2020 Ford Escape

The segment in which the Escape would be now competing, the compact crossover turf is already muzzling with different products with the segment holding around 20% of the global car market today. In purview of this, Ford has broadened its offering with the new Escape, in order to pack in something for everyone. 

Along with its several aesthetical options, the 2020 Escape allows you to pick from five available trims and three engine options as well. Prices for the base ‘S’ starts at $24,885 and goes all the way up to $33,400.

Trims	S	SE	SE Sport	SEL	Titanium
MSRP (FWD)	$24,885	$27,095	$28,255	$29,255
MSRP (AWD)	$26,385	$28,595		$30,755	$34,900
Engine	1.5 Liter I-3	1.5 Liter I-3	2.5 Liter I-4	1.5 Liter I-3	2.5 Liter I-4
Features	Emergency braking assist	Adds to S -	Adds to SE -	Adds to SE Sport -	Adds to SEL -
	Post-collision safety system	Ford Co-Pilot 360 Assist	SE Sport Premium Package w/Ford Co-Pilot 360 Assist	Sport front seats	Turn signal mirrors
	Blindspot and lane departure warnings accident avoidance system	Satellite radio with 6 months of provided service	Leather steering wheel	Leatherette interiors	Radio w/real-time traffic satellite radio
	Cruise control	Front seatback storage	Aluminum Mini Space-Saver Wheel (VP)	Black Roof-Rail Crossbars	Full LED headlamps
	Electric power steering	Keyless ignition	10-way power driver seat	18 in. wheels	19 in. wheels
	Rearview camera	Dual illuminated vanity mirrors			Titanium Premium Package
	Climate control	Hands-free entry			10 speaker Bang & Olufsen premium audio
	6-way driver and 4-way manual front seats	8 -way power driver's seat with power adjustable lumbar support			10-way power drivers and 6-way power passengers seat
	17" Shadow Silver-Painted Aluminum Wheels	Multi-level heated front seats			Adaptive cruise control
	Heated mirrors	Driver seat with power adjustable lumbar support			Electrochromatic inside rearview mirror
		Rear ventilation ducts			Front and rear parking sensors
		Folding center armrest			Automatic parking assist
		Panoramic Vista Roof			Leather upholstery

As of now, it's available with three engine options to pick from, a 1.5-liter turbo 3 cylinder, 2.0-liter turbo inline-4, and a hybrid. A plug-in hybrid will be joining the fray soon, next year. The S, SE, and SEL trims come standard with a 1.5-liter engine, the same engine that underpins the European model of the new Focus. The Titanium trim gets the hybrid power plant as standard, whereas the hybrid is also offered on the SE Sport trim. The SEL and the Titanium trims can be equipped with the optional 2.0-liter turbo engine.

Which trim to go for?

We would recommend picking up the SE trim that comes standard with a 1.5-liter 3-cylinder engine. The 2020 Ford Escape is certainly not a car with very high ambitions. The SE trim gets decent features and comfort packaging for its class along with ample fuel economy from the 3-cylinder engine.

The behavior of the three available power plants is in sync with the 2020 Ford Escape’s suttle exterior appeal. The 1.5 liter EcoBoost 3 cylinder engine in the S and SE that packs-in 180 horses and 177 ft-lbs of torque has adequate power for the new Escapes proportion. Replacing the earlier 1.5 liter 4 cylinder EcoBoost, the new base engine is more refined and adds an insignificant 2 more horses and 13 lb-ft of torque to the table. 

Power from the engine comes in smooth with a moderate thrust, just as expected in a humble crossover like the Escape. This engine also features a cylinder-deactivation system that shuts off one cylinder during lower power needs. The mechanism does save some extra fuel but it also brings in a dilution in the driving experience. Since this a 3-cylinder engine, you, however, need to consistently push the engine in order to keep it going.

For power hankers, the 2.0 liter EcoBoost 4-cylinder, optional with the SEL and Titanium, adds in some extra zing with its available 250 horses. The enhanced feedback from the engine is fairly audible and so is the extra torque that kicks in every time you make a brisk overtake. Although the engine is not something exhilarating, but its refinement is more pleasing than the base engine.

Models	Ford Escape	Chevrolet Equinox	Honda CRV	Toyota Rav 4	Nissan Rogue
MSRP	$24,885	$23,800	$25,050	$25,850	$25,300
Engine	1.5 Liter 3 cylinder I-4	1.5 Liter I-4	1.5 Liter I-4	2.5 Liter I-4	2.5 Liter I-4
Transmission	8-speed automatic	6-speed shiftable automatic	continuously variable-speed automatic	8-speed shiftable automatic	continuously variable-speed automatic
Horsepower (hp)	180	170	190	203	170
Torque (ft-lbs)	177	203	179	184	175

The hybrid department comprises of a 2.5 liter Atkinson Cycle 4- cylinder engine hooked up to a pair of electric motors and an electronic continuously variable automatic transmission. The hybrid powertrains engagement is almost similar to the EcoBoost engines, except for the unsurprising haziness. However, on strong demands, the electric motors' extra enthusiasm is delightful enough.

Both the available EcoBoost engines are paired to a standard 8-speed automatic transmission. The transmission is polite enough in its operation with smooth upshifts. However, that cannot be said about the downshifts. At city speeds and even occasionally while spirited driving, the transmission seems a bit lazy during downshifts.

Is it menacingly fast?

While the 3-cylinder engine in the base might seem as a downsizing, but the base ‘S’ trims 8.4 seconds run from 0-60, speaks enough about its refinement over the earlier 4-cylinder unit. The 2020 Ford Escape sprints to 60 miles significantly faster than its previous generation’s 9.2 seconds. A smoother transmission with more gears, enhanced aerodynamics, and a lighter body is what enhances the 2020 Escape’s swiftness.

However, switch to the available 2.0 Turbo engine with all-wheel drive and the overall changes in the 2020 Ford Escape, get more pronounced with a 6.9 second 0-60.

Models	Ford Escape S	Chevrolet Equinox L	Honda CRV LX	Toyota Rav 4 LE	Nissan Rogue S
0-60 MPH	8.4	8.3	8.3	8.5	8.7
Quarter mile	NA	16.3	16.4	16.6	16.7
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15k mi/yr)	5.9	6.4	6.2	5.9	6.1

All the other crossovers in the competition have similar readings to the Escape, but each of them to are can be equipped with upgraded engines to enhance those readings.

How does the Escape fare on the Ride and Handling front?

Talk about ride and handling, and the 2020 Ford Escape turns out to be a mixed bag. The new and retuned suspension, lighter body and enhanced electronics are delightfully evident in its poised ride quality, even with the optional 19-inch wheels. What's even more impressive than its ride comfort is the silence inside the cabin that is aided by the enhanced door sealing, laminated acoustic glass, and an isolated rear subframe. There are also different drive modes on offer along with an extra Eco mode on the hybrid power plants that can be switched via a rotary dial. However, it's the Sport mode in which the 2020 Escape feels most energetic and dynamic.

Where the new-gen Escape completely disappoints is the handling part. The nimble and mild exterior sheets don't reciprocate with the way it handles. The steering wheel is precise though, but it has absolutely no feedback. Be it highway cruising, city-dwelling or tackling a turn, there is barely any communication from the steering. The updated suspension does accentuate comfort inside the cabin, but what it doesn't is the grip around corners. Even on the slightest of turns, the Escape loses traction and surprising amount of body roll along with significant understeer. 

How good are the Brakes?

The brakes in the Turbo powered 2020 Escape is similar in size to the outgoing model and so is their performance. However, the same is not true for the stoppers in the hybrid variants, where the pedal feels a lot more firm and convincing.

The brakes seamlessly integrate with the regenerative braking system without any signs of lack of feedback, which is surprising for a hybrid.

Models	Ford Escape S	Chevrolet Equinox L	Honda CRV LX	Toyota Rav 4 LE	Nissan Rogue S
Brake Front (in.)	12.8	11.8	11.1	12.0	11.7
Brake Rear (in.)	12.0	11.3	10.2	11.1	11.5
60-0 MPH (ft.)	128	119	128	134	123

To wow you further, the brakes in the hybrid trim bring the 2020 Escape to a halt from 60-0 in just 122 feet compared to the 128 feet of the turbo-powered models. Among the rivals, the Chevrolet Equinox takes the lead with its 119 feet distance from 60-0, even with comparatively smaller discs than the Escape.

The overall evolution of the 2020 Ford Escape not only enhances its engagement on the road but also optimizes its fuel output. The new Escape with the 1.5 liter 3-cylinder delivers a 30 mpg combined output, 6 miles up from the outgoing models 24. One equipped with the snappier 2.0-liter engine didn't disappoint as well with a healthy 26 mpg combined.

Models	Ford Escape S	Chevrolet Equinox L	Honda CRV LX	Toyota Rav 4 LE	Nissan Rogue S
MPG (city)	27	26	28	26	26
MPG (highway	33	31	34	35	33
MPG (combined)	30	28	30	30	29

When equipped with the 2020 Ford Escape’s base 1.5-liter engine, all the competitors post somewhat similar numbers on the economy table. EPA estimates for the hybrid is not available yet, but Ford says that the 2.5 hybrid apparatus paired with a front-wheel-drive system should have a 550-mile range on its 14.2-gallon tank. Decoding that into simpler arithmetic, we expect the hybrid to put up some 40 odd miles per gallon. 

We expect that the Escape hybrid’s fuel efficiency should be lower than its closest competitor, the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid, because of Ford’s smaller 1.1 kWh smaller liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery pack. The hybrid Escape is also going to face some heat from the newly announced 2020 Honda CRV Hybrid, which Honda says shall do 42 mpg.

With grown-up dimensions comes more interior space and that's very true with the 2020 Ford Escape. Even though it looks much more nimble than its predecessor, but the new Escape’s interior feels roomier than the outgoing version. The stretched-up proportions and the lowered body allowed Ford to carve a lower beltline with larger windows translating into better outward visibility and airiness inside the cabin. 

The interior layout is certainly refreshing and better than its earlier generation, but the plasticky materials don't carry the same vibe as a CRV. The Titanium trim gets up to 10-way power adjustable drivers and a 6-way power-adjustable passenger seat.

Models	Ford Escape S	Chevrolet Equinox L	Honda CRV LX	Toyota Rav 4 LE	Nissan Rogue S
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	40.0/57.6/42.4	40.0/57.2/40.9	40.1/57.9/41.3	39.5/57.8/41.0	41.6/56.6/43.0
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	39.3/56.0/40.7	38.5/55.5/39.9	39.2/55.6/40.4	39.5/56.4/37.8	38.5/55.9/37.9

The seats in the lower trims come wrapped in cloth, however, there is leather available in the Titanium that is soft to touch but not the something very premium. The seats are comfortable enough for the segment and also offer good all-around space. 

The rear seats have a decent incline angle and can be slid back and forth by 6 meters for better legroom and more cargo space at the rear. Among the competition, the Nissan Rogue with its larger proportions offers enhanced roominess inside the cabin as well as better space around the front seats. However, the Rogue’s rear seat space is not as good as the Escape.

What does the Infotainment system feel like?

Among the few things that haven't been changed in the 2020 Ford Escape is the Sync3 infotainment. The system in the Escape features an 8.0-inch floating infotainment screen that is very intuitive to operate. The system is very aptly packed with features and has a clean interface as well. A manual gauge cluster is standard but an optional 12.3-inch digital cluster is also available. However, with the finicky graphics and awful animation along with complex configurability, the digital gauge is not as effective and useful to operate than the ones available in its rivals. 

Also part of the optional goodies is a 6.0-inch head-up display that pops out of the dash rather than glass-projection mechanism. For music lovers on the go, the lower trims are equipped with a 6-speaker audio system, whereas the loaded Titanium gets a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium audio system which is among the best in the segment.

What is the Cargo capacity of the Ford Escape?

Where the 2020 Ford Escape’s enhanced proportions also shine is the improved cargo area. A 37.5 cu-ft of space behind the second bench is up by 3.5 cu-ft from the outgoing models 34.0.

Apart from the sliding functionality of the rear seats, they can also be folded in a 40:20:40 ratio to open up extra cargo space.

Models	Ford Escape	Chevrolet Equinox L	Honda CRV LX	Toyota Rav 4 LE	Nissan Rogue S
Cargo Volume (cu.-ft)	37.5	29.9	37.6	37.5	39.3

When we compared the 2020 Escape with its competitors, it certainly isn't the most generous in boot space offering. The 2020 Escapes’ cargo space is decent for its segment and on-par with the class average. However, the Nissan Rogue with its chunkier proportion offers the best in class 39.3 cu-ft of cargo room.

What are the most notable features on the inside?

• USB connectivity
• Speed sensitive volume control
• FordPass Connect
• 8 cup holders
• Urethane steering wheel with cruise and audio controls, manual tilt and telescoping steering column
• Visor Vanity Mirrors (Driver and Front Passenger)
• 3 Powerpoints– Front of Center Console, Rear of Center Console and Cargo Area
• Center Console with Convenient Media Bin
• Selectable Drive Mode
• Intelligent Access with Push-Button Start
• 10-way Power Driver seat with Front Row Heat
• FordPass Connect
• SYNC 3
• Available ambient lighting

It's on the outside where the 2020 Ford Escape has changed most drastically. Gone are the boxy proportions and hatchback on steroids' appearance. Although the new 4th gen Escape is longer, wider and lower than its predecessor, it now wears an exterior sheet that is much more angular than any of Ford’s crossover before.

The lowered stance along with clean and curvy body lines running across its profile makes it look as mannered as a sedan, unlike its more bulkier and aggressive rivals.

Models	Ford Escape S	Chevrolet Equinox L	Honda CRV LX	Toyota Rav 4 LE	Nissan Rogue S
Length (in)	180.5	183.1	180.6	180.9	184.5
Width (in	74.1	72.6	73.0	73.0	72.4
Height (in)	66.1	65.4	66.1	67.0	66.3
Ground clearance (in)			7.8	8.4	7.8
Wheelbase (in)	106.7	107.3	104.7	105.9	106.5
Track width (in) F/R	62.4/61.8	62.2.62.2	63.0/63.7	63.0/63.7	62.8/62.8
Curb weight (lbs)	3299	3274	3473	3370	3456

A longer nose that features a low slung blacked out hexagonal grille along with the new Focus inspire LED headlamps, reminds of Porsche’s though. At the rear, there are new sleeker horizontal taillights along with Escape badging in chrome. Overall, the 2020 Ford Escape has generally evolved by shedding off its masculinity and we like the evolution though. In the entire Ford lineup, this is the only crossover that looks as humble and modest as a car.

Which are the most eye-catching features?

Ford has stepped up its game in terms of the features that it offers in its cars. For the 2020 Escape, Ford has bundled quite a lot of features on the Escape, to make it stand tall among its adversaries. Some of the highlights include 

• Panoramic vista roof
• Daytime running lights
• Body-color rear spoiler
• LED Signature Lighting
• Dual chrome exhaust tips
• Hands-Free, Foot-Activated Liftgate
• Halogen Fog lamps
• Rain-Sensing Wipers
• Acoustic Laminated Front Door Side Glass

The 2020 Ford Escape is more tuned for a car-like presentation on the road. However, that tuning is not only limited to its proportions and performance, but also in the safety department. Needless to say, the new Escape is very well loaded with adequate safety features for its class. Some of which include -

• 4-Wheel ABS
• Emergency Braking Preparation
• Post and pre- Collision Safety System
• Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags
• Front And Rear Head Airbags
• Stability Control
• Emergency Braking Assist
• Blind Spot And Lane Departure Warnings Accident Avoidance System
• Traction Control
• BLIS with Cross-Traffic Alert
• Rear View Camera
• Auto High-Beam Headlamps
• AdvanceTrac with RSC (Roll Stability Control)
• SOS Post-Crash Alert System

Ford Escape vs Chevrolet Equinox

The Chevrolet Equinox might be a more value proportion for those looking for a more complete package. While the Chevy might not have the Escape’s more modern and refreshed tech and features list as well as the super-smooth ride quality of the Escape, but it certainly has some edges over the Ford. The Equinox offers more practicality than the Ford Escape. The Equinox also offers a decent ride comfort, but where it aces is its third row of seats and better off-roading capability.

Ford Escape vs Honda CRV

The Honda CRV is considered one of the benchmarks in the segment. Apart from the Escape’s nimbleness, the CRV topples the Ford in almost every aspect. It has a more premium interior build quality than the Escape, offers better ride and handling, is loaded with all the tech-stuff available in the segment and has a third row as well.

Ford Escape vs Toyota Rav 4

One of the world's largest selling crossovers, the Toyota Rav4 has a rock-solid presence in its segment that is very hard for any other car to challenge. The RAV4 has a punchier engine than the Escape, its interior layout is more soothing, has a sturdy road presence and offers a great off-roading ability as well. Above all, it handles much better than the Escape and has very responsive steering. 

Ford Escape vs Nissan Rogue

When compared to the 2020 Ford Escape, the Nissan Rogue seems more like a mixed bag. While its engine is not as refined as the Escape’s and offers a hazy driving experience, but it does aces ahead of the Ford on certain terms. It has a more premium and well-built interior, offers better cargo space along with a third row and has plenty of standard features as well. 

 

If you have been a fan of Ford’s sedans and are quite depressed that you won't get a nimble Ford in the States anymore, well Ford is certainly concerned about you. The 2020 Ford Escape just strikes the right balance between the driving dynamics of a compact car along with the practicality of a crossover.