Should You Take the Ford Escape Off Road?
The Ford Escape can take on some light trails, but save the serious off-roading for a more rugged vehicle.
Written by Sarah Gray
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
When outfitted with all-wheel drive, the
Ford Escape
is ready to hit the trail for a casual off-road adventure, but save the serious trail-blazing for another vehicle.When it comes to selecting a good off-road vehicle, you need to consider more than just whether you have good tires and 4-wheel-drive. That’s why we've put together the definitive guide for the Ford Escape’s off-road specs.
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Can the Ford Escape go off-road?
Yes, but only on light trails. While it might not be enthusiasts’ first choice for off-roading, the Ford Escape does have the ground clearance, drive train, and other specs necessary to make it off-road-ready.
The base Escape starts at $26,975 and is less trail-focused than previous model years, but it can still hit the trails and handle slick surfaces when needed.
But there’s more than just affordability to make the Escape a good option for light off-roading, so let’s take a closer look at the specs.
Ground clearance
One of the most important specs to consider when it comes to off-road capability is ground clearance. Even more than tires or drive train, your vehicle’s ground clearance, or ride height, will determine the difference between mastering a trail and getting mired in the muck. The higher your vehicle rides, the more freedom you have to tackle rough and uneven terrain without worrying about damage to your undercarriage.
The Escape offers a ground clearance of 7.8 inches, which is over half an inch less than experts recommend for a safe off-road experience, but it is enough to take on some light trails and terrain.
Your strongest off-road vehicles will offer ride heights with a bare minimum of 8.5 inches, with 8.8 to 10.8 being the most ideal range for real off-roading. When you compare the Escape with a comparable compact SUV like the
Subaru Forester
outfitted with the new Wilderness
package’s 9.2 inches of clearance, it’s obvious the new Ford Bronco Sport
has taken the place of the Escape as the marque’s best compact off-road alternative.Torque
Your best trail-tacklers will feature high torque at low rpm—this is what gives you the power you need to get through thick mud or deep snow and over heavy inclines without having to make a run at them.
Your base and lower-tier Escape models offer 190 lb-ft of torque @ 3000 rpm, but upgrading to the
Titanium’s
2.0L inline-four gets you 280 lb-ft at the same rpm. This certainly isn’t the most powerful compact SUV—a Mazda CX5 Turbo Signature
, for example, offers 310 lb-ft of torque @ 2000 RPMs—but it’s enough to handle basic off-road encounters. Tires
The Escape’s tires don’t do much to help it with its off-road chops. Escapes are equipped with either Michelin Primacy or Continental Procontact all-season tires. This means your tires will last longer than the all-terrain Yokohama GEOLANDARs you’ll find on the Subaru Forester Wilderness, but they won’t offer the same traction and stability of the all-terrains.
Drivetrain
If you’re headed off-road, you need all-wheel drive. All Escape trims are available in either front-wheel or all-wheel-drive, making them good options for heading off the asphalt.
Angles
We’ve already mentioned ground clearance, but now for another key component in determining whether your vehicle can handle the uneven terrain that comes with going off-road—approach and departure angle:
- Approach angle refers to the maximum angle at which a vehicle can climb without interference.
- Departure angle is the maximum angle at which a vehicle can descend without interference.
The Escape’s approach and departure angles are 23.5 and 23.7 degrees respectively. With these numbers, it’s ideal for light off-roading, but much better suited to highway and on-pavement performance.
Off-road rating: Rough and ready
Let’s see how the Ford Escape rates on
Jerry’s
super-technical DIRT rating system, broken down in the table below:Rating | Meaning | Description |
|---|---|---|
D | Don’t Try It | Vehicles better suited to highway conditions |
I | In a Pinch | Vehicles that can handle off-road conditions in certain circumstances |
R | Rough and Ready | Vehicles designed for casual off-roading |
T | Trail Boss | True off-road vehicles capable of tackling a range of terrain |
The Ford Escape earns an R rating. It’s built to handle basic off-roading, dirt roads, level trails, and perhaps a bit of mudding, but if you’re really looking to get dirty, you should consider another option.
The best off-road alternatives to the Ford Escape
There are a lot of options to choose from when it comes to compact SUVs with off-road capabilities. The Ford Escape has some respectable off-road chops, but if it’s not exactly what you need, here are some alternatives you might consider that are within the same price range as the Escape:
Alternative | Model | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
Best alternative for daily driving | 2022 Honda CR-V | $26,575 | The 2022 CR-V provides a more satisfying driving experience thanks to quicker acceleration and sharper handling. |
Best stylish alternative | 2022 Mazda CX-5 | $26,250 | The CX-5’s 2022 facelift provides updated styling with an upscale interior that stands out in a crowd of often-conservative competitors. The turbocharged engine is an added bonus for driving excitement. |
Best alternative for serious off-roading | 2022 Subaru Forester | $25,195 | The Subaru Forester is a great all-around pick for a small SUV with standard AWD and ample ground clearance on all models. |
MORE: Cheap off-road trucks
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