Compared: 2022 Ford Escape vs. 2022 Ford Edge

These two-row SUVs differ in size and fuel economy with only one offering hybrid options.

Nicole Wakelin | 

Sep 22, 2023 | 3 min read

Ford | Edge (top), Escape

They may have similar looks and features, but there are big differences between the 2022 Ford Escape and the 2022 Ford Edge. A compact SUV with seating for five, the Escape has less cargo and passenger room than the midsize Edge, but offers more powertrain choices. There's front-wheel or all-wheel drive with gas, hybrid, or plug-in hybrid engines. The Edge, by contrast, is all-wheel drive only and gasoline only. There's also a difference in base price, with the Escape as the more affordable of the two.

Ford | Escape

2022 Ford Escape vs. 2022 Ford Edge: Price

Pricing for the 2022 Ford Escape starts at around $26,000, with front-wheel drive and a turbocharged three-cylinder delivering 181 horsepower. All-wheel drive adds $1,500, but even with it, the Escape is still cheaper than the base-level Edge. The top two Escape trims have an available turbocharged 2.0-liter engine making 250 horsepower paired with all-wheel drive. There's also a hybrid starting at around $28,000 or a plug-in hybrid starting at nearly $37,000. The plug-in is front-wheel drive only, and both hybrids make 200 horsepower.

Although more expensive — about $35,000 to start — the all-wheel-drive 2022 Ford Edge's base engine is larger than the Escape's: a 250-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. The Edge ST model adds a 335-hp twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 and starts at around $44,000.

Ford | Edge

2022 Ford Escape vs. 2022 Ford Edge: Features

There's room for five in both crossovers, but the Escape is smaller inside, with 104 cubic feet of space for passengers in gasoline-powered versions and 102 cu-ft in hybrids. The Edge, meanwhile, offers 114 cu-ft for passengers, a boost of 9 cu-ft.

The difference shrinks if cargo space is your priority. The Edge offers 39 cu-ft for luggage behind the rear seats while the Escape has 38 cu-ft. (That figure drops to 34 cu-ft in the hybrid Escape.)

Befitting its higher price, the Edge comes with better standard equipment than the Escape, such as dual-zone, automatic climate control; a 12.0-inch touchscreen; and LED headlights. The base Escape makes do with single-zone, manual climate control; a basic 4.2-inch screen; and halogen headlamps. That advantage carries all the way into the top trims where the Edge's advantage includes a standard premium Bang & Olufsen audio system, leather seats, and optional heated rear seats.

Ford | Escape

2022 Ford Escape vs. 2022 Ford Edge: Fuel economy

Here's where the Escape shines. Even in all-wheel drive form its fuel economy is superior to that of the Edge, and it also has the gas-saving hybrid options. The front-wheel-drive, 1.5-liter version gets an EPA-estimated 30 mpg; all-wheel drive reduces the number to 28 mpg. The front-wheel-drive hybrid gets 41 mpg. The plug-in hybrid can cover up to 37 miles on electricity, beyond which the gas engine kicks in with a rating of 40 mpg.

By contrast, the Edge gets 23 mpg and the Escape 2.0-liter makes 26 mpg. The 2.7-liter engine in the Edge is the least eco-friendly, getting 21 mpg.

Nicole Wakelin

I write about cars. A lot. That's because I’ve always loved cars and the fact that they regularly hand me the keys to shiny new automobiles so I can write about them is a constant source of amazement. I cover breaking news, write reviews, and attend auto shows and new vehicle launches across the country. The more winding the road and the more unknown the route, the better.