The Ford Escape gets a refreshed exterior and new trim line up for 2023.

A huge part of why the Ford Escape is so special has to do with its drivetrain options. Gone are the days of naturally aspirated V6's providing robust power at the cost of fuel economy. Escape owners will get to choose from one of three efficient powertrain options. A 1.5L turbocharged 3-cylinder engine makes 180 horsepower and paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, standard on the Base, Active and ST-Line trims. And even though it's a tiny engine for the amount of power it makes, Ford have gone the extra mile and added a cylinder deactivation system, helping to further save gas. A 2.5L naturally aspirated 4-cylinder engine that makes 163 horsepower using a CVT transmission. The Base, Active, ST-Line, Platinum are available in front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. The PHEV is only available in front-wheel drive while the ST-Line Select, and ST-Line Elite are both all-wheel drive.

The Base trim starts with 17-inch steel wheel, an 8-inch touchscreen, SYNC, rear camera, wi-fi hotspot, blind-spot monitor, lane departure mitigation, forward collision mitigation.

The Active trim adds a power liftgate, alloy wheels, power driver lumbar, automatic dual-zone climate control, satellite radio, 4 USB ports, push button start, a privacy tinted windows.

The ST-line is considered the best value of all trims, enhancing the previous trims with 18-inch wheels, a wing spoiler, roof rails, and sport bucket seats.

The PHEV trim features a hybrid electric motor that produces 210 horsepower with a 14.4 kWh lithium ion battery, with an all-electric range of 37 miles and a combined range of 520 miles, regenerative brakes, heated sport bucket front seats, a 13.2-inch touchscreen, voice activated navigation, adaptive cruise control, rear parking sensors, and a heated steering wheel.

The Platinum trim is fully loaded with LED fog lights, 19-inch alloy wheels, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, 10-way power driver seats with lumbar, driver memory seats, ambient lights, a 13.2-inch touchscreen, real-time traffic and weather, wireless device charging, 4 USB ports, a 12.3-inch driver display gauge, surround view cameras, rain detecting wipers and front and rear parking sensors.

Safety features include an active lane departure system, blind spot warning, forward and rear collision mitigation, pedestrian detection, and a driver attention alert.

The Ford Escape continues to be a standout in the compact SUV class where it competes with established names such as the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4. The new Escape should offer fantastic value by giving buyers a good compromise between interior room, sporty looks and fuel efficiency. While other SUV's in the segment can seem a little bare bone at times, the 2023 Escape offers a slightly more upscale feel thanks to all the technology on offer.

Sleek styling; available all-wheel drive; practical, yet small enough for the city; clever use of interior space; multiple hybrid drivetrain choices