Compared: 2024 Ford Escape vs. 2024 Ford Edge
Ford's compact and midsize five-seat crossovers are more comparable than you might expect.
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Other than the sporty Mustang, Ford primarily sells trucks and SUVs, including the compact Escape and midsize Edge.
While they compete in different classes, these two SUVs are actually reasonable to compare, especially if you're only focused on the exclusively gas-fueled Escape variants. (The 2024 Edge doesn't have a hybrid option.)
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The Edge Costs More Than the Escape
A base 2024 Ford Escape Active starts at about $32,000 and comes with front-wheel drive, a turbocharged three-cylinder engine, and niceties such as blind-spot monitoring and a power liftgate. Two ST-Line trims with more aggressive styling make up the middle of the lineup.
The basic ST-Line starts at around $33,000 and gains 18-inch wheels and a flat-bottom steering wheel, while the $36,000 ST-Line Select adds a more potent four-cylinder engine, LED fog lights, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and more.
The $39,000 Platinum and $40,000 ST-Line Elite trims round out the lineup. Both get more features, such as an LED light strip across the leading edge of the hood, front parking sensors, and a 13.2-inch touchscreen with navigation. The Platinum prioritizes a luxury appearance, while the ST-Line Elite continues with the sporty look found on other ST trims.
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The base 2024 Ford Edge is the SE, which features standard all-wheel drive and a 12.0-inch infotainment screen, at a starting price just shy of $41,000. For about $1,000 more, the SEL gains LED lighting, synthetic leather upholstery, and rear parking sensors.
The ST-Line has black exterior trim and 20-inch wheels for a sporty look, red accent stitching, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a wireless charging pad, all for around $46,000. Features such as synthetic leather upholstery, heated front seats and steering wheel, and a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system grant the Titanium trim a more luxurious feel for roughly the same price.
The performance-oriented Edge ST sits at the top of the lineup with a base price of around $49,000. In addition to having a turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 engine making 335 horsepower, the vehicle offers a performance-tuned suspension, sport seats, and paddle shifters.
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The Edge Wins on Cargo Space
A compact SUV, the Escape measures from 180.1 to 181.2 inches in length, depending on trim level, while the midsize Edge is 188.8 inches long. Surprisingly, passenger space is similar between the two, although the Edge's rear seat is wider than the Escape's.
But the Edge's inch-long advantage in rear-seat headroom is otherwise the most significant difference between the two, and the Escape actually bests the larger SUV in rear-seat legroom, albeit not by much: 40.7 inches to 40.6 inches.
The Edge does have the, well, edge when it comes to cargo volume. It boasts 39.2 cubic-feet behind its second row and 73.4 cu-ft with its second row folded, while the Escape has 37.5 cu-ft and 65.4 cu-ft, respectively.
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The Escape comes standard with front-wheel drive and an 8.0-inch center infotainment screen. By comparison, every Edge comes standard with all-wheel drive and a 12.0-inch center infotainment screen.
All-wheel drive and a vertical 13.2-inch screen can be had on pricier Escape levels. The Edge has two configurable 4.2-inch screens in the instrument cluster as standard, while an 8.0-inch display is standard on the Escape, with a fully digital 12.3-inch display available in certain configurations.
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The Escape Gets Better Fuel Economy
Excluding hybrid and plug-in hybrid models, the 2024 Ford Escape has three powertrain options. Active and ST-Line models use an EcoBoost 180-hp 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder. With front-wheel drive, this engine returns 27/34/30 mpg in city/highway/combined driving. With all-wheel drive, it sees 26/32/28 mpg.
Starting with the ST-Line Select, the Escape gets an Ecoboost 250-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and standard all-wheel drive. These models are rated at 23/31/26 mpg.
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All-wheel drive is standard on the Edge. Its EcoBoost 250-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is rated at 21/28/23 mpg. The Edge ST's 335-hp turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 returns 19/25/21 mpg.
Written by humans.
Edited by humans.
Chris O'NeillI am an auto-industry veteran and a current MBA candidate at the University of Utah. After moving to Utah in October 2015 and being fascinated by the unique car culture of the region, I started an Instagram project highlighting the rare and distinctive vehicles I see in the Mountain West region. I enjoy sharing with others my unique perspective and passion for all things automotive. In my free time, when I’m not thinking and writing about cars, I enjoy photography, toying with my 2011 Volkswagen GTI and 1999 Toyota Land Cruiser, and exploring Utah with my girlfriend and two dogs.
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