> of other vehicles in the
test that are a couple
169.47 -> thousand dollars less
that have nicer interiors.
172.073 -> And that's really kind of
what let the Escape down.
174.66 -> - [Narrator] If you'd like to read more
175.98 -> and see how it fared in a
compact SUV comparison test,
