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Ford introduced the “Escape” crossover for the 2001 model year. The nameplate served valiantly for 20 years. Then Ford’s introduction of the buzzy Bronco Sport on the Escape’s platform–at the Escape’s price point–made it completely obsolete. But instead of giving the Escape a dignified end, Ford just continues letting it limp along, watching the Bronco take over as the Escape is outlawed in one state after another.

In 2021, Ford resurrected the Bronco nameplate. The “big” Bronco is a full-frame Jeep Wrangler competitor. It shares its platform with the Ford Ranger pickup truck. The Bronco Sport is a unibody crossover. It shares a chassis–and a Mexican factory–with the Ford Maverick. But the interesting thing about this unibody SUV and pickup truck is that they also inherited the Ford Escape’s engine options. You can get a 1.5-liter “EcoBoost” turbocharged I3, or a 2.0-liter I4 version.

The Bronco Sport and Escape are direct competitors. The 2025 Escape starts at $29,514 while the Bronco Sport has a $29,995 MSRP. Yes, the Bronco Sport is a bit chunkier, but it only gives up about 3 mpg to the Escape in highway fuel efficiency. So why is Ford even bothering building the Escape? The answer may come down to factories.

While Ford is building its Bronco Sport in Mexico, the Escape comes from its Louisville Assembly plant. For some reason, Ford decided not to retool Louisville to produce the Bronco Sport/Maverick. So it just keeps building Escapes there. It has committed to retool the plant for an upcoming EV model. The UAW recently said this retooling will begin as early as December 2025. Yet we are still hearing about a 2026 Ford Escape! Well, kind of.

Ford has announced a 2026 model year Escape, built in Louisville. But there’s a catch. You won’t be able to order one in California, New York Massachusetts, Vermont, Oregon, or Washington. Why? These six states have passed the same emissions standards, which get stricter periodically. So either Ford would have to retest the Escape and doesn’t want to, or the crossover was once compliant but won’t be in 2026.

Will retooling fall behind schedule and the Escape will remain in production for much of 2026? Or will “2026” Escapes just be a few surplus crossovers built between now and the end of 2025? We’ll have to wait and see. But one thing’s for sure. Even this long-lived crossover can’t escape its fate.

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Staff Writer

Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari is a MotorBiscuit Staff Writer who brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Henry covers Ford models daily, including the F-150. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. He’s an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts. Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont.