We've been reporting on the demise of the Ford Escape for a couple years, and it turns out the rumors were half true—while the Escape stuck around for 2025, 2026 really is the end of the line. After this year, Ford is officially pulling the plug to make room for its expanding EV lineup. That makes the 2026 Escape the final chapter for a compact SUV that’s been a familiar name on American roads for over two decades. Here’s what we know about its final bow.
Key Takeaways
- The Escape bows out after 2026 as Ford retools the Louisville Assembly Plant.
- Sales are limited to 44 states due to emissions rules.
- Hybrid models could take on a bigger role in the final lineup.
Why is the Availability of the 2026 Ford Escape Restricted in Some States?
The 2026 Escape won’t be available everywhere. Tougher emissions standards mean California, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, Oregon, and Washington are off the list. Together, those six states make up nearly a quarter of the U.S. market, so that’s a big chunk of buyers who won’t see the final Escape in their local showroom.
If you live in one of those states and still want a new Escape, you’ll have to move fast, or start looking at dealerships across state lines before inventory disappears. Ford is only offering the 2025 model year with a non-California emissions setup, so there’s no workaround incoming.
What’s Changing for 2026?
Since Ford’s sunsetting the Escape, don’t expect any big updates or new trims. In fact, the lineup will be smaller. The biggest change is that hybrid models are now all-wheel drive only—there is no getting them with front-wheel drive anymore.
That might sound like a small detail, but it marks a shift. The hybrid has been a staple of the Escape since 2019 and survived the 2023 refresh that added new trims like the ST-Line. Now, based on early reports, the hybrid could take on an even bigger share of the lineup as Ford closes things out.
Buyers still get some choice under the hood. The lineup includes two gas engines, a hybrid, and a plug-in hybrid. The hybrid generates 192 horsepower, comes standard with all-wheel drive, and returns up to 39 mpg combined. The plug-in hybrid ups the output to 210 horses and adds the perk of electric-only driving for short trips.
On the gas side, there’s a 180-hp turbo three-cylinder paired with an 8-speed automatic and either full-wheel or all-wheel drive. If you want more muscle, the 250-hp turbo four is the one to pick—it’s all-wheel drive and gives the Escape a quicker edge without sacrificing comfort.
Don’t Wait Too Long to Get into a 2026 Escape!
The 2026 Escape isn’t reinventing itself on the way out, but it’s not phoning it in either. It still delivers the mix of practicality and options that kept it popular for years. The difference now is urgency—this is the last chance to buy one new, and in some states, you can’t buy one at all. With production winding down, inventory will only get tighter. If the Escape’s been on your list, now’s the time to make a move.