New for 2013 Escape trims have been upgraded with Parking Sensors, Leather & Suede Seats, Memory Seat(s), Remote Start, Smart Key, Blind Spot Monitor, Power Hatch/Deck Lid, Rear Spoiler, Turbo Charged Engine, Sony Sound System, and SiriusXM Trial Available as standard equipment this year.

The 2013 Ford Escape is a winner in the segment of small crossover utility vehicles thanks to athletic driving dynamics, an inviting cabin and plenty of useful high-tech features.

Numerous Ford Escape owners have reported a problem with the exterior door handles, which can stick out, bind, or may not return to their original position when used. Meanwhile, a number of Ford Escape owners have reported a clunking noise from the rear end of their vehicles when driving over bumps.

The base 2013 Escape comes with a 168-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. While this engine has good fuel economy ratings of 22/31 mpg city/highway, reviewers suggest bypassing it for either of the turbocharged Ecoboost engines.

The Escape is a competitive small SUV, but only the hybrid version is reliable. We got 26 mpg overall in our tests of the standard 1.5-liter turbo three-cylinder. Although it provides sufficient oomph, it has some vibration at low engine speeds and a rather tinny sound.

The 2022 Escape is also recognized by IIHS as a TOP SAFETY PICK when equipped with specific headlights.

Earlier versions of the Ford Escape garnered a devoted fan base as a versatile and long-lasting compact SUV offering 200,000 miles or more of longevity. But that changed with a redesign in 2013 that introduced a poorly crafted engine that dropped its projected lifespan down to 130,000 miles or less.

The just-right engine choice is the turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder with estimated fuel economy of 23/33 mpg city/highway.

While the Ford Escape is an excellent commuter vehicle, several model years have encountered a variety of major faults. Way.com strongly recommends avoiding these Ford Escape model years – 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, and 2014.

The 2.0L turbocharged inline-four available for the SE, SEL, and Titanium trims boasts 240 horsepower and 270 lb. -ft. of torque while putting out 25 miles to the gallon, making it the best engine option for the 2013 Escape.

Third generation Third generation (2013)

Rankings & Research The 2023 Ford Escape's #10 ranking is based on its score within the Compact SUVs category. Currently the Ford Escape has a score of 7.8 out of 10, which is based on our evaluation of 36 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.