While the 2016 Ford Escape is only offered in a trio of trim levels, multiple engine options and a plethora of add-on packages and features make it an extremely versatile SUV.
Key Points
- Find the 2016 Ford Escape in three unique trim levels: the S, SE, and Titanium.
- Kelley Blue Book pricing ranges from just under $15,000 on an Escape S to nearly $20,000 on Titanium.
- All trims come with Ford’s six-speed SelectShift Transmission, paired to either a 2.5L engine, a 1.8L EcoBoost, or a 2.0L EcoBoost.
- Tech, safety, and convenience features are lacking in S and SE trims. For example, only Escape Titanium offers built-in navigation, blind-spot monitoring, and active park assist, to name a few.
- The minimal cost spread between the S and the Titanium makes the latter an exceptional value overall.
2016 Escape S Has All the Essentials, Offers Several Add-on Packages for Those Wanting More Bells and Whistles
The entry-level trim for the 2016 Ford Escape is the S, and it’s only available in front-wheel-drive (FWD) with the standard 2.5L engine. All Escapes feature a six-speed SelectShift automatic transmission, no matter the trim or engine.
You won’t find fog lights on an S trim, and the door handles are black instead of body-colored, and rather than alloy rims, you get 17-inch steel wheels with hubcaps. Sure, it’s lacking the creature comforts of upper trims. But if you’re okay with cloth seats, a six-speaker sound system, and a 4.2-inch center screen, an Escape S with about 80,000 miles should run just shy of $15,000 on a dealer’s lot, per Kelley Blue Book (KBB).
Optional Packages on Escape S
The S trim comes with several optional features, including:
- 17-inch Sparkle Silver-painted aluminum wheels
- Cargo area protector
- Splash guards
- Wheel lock kit
KBB shows only the aluminum wheels add to the cost of a used 2016 Escape S, and only by about $50-$100.
2016 Escape SE Adds a Surplus of Interior and Exterior Extras, Comes Standard with 1.8L EcoBoost Engine
Upgrading to an SE Escape will get you the 1.8L EcoBoost Engine with Active Grille Shutters, which can be paired with 4WD for an additional $900 or so.
Inside you’ll find premium cloth upholstery, an outside temperature display, chrome-finished door handles, a 10-way power driver’s seat, and a center armrest for rear passengers. Acoustic-laminated front-door glass also comes on Escape SE and helps reduce road noise.
As for the exterior, enjoy:
- Black upper grille with chrome accents
- Body-colored door handles
- Bright beltline moldings
- Dual chrome exhaust tips
- Rear privacy glass
Skid plates are also included on Escape SE, as are 17-inch Sparkle Silver-painted aluminum wheels, fog lights, and Ford’s exclusive SecuriCode keypad feature. Looking up the 2016 Escape SE’s Blue Book Value, we found the fair purchase price of a standard FWD to be $16,400 when buying from a dealer.
Optional Packages on Escape SE
Opt for the 201A Convenience Package on Escape SE and get:
- Eight-inch touchscreen with Sync 3
- Dual-zone automatic climate control
- Nine-speaker sound system
- Reverse sensing with perimeter alarm
Standalone add-ons include the 2.0L EcoBoost engine, 18-inch wheels, black roof rail crossbars, and a cargo area protector. You can also enhance an SE Escape with Ford’s Panoramic Vista Roof, as well as a hands-free power liftgate. However, the latter is only available when paired to the 201A package.
Exclusive to the 2.0L engine, add the Class II Trailer Tow Package and the 2016 Escape will haul up to 3,500 pounds.
The Chrome Package sees the door handles, rear liftgate trim, side-view mirrors, and lower front grille all dipped in chrome. What’s more, get partial leather-trimmed seats and 19-inch chrome-like alloy-finished wheels. Find an Escape with the Cold Weather Package for heated front seats and side mirrors, as well as all-weather floor mats.
While it doesn’t pair with the Chrome or Cold Weather Packages, the Leather Comfort bundle wraps the seats, steering wheel, and shift knob in full leather. It also adds a one-touch up/down feature to the power windows.
A 4WD Escape SE with all the extras should run $17,700, about $2,200 more than the standard build.
2016 Escape Titanium Steps Up the Tech with Many High-end Safety and Convenience Features
The Titanium trim takes a lot of the confusion off the table. Where an SE has many optional goodies, a 2016 Escape Titanium comes with most features as standard, like:
- Leather seats
- Push-button start
- 10-way, heated front seats with driver’s memory
- Eight-inch infotainment screen with Sync 3
- Dual-zone climate control
Unique to the Titanium, a glossy, black-finished upper grille, center stack, and window switch bezels. What’s more, find chrome accents on the tailgate, a foot-activated power liftgate, and silver-painted roof-rack side rails. Ambient lighting also comes on Escape Titanium, illuminating the interior in your choice of seven mood-setting colors.
4WD is still an option, as is the 2.0L engine, giving the standard FWD Titanium trim with the 1.8L EcoBoost a Blue Book Value of about $18,300.
Optional Packages on Escape Titanium
The 2016 Escape Titanium is offered with two add-on packages. The first is the 301A Technology Package, which adds:
- HID headlights
- Blind-spot Information system (BLIS) with cross-traffic alert
- Rain-sensing windshield wipers
- Active park assist
- Forward sensing system
The second optional bundle is the same Class II Trailer Tow Package offered on the SE. Standalone items include 19-inch Premium Luster Nickel-painted wheels, black roof rail crossbars, voice-activated navigation, a rear cargo cover, and the Panoramic Vista Roof.
With all the extras, KBB estimates a December 2021 fair purchase price of about $19,700, $1,400 more than the standard Titanium.
Escape Titanium Offers the Most Value for a Minimal Price Increase
With a base, pre-owned Escape S starting a bit shy of $15,000, a 2016 Titanium model with all the bling only runs about $5,000 more. Considering what you get for this small spread, we can’t help but label the 2016 Escape Titanium as the best bang-for-your-buck trim in the model’s lineup.
Photos: Ford
