A handful of changes dropped for the 2025 Ford Escape, including some that pertain to its exterior aesthetics. The ST-Line range, for example, lost its body color rocker moldings, adopting black plastic cladding instead, a change that found its way to the crossover’s bumper covers, too. Turns out, the ST-Line models weren’t the only ones to receive updated bumper covers, as the 2025 Escape Active got some minor changes, too.
The 2025 Ford Escape Active now features a rear bumper with a molded-in-color (MIC) black upper fascia and silver lower fascia. That setup, which is standard on the Active trim, is exclusive to the entry level model and cannot be had on any other trim. For reference, the 2024 Ford Escape featured rear molded-in-color bumpers.
The entry level Active trim was subject to several other changes as The Blue Oval continues to streamline its lineup. The trim level no longer sports its premium wrapped steering wheel, which was replaced with a standard urethane steering wheel. The power driver’s seat is also not standard anymore, replaced with a six-way manual driver’s seat.
As a reminder, the 2025 Ford Escape Active FWD starts at $30,590 excluding destination freight charges, while opting for the AWD variant bumps the price to $31,990. That relatively affordable price gets the turbocharged 1.5L EcoBoost I3 engine, good for 181 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque. Ford Co-Pilot360 is standard, bundling automatic high beam headlamps, lane keep assist features, a rearview camera, and other standard safety features. Production began in September 2024, as reported by Ford Authority, at the Louisville Assembly plant in Kentucky.
While the Ford Escape in general is one of the more popular options in its competitive bracket, the crossover is likely to be discontinued after the 2026 model year as The Blue Oval streamlines its lineup. But until then, it’s a good vehicle for buyers interested in an affordable crossover, and Consumer Reports even added the Escape to its list of recommended models, citing its above-average reliability.
Comment
And it looks like a more expensive trim than the all-black on the ST-Line. Needs fixing!