Though it received a refresh for the 2023 model year, the Ford Escape has been treated to a pretty extensive list of changes for the 2025 model year, too. This goes far beyond the typical changes we see in things like available exterior colors and package tweaks, as the 2025 Ford Escape has lost quite a few previously-standard features – while gaining precious others. Now, the 2025 Ford Escape has lost yet another previously-standard feature, at least in select trims – the power liftgate.
The power liftgate was previously standard on the Active and ST-Line trims for 2024, but now, it has become a standalone option for those two trims in the 2025 Ford Escape lineup. However, the power liftgate is still included as standard equipment on the 2025 Ford Escape ST-Line Select, ST-Line Elite, Platinum, and PHEV, at least.
This certainly isn’t the only deletion present in the 2025 Ford Escape lineup, however, as Ford Authority has covered in recent days. Active Park Assist 2.0 has now been deleted entirely from the lineup, and the premium wrapped steering wheel – previously standard on the Active trim for 2024 – has been replaced by a urethane steering wheel in the 2025 model.
The 2025 Ford Escape Active has also lost its previously-standard eight-way power driver’s seat as well, replacing it with a six-way manual seat. The ST-Line is losing its aluminum foot pedals that were previously standard on all three ST-Line trims, while the ST-Line Elite and Platinum are ditching the previously-standard ambient lighting. For 2025, the ST-Line and ST-Line Select are losing their monochromatic painted bodyside cladding, rocker panels, and bumpers in favor of molded-in-color components.
The 2025 Ford Escape has also ditched its spare tire in non-hybrid models, which no longer come with that part as standard equipment, and instead, The Blue Oval has gone back to equipping them with the Tire Inflator and Sealant Kit, though a spare is still available as an option for pure ICE models. Finally, rain-sensing wipers are no longer standard on the ST-Line Elite and Platinum trims, too. As far as exterior colors go, Space Silver Metallic has been added as a no-cost option for all trims, though Iconic Silver Metallic and Race Red have also been deleted.
We’ll have more on the 2025 Ford Escape soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for the latest Ford Escape news and continuous Ford news coverage.
Comments
The entire automotive internet is laughing about this abomination. Now $27995 seems way too high. Try $23995.
Could they decontent this thing any more? I’m a Ford loyalist as far as the domestic automakers are concerned, but lots of little choices like this erode that loyalty.
The shrinkflation at Ford is out of control. Maybe its time to just pack it in. Outrageous prices and less options, thats a recipe for success.
The more options, Ford takes away the less their apt to sell these vehicles! If they start taking items away on their premium models, they might as well stop selling the Escape, because the more the items in a car, the more they’ll sell! That’s what I think and I’ve been buying new Ford cars and trucks, since 1971! If they start doing the same to there other cars, which they’ve done to some other ones, they will lose they’re buyers and they will go on to other buyers, with cars or trucks that have more standard options! Sorry, but in my realm of thinking, that’s what will happen! More standard options, with a cheaper price, the more sales!
Ford is quietly admitting that it never should have dropped the Base trim and is attempting to turn the Active, the sweet spot of the ’23s-24s, into the Base. Forcing many buyers into the underperforming ST-Line to get those features back. For more $ than the Active was. Cleverly gouging.
The new trims for ’23 were unnecessary. The ’22 trims were just fine and was just one of 10,000 recent bad decisions.
I’m waiting for orange crates in place of seats. In the motor home industry they often have a model labeled “LE: witch means Less Equipment. At least an honest description.
🇬🇧🇬🇧Does anyone ever use that park assist???? Me neither.
To be honest I don’t particularly want a multi movement drivers seat..the manual is for quicker. I do love my electric ( powered) tail lift…here in the UK its still standard on the base (Titanium) model. Escapes are known as Kugas outside the US.
The Titanium used to indicate the top model in any range, now its that horrible black ST Line.
which has no different performance over the prettier Titanium.
Power drivers seat is a mandatory for folks of below and above-average stature and automakers seem to disagree, cheaply. Power liftgate is mandatory for movement-challenged, which many Escape customers are. Ford just doesn’t get it.
Build&Price may be up but it has misinformation, like colors that we know are deleted. I’d trust the Order Guide a lot more, whenever that is published. Looks like an ST-Line (3-cylinder) prices out a whopping $500 less than last year, when the deletions that are available still as standalones are added back in.