The Ford Escape has been discontinued, which puts Ford’s small crossover sales in the crosshairs. Can the Bronco Sport be a fitting replacement?
The Ford Escape might not be a lot to look at, and it doesn’t come with all the bells and whistles of most larger SUVs, but it sure does sell in large numbers. The little Escape has been the affordable and practical option from Ford for several years. Now, with its cancellation, those hopes and sales hinge on a vehicle meant for the trails, not the pavement. Has Ford messed up its affordable SUV market by pinning hopes on the wrong vehicle?
It’s not the most alluring, but why should the Ford Escape be discontinued?
Ford discontinued the Escape despite selling nearly 140,000 units last year, more than the Bronco Sport it hopes will fill the gap. Dealers are worried, and the math doesn’t quite add up. Ford has always been a volume seller, with some models that catch your eye and attention, but the real sales come from the models you often overlook until it’s your money that’s being spent. This change in the model lineup has caused some serious Ford dealer concerns, with some stating the Escape was the model that basically made their year.
The Escape was more than just an affordable Ford SUV
The Blue Oval brand had two compact crossovers in its lineup until right before Christmas, when the announcement came in that the Escape was getting the axe. Much like a turkey or pig that becomes the dinner and no longer a guest at the holiday feast, the Escape got the worst Christmas gift anyone could think of. This seems a bit like a strange change of events, considering the rethought Ford electric vehicle strategy and consumers searching for more affordable vehicles than ever before. Did Ford miss out on the changes in the market that call for SUVs that everyone can afford, or did they think that only applies to EVs?
Regardless, seeing the Ford Escape discontinued is strange. The Escape outsold the Bronco Sport and made up more than half of the overall crossover sales for the brand. Can Ford expect to recoup those sales without a compact crossover that competes in the most affordable class? Will the Escape return as a revitalized model, much like the Chevy Trax?
The Ford Escape was discontinued to allow for a new model
The Louisville Assembly Plant, where the Escape was built, has already begun retooling for the next phase of Ford’s plan. Despite pulling back and slowing the movement toward more EVs, Ford is betting big on a small electric pickup truck that should start at $30,000. While this truck makes perfect sense and is a huge deal for the brand, the Escape was the volume sales leader with 139,387 units sold last year before the final version rolled off the assembly line on December 17.
Can the Bronco Sport take over where the Escape leaves off?
Although it sounds like a lot of doom, gloom, and uncertainty for Ford, the Blue Oval brand has been around for a long time and usually understands the market much better than most. That said, the Bronco Sport was right on the heels of the Escape, reaching 134,493 models sold in 2025, which means it held a strong position. The question isn’t whether or not the Bronco Sport can be a good choice; it certainly can, but will it make up the sales hole left by the Escape? If so, the next year of the Bronco Sport should be incredible with nearly 300,000 models sold. Is Ford ready for that?
The Bronco Sport and Escape are mechanical siblings. This could be part of why the Ford Escape was discontinued so unceremoniously, leaving the small off-roader as the only small SUV left in the Ford lineup. This means Ford has a strong quality to continue to sell its small SUV; it can easily go off-road, where most compact crossovers don’t dare venture.
Betting on an EV caused the Ford Escape to be discontinued
Ford might be on the right track, bringing a small electric truck to the market. It was the first brand with an electric truck, the Ford F-150 Lightning, and that pickup was a huge hit right from the start. Unfortunately, the Bronco Sport is built in Mexico, which means it faces tariffs that the Escape didn’t, but maybe Ford can solve that problem as well. Regardless, the Escape is gone, and in its place will be a low-cost electric truck, which could have the same success as the Maverick.
Will you drive the new small electric Ford truck when it arrives?
