2013 Ford Escape priced less than 2012

If you ask Ford Motor Co. about the base price of the company’s redesigned 2013 Escape crossover, it will tell you that at $23,295, including shipping, it’s $200 less than the outgoing model. The problem is, that’s not quite true. The 2012 Ford Escape starts at an MSRP of $22,265 including destination—more than $1,000 less than a 2013. But since the 2012 is available with a manual transmission and the 2013 is automatic-only, Ford is comparing the automatic-transmission models of the two vehicles. Fair enough. But Ford’s numbers also obscure the fact that top trim levels of the 2013 Escape have an MSRP that is thousands of dollars more than the former Escape Limited, even before incentives are factored in. The new-for-2013 top-shelf Escape Titanium model will sticker for $31,195, including $825 for shipping. The previous top trim level was the Limited, which started at $27,195—a whopping $4,000 jump between 2012 and 2013. Apples aren’t necessarily apples, though. As Ford spokesperson Angie Kozleski explained, the Escape Titanium is a new, premium vehicle, better equipped than the former Escape Limited. According to Ford, the 2013 Escape SEL is more closely aligned with the 2012 Limited, and the price hike between those two models is a less-dramatic $1,500. Unless you want a more powerful engine, that is. The Escape is no longer offered with a V6 engine for 2013, but Ford does offer a turbocharged 2.0-liter EcoBoost I4 that makes comparable power (using premium fuel). However, the price difference between a 2012 Escape XLT V6 and a 2013 SEL 2.0 spikes to nearly $3,000—a hefty premium, particularly for customers who are skeptical about the smaller, turbocharged engine. So what does all of that additional money buy? Extra style for sure: The redesigned Escape is a radical departure from the current 2012 model, which has the boxy look associated with traditional SUVs. The 2013 Escape is also available with many technologies more often associated with luxury vehicles. Most of these technologies are not available on the current 2012 Ford Escape.