2026 Ford Escape

The Escape is Ford's Rodney Dangerfield — it gets no respect. Overshadowed by the more adventurous Bronco Sport and outclassed by the Honda CR-V and Hyundai Tucson on interior quality, the Escape has struggled to find its audience. Ford's solution? Kill it. The 2026 Escape is the last model year before it's discontinued. That said, there's a case to be made for the Escape as a clearance buy. The plug-in hybrid version offers 37 miles of electric-only range, which covers most daily commutes without burning a drop of gas. The standard hybrid returns 37 MPG combined. Both are solid numbers that many buyers overlook because the Escape doesn't generate the same excitement as its competitors. If you're a practical buyer who wants efficiency above all else and can take advantage of end-of-life incentives, the Escape PHEV might be the smartest compact SUV purchase you can make in 2026. Just go in with your eyes open about future resale value — discontinued models always take a depreciation hit.