2023 Ford Escape: Facelifted medium SUV shown in unofficial renderings

The oft-forgotten Ford Escape medium SUV is set to go under the knife for 2023, picking up a new look and extra technology.

A new pair of unofficial renderings have imagined what the facelifted crossover will look like.

These illustrations are courtesy of Russian website Kolesa.ru, and are inspired by a fleet of camouflaged 2023 Escape prototypes spotted around the United States over the past month by Carscoops.

A modest facelift is expected to help keep the Escape fresh amongst its rivals in the evolving medium SUV segment – a necessary move in order to maintain sales.

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The current-generation Escape/Kuga (the latter badge its previous name in Australia and ongoing insignia in Europe) was unveiled globally in April 2019, before it went on sale locally around 18 months later.

These renderings showcase a reshaped Mustang Mach-E-inspired front fascia, with a larger and wider front grille and slimmer matrix-LED headlights. A new trapezoidal-shaped lower bumper is also joined by a redesigned set of air intakes with rectangular fog lights.

Minor changes to the rear-end of the Escape are expected, with the rendering showing a pair of clear tail-light lenses featuring a revised internal LED signature.

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Above: the current Ford Escape, which launched in Australia during October 2020

Although not shown, a redesigned lower rear bumper and new alloy wheel designs will likely finalise exterior changes to the new-look medium SUV.

Meanwhile, the interior of the Escape is anticipated to be upgraded with new technology derived from the facelifted Focus hatch unveiled in October, including; enhanced active safety equipment, a larger 13.2-inch touchscreen with Ford’s latest Sync 4 infotainment system in place of the current 8-inch Sync 3 unit, and rear occupant alert.

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Above: the current Ford Escape, which launched in Australia during October 2020

These enhanced safety features include an upgraded blind-spot monitoring system which can steer away from a collision at speeds of up to 200km/h, as well as intersection autonomous emergency braking (AEB) to avoid a crash if the vehicle steers into the path of an oncoming car.

North American models could also pick up Ford’s BlueCruise highway driving assistance system, which combines adaptive cruise control with lane-keep assist to provide Level 2 autonomous capability.

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Above: the current Escape interior in flagship Vignale form

The engine range of the updated Escape is tipped to remain familiar in Australia, with the medium SUV currently propelled by the choice of a 2.0-litre turbocharged four, producing 183kW of power and 387Nm of torque, or a delayed 167kW Atkinson Cycle 2.5-litre plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain expected to join the local range in the second quarter of 2022.

The Spanish-built Escape has struggled to gain momentum in Australia since the launch of the current-generation model in October/November 2020, with local deliveries of the crossover largely affected by the global semiconductor chip shortage over the course of the past year.

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Above: the interior of the facelifted Ford Focus ST; likely to inspire the updated Escape cabin

VFACTS data shows 1244 units of the Escape have been sold in Australia from January 1, 2021 to October 31, 2021, in comparison to 30,933 Toyota RAV4s and 22,030 Mazda CX-5s registered over the same period.

A local launch in late-2022 or early-2023 is expected, with the refreshed Escape likely to be unveiled overseas in the coming months – potentially during the 2022 North American International Auto Show in June.