Rumors suggested that the 2025 model year would mark the end of the Escape, but the crossover lives on for 2026. Availability of that 2026 Ford Escape, however, is restricted. Ford’s website even posts a notice to curious shoppers, specifying which states aren’t going to see the crossover for its final model year.
As a reminder, the 2026 Ford Escape can’t be sold in six U.S. states, meaning buyers in the market for a compact crossover in California, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, Oregon, and Washington will have to look elsewhere. This is because the 2026 Escape is only offered with the non-California compliant emissions system, meaning it’s not legal for sale in the states that adopted those regulations.
The Blue Oval is aware that buyers in those six states might head to its website to check out the 2026 Ford Escape, so it forces users to navigate through a popup outlining the restrictions.
“The 2026 Ford Escape is not certified for emissions requirements with the California Air Resources Board,” reads the warning. “Therefore, it is not available for purchase by customers intending to register their vehicle in states that have adopted California’s certification requirements for the 2026 model year, specifically California, Massachusetts, Oregon, New York, Washington, and Vermont.”
Instead, the website directs buyers to explore the 2025 Escape, which features a 50-state emissions system, meaning it complies to California-spec emissions laws. However, they’ll be out of luck when all units of the 2025 Escape sitting on dealer lots on those states are sold off.
For those that can go out and buy a 2026 Ford Escape, they’ll find that the crossover going to cost them a bit more than the 2025 model year vehicle, depending on the trim level. The entry level Escape Active starts at $30,350 not accounting for destination freight charges (DFC), up $835 compared to its 2025 model year counterpart. On the other end of the spectrum, the ST-Line Elite starts at $38,935 without DFC, up $2,030. To top it off, there are fewer “free” colors on offer, too.
It's a well-used example decommissioned a few years ago.
While one of its chief rivals has grown considerably.
Dropping its offerings to just six colors.
Small and mighty versus over-the-top aggressive.
This one is guaranteed to rake in big bucks.
