Ford unveils 2023 Escape to sell alongside Bronco Sport in highly competitive compact SUV segment

DETROIT — Ford Motor is updating its fashionable Escape arsenic portion of a two-pronged income strategy alongside the newer, much rugged Bronco Sport successful the highly competitory compact SUV segment.

Ford expects the caller plan of the 2023 Escape, successful operation with further convenience and information technologies, to assistance it sustain, if not grow, income of the vehicle.

"The Escape is already our 4th best-selling conveyance wrong our portfolio, and we deliberation we've got an accidental to turn further," said Craig Patterson, Ford SUV selling manager, during a media briefing.

With the update, Ford is besides adding a caller ST athletics bundle that the institution expects to relationship for astir fractional of the vehicle's income going forward. It volition beryllium disposable connected 3 models, starting astatine $995. It features darker styling, larger wheels and different features.

The starting terms for the 2023 Escape ranges from astir $29,000 for an entry-level exemplary to $40,000 for a plug-in hybrid electrical vehicle. That compares with the existent lineup with goes for astir $27,000 to $41,000.

The 2023 Escape is expected to statesman arriving successful trader showrooms aboriginal adjacent year. The automaker began taking reservations for the conveyance connected Tuesday.

The extremity is to differentiate the mainstream Escape from the much rugged Bronco Sport, allowing each conveyance to signifier a niche successful the compact conveyance segment, according to Adrienne Zaski, Escape marque manager.

"This conception is large. It tin consciousness commoditized. We deliberation with the enhancements that we person present we're going to beryllium capable to interruption retired of the oversea of sameness," she said.

U.S. income of the Escape outsold the Bronco Sport by astir 30,000 units done the 3rd 4th of this year. The Bronco Sport started arriving successful Ford dealerships successful the middle of past year.

Both vehicles stock the aforesaid conveyance platform, oregon underpinnings, but are produced astatine antithetic plants. The Bronco Sport is made astatine a works successful Mexico, portion the Escape is assembled astatine Ford's Louisville Assembly Plant successful Kentucky.

The 2023 Escape features headlights akin to the electric Mustang Mach-E and is besides disposable with a afloat LED airy barroom crossed the beforehand of the vehicle. Other updates see a refreshed interior, including larger screens; wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; and further information features.

The Escape retains its powertrain options, including a accepted hybrid and plug-in hybrid electrical vehicle. Every exemplary successful the caller lineup targets an EPA-estimated scope of astatine slightest 400 miles per tank, according to Ford. The hybrid with front-wheel-drive targets an EPA-estimated scope of much than 550 miles.

Ford said the plug-in hybrid electrical exemplary accounts for lone astir 7% to 8% of existent portion sales. Depending connected parts and earthy worldly costs, the carmaker whitethorn look to grow income of those vehicles, according to Zaski. Sales of the accepted hybrid is constrained owed to proviso concatenation issues and accounts for astir 15% to 20% of sale, Patterson said.