Shoppers researching the 2026 Ford Escape trim levels will find a lineup where each step up adds tangible upgrades in comfort, technology, and driver-assist features, not just a different badge. We here at Lester Glenn Ford in Ocean, NJ have broken down every trim below to help local drivers see exactly what changes as you move through the range.
The 2026 Ford Escape Active runs a 1.5-liter three-cylinder EcoBoost® engine with Auto Start-Stop Technology, paired with standard front-wheel drive and available all-wheel drive. Inside, this new Ford SUV seats five on cloth front bucket seats with a 6-way manual driver seat, backed by dual-zone automatic climate control and a SYNC® 4 infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen. Standard safety technology includes Ford Co-Pilot360® with Pre-Collision Assist®, Lane-Keeping System, and BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System), and the exterior rides on 17-inch Shadow Silver-painted aluminum wheels with a manual liftgate.
The Ford Escape ST-Line keeps the same 1.5-liter EcoBoost® engine and drivetrain choices as the Active trim, but adds a genuinely sportier package throughout. The driver seat upgrades to an 8-way power-adjustable design, paired with a flat-bottom sport steering wheel and sport contour bucket seats, both finished in red accent stitching. Outside, a black mesh grille, a single-wing rear spoiler, a unique rear skid plate, and 18-inch Rock Metallic-painted aluminum wheels give the ST-Line its own visual identity.
The Ford Escape ST-Line Select makes all-wheel drive standard equipment and offers a choice between a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine or an available 2.0-liter four-cylinder EcoBoost® engine. This trim also adds meaningful daily-comfort features the trims below it do not have: heated front-row seats, a heated steering wheel, a power liftgate in place of the manual one, remote start, LED fog lamps, and body-color heated mirrors. The 18-inch Rock Metallic wheel remains standard, with 19-inch Machined-face Ebony-painted aluminum wheels available.
The Ford Escape ST-Line Elite carries the same engine choices and standard all-wheel drive as the ST-Line Select, then adds a substantial technology jump. Ford Co-Pilot360® Assist+ with Adaptive Cruise Control becomes standard, alongside a 13.2-inch center touchscreen, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a wireless charging pad, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a digital rearview camera. The driver seat gains two-way memory settings and a 10-way power adjustment, and the standard wheel steps up to a 19-inch Machined-face Ebony-painted aluminum design.
The Ford Escape Platinum continues to build on the ST-Line Elite. Where it separates itself is in materials and presentation: ActiveX® trimmed seating comes standard rather than optional, and the exterior swaps the ST-Line's black mesh grille and black trim for a piano black grille with a chrome strip, plus chrome window and beltline molding. It rides on the same 19-inch Ebony-painted, machined-face aluminum wheel design as the ST-Line Elite, making seating material and exterior finish the true differentiators at this level.
From the value-focused Active to the refined Platinum, the 2026 Ford Escape lineup offers a trim built around the exact mix of comfort, technology, and style each driver is looking for. Visit our Ford dealership in Ocean, NJ, to browse current inventory or schedule a test drive and find the Ford Escape that fits your needs. Once you've made your choice, our Ford financing team can help make it happen!
Lester Glenn Ford
900 Highway 35
Ocean, NJ 07712