With more than a dozen worthy compact SUV/Crossover competitors, you cannot afford to sit comfortably for long. Still relatively fresh from an entire redesign for the 2020 model year, the Ford Escape will reportedly get a refresh in the 2023 model year. Recent spy photos have captured the updated Ford Escape entirely uncovered. The revamped crossover was first seen late last year hidden under a camouflage wrap which is not there in these new photos. This is the first clear look at the refreshed Ford Escape model, which shows significant redesign at the front, modernized cabin, larger infotainment screens, headlights, taillights, and grille design. Here is a closer look at the 2023 Ford Escape.

You require to feast your eyes on the new 2023 Ford Escape. The model features an attractive facelift that helps it look more modern and confident. The aggressive design now matches the massive amount of power the SUV gives. According to Car and Driver, the new Ford Escape has been spotted outside the manufacturing facility in Louisville, Kentucky. The model features slimmer-angle LED headlights with a light bar across the top of the grille. Both the headlights are joined with a light bar in the center. Beneath it is an oval grille with 3D-like elements flanked by intakes on both sides containing new fog lights. Ford redesigned the trapezoidal grille that sits on the restyled crossover face. The grill comes in a smaller shape, with the front bumper being boxier with prominent fog lights. There is also a second grille that lies beneath the upper grille.

According to CarExpert, the rear end has also been restyled. While the changes are subtler, the Escape will come with revamped taillight internals. You should also expect new wheel designs and new shades of paint. The 2023 Ford Escape has a new wheel design and a monochromatic finish. Everything, including the wheel arch trim and the door handles, is painted with the body color. While we are yet to see the interior of the new Escape, it’s not expected to have many significant changes with this upgrade. The current Ford Escape model was an all-new model for the 2020 model year, and it’s unlikely that Ford will make any significant changes to the inside layout. However, the interior will likely be upgraded to include more high-quality materials such as leather upholstery, wood trim, and a soft-touch covered surface. Regarding tech, you shouldn’t be surprised if the model substitutes the 4.2-inch radio display and a larger one replaces the optional 8.0-inch infotainment screen. The 12.3-inch gauge cluster could also come with enhanced graphics. Ford may also expand the available tech to incorporate its Blue Cruise driver-assistant system. Overall, the 2023 Escape features a revised taillight design with a more modern look than the current generation model. The car seems a bit tougher with the addition of a faux skid plate, according to Ford Authority. It has a more mature look for a small crossover when it comes to the overall design aesthetic that Ford enthusiasts will love.

The official specifications for the 2023 Ford Escape have not been released yet, but it’s expected to have more power. But although the new Escape comes with a lightning-like lighting element, you should expect the crossover to come with a battery-electric powertrain. Nevertheless, Ford Escape already provides more engine options than the competitors and doesn’t require more muscle. It comes standard with a 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine that produces 191 horsepower and 19 lb-ft of torque. It also has an upgrade option to the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower and 280 lb-torque. The hybrid and plug-in models have a 2.5 L 4-cylinder engine, 200 hp, paired with an electric motor. When well equipped, the Ford Escape has a towing capacity of up to 3,500 pounds. Generally, it’s expected that the 2023 Ford Escape will carry over with the current engine crops. This means it will continue offering gasoline, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid powertrain engines.

The new Escape will face tough competition from other similar midsize SUVs. For instance, the 2023 Kia Sportage features an entire redesign, while the 2022 Nissan Rogue has a revamped engine with a fuel economy of 33 mpg. The 2023 Honda CR-V and the Hyundai Tucson have redesigns also in the cards. This timely update might be the secret card to keep the Escape higher up on the car shopper list of must-drive SUV models.

The Official 2023 Ford Escape has not been released yet. The starting price of the new 2023 Ford Escape is expected to be about $27,000, with the price increasing by a few hundred bucks to cover the upgrades. Adding the all-wheel-drive increases the price by around $1,500. This price is relatively competitive with a range of compact SUV/crossover competitors. The new design model will likely come with higher comfort levels and enhanced technology, but the price should hold close to the 2022 Ford Escape. The mid-level Escape SEL featuring a 3-cylinder turbo engine should go for about $31,000, while the trim option of turbo 4-cylinder 250-horsepower and AWD will range at 36,000. For the highest trim, you should expect to spend a minimum of $37,000, with the price more likely to go over $40,000 if all the available options, such as the plug-in hybrid powertrain, are loaded onto it.

That’s it. Hopefully, you now have an idea of the yet-to-be-released 2023 Ford Escape. Will the new model target a more upscale buyer? We can only wait to witness this. Ford has not officially released on-sale date information for the 2023 Escape, and we are still waiting for the official pricing and photos info. Fleet production estimates that the production of the refreshed Escape crossover will begin in November 2022. This points to the 2023 Ford Escape release date from December or January 2023. This redesigned model will differentiate the soft crossover from its enthusiast-focused model. Stay tuned for extra Ford Escape updates to infotainment features and cabin trim as the debut day approaches.

Benjamin Smith is one of the managing editors of Moneyinc. He has a strong interest in sports, video games, and above all, food.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.