2020 Ford Escape

There is no dearth of power as well as the Escape comes with three engine options. A 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine comes standard with the base while a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine powers the SE and Titanium trim. There is also a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine that comes optional. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay have been made available for the current model year along with some other desirable features like the automatic climate control. Prices for the Escape starts at $23,750.

The base 2020 Ford Escape S retails at $24,850. That’s below the segment favourite Honda C-RV (starting from $25,150) and Mazda CX-5 ($25,045). However, stay away from the Escape S as it lacks any desired features and comes with the downright unsatisfactory 2.5L I4. If budget is a stumbling block, go for Kia Sportage (you will be spared from being unfairly treated for opting lowest trim).

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.

You can choose AWD ($1,750 extra), Ford’s Safe and Smart package with active safety features, driver assistance systems, and others. The story of pay more, get more continues as you go higher up the chain with top end Ford Titanium (can cross $40,000 fully loaded) being most luxurious, and most expensive in the segment.

We Recommend

We would recommend picking up the SE trim that comes standard with a 1.5-litre 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 ford escape has three engine options and one of them, the 2.0L EcoBoost, is the most powerful among rivals. The steering feels alive and the suspension keeps the body motions in check. All these make for a satisfying driving experience. However, all these sportiness also comes with a compromise – jittery ride quality.

The Escape comes with three engine option and a single 6-Speed Automatic. The base 2.5L naturally aspirated engine only acts as a tool to advertise low starting price. It lacks on both fuel efficiency and performance (168hp @ 6000 rpm and 170 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm). It’s a strict no-no for anyone shopping for a Ford Escape.

The 1.5L EcoBoost is a good choice delivering 180 bhp @ 6000 rpm and 177 pounds-feet starting from as low 2500 rpm. High torque lower down the engine speed range improves drivability. The peak power is on par with the competition and the 6-Speed Automatic is a smooth companion to this refined engine.

If you need that shove in the back while escaping the city life, the 2.0L EcoBoost delivers segment crushing 245 bhp at 5500 rpm and peak torque of 275 pounds-feet as low as 3000 rpm. The available 4WD option ensures you keep escaping when city ends and wilderness starts.

Acceleration

The Ford Escape with the base 2.5L engine accelerates like a bullock cart – taking 9.1 seconds for a 0-60 sprint. That’s almost a second slower than the next slowest rival. However, swap that oldie with the swanky 2.0L EcoBoost and the escape truly starts to fly. 0-60 mph is done in 7.3 seconds – fastest among the competition.

It could have been faster but the lack of traction off the line (evident by long squealing noise from the wheel) eats greatly on 0-60 time. However, once the escape gets a good hold on the tarmac, you get a good shove in the back.

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.

Ride and Handling 

The handling qualities of the Ford Escape is in line with its name – Escape. Down the sinuous road, it hunts corner like a hound and you are left questioning yourself how you can enjoy a drive in a high riding crossover. The ride quality though is not compromised and the Ford Escape remains supple in the city or on highway excursion.

Ford Escape comes standard with front-wheel drive with an option to upgrade to all-wheel drive. This compact SUV feels more athletic than most of its competitors. The steering feels sharp while the well-tuned suspension makes the ride smooth.

Braking Performance

After impressing everybody on other dynamic fronts, the Ford Escape brake lets it down. It took longest to stop from 70 mph – 184 feet, almost 10 feet more than the nearest competition.

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

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 base 2.5-0liter delivers 21 mpg in city and 29 mpg on the highway for a combined EPA rating of 24 mpg. What’s eye-opening is the fact the far throatier 2.0 EcoBoost delivers similar results - 21 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway for a combined EPA rating of 24 mpg.

The most frugal in the lineup is 1.5L EcoBoost with 23 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway for a combined EPA rating of 26 mpg. That’s unimpressive against the most efficient competitor – Honda CRV with 26 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway for a combined EPA rating of 28 mpg.

The Ford Escape can be had with plenty of amenities if you are ready to pay. The base S trim gets 6-way manual seats while Escape SE gets 10-way power seats. Memory function is added higher up the chain. The D-pillar is thick (a trend in crossovers) and compromises rear visibility. The panoramic vista roof is optional in Escape SE, Escape SEL and Escape Titanium trim.

The Ford Escape can seat up to five passengers. The front passengers are treated with generous legroom and comfortable seats. The rear seats are also comfortable but they offer lowest in class legroom and are somewhat cramped for adults. A “media bin” located in the centre console has USB and as the name suggests, is designed to accommodate your smartphone or tablets.

Ingress and egress are made easy by the big wide opening doors. The eight-way power driver seat in the SE trim along with manual tilt and telescoping steering wheel combines together to help the driver get a good view of the road. The rear seat also has an ample amount of head and legroom but fails to impress when it comes to what competitors are offering.

Interior Features :

• 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

Infotainment System

The Ford Escape comes with SYNC infotainment system in lower-trim while the higher trims get the latest SYNC-3 infotainment. Lower trims get the base 6-Speaker Audio system while the top of line Escape Titanium gets 10-Speakers Sony audio system. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are 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. 

Cargo Capacity

The Escape has 37 cubic feet of luggage capacity with all seats up – respectable among the competition. However, the Honda CR-V has a segment-leading 39 cubic feet luggage capacity. 

The rear seats fold in 60/40 split and when completely folded, they liberate 68 cubic feet of space – again respectable but less than Honda CR-V (76 cubic feet). 34.0.

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

The Ford Escape exterior exudes athletic elegance. The design starts from the Aston Martin-like front grille (signature of modern fords) protruding in the airstream. From there on, numerous tight line seems to drape the escape giving an overall impression of a fast block of stone-hurling through a silky cloth.

The most noticeable of these are two crisp lines on the bonnet that look like a crease on that aforementioned hypothetical cloth. We think the Ford’s Ruby Red looks most striking as it beautifully highlights the creases and its metallic sheen perfectly complements the chrome garnish in the grille making for an upscale look. White Platinum also works great if you are a fan of that colour.

The explorer has an average length among the competition at 178.1 inches. For comparison, the lengthiest competitor – Honda CR-V is 184.6 inch in length. It has the lowest width and its height is below average. All this makes for a compact proportion. The Escape is, however, one of the heaviest compact SUVs. In the entire Ford lineup, Escape is the only crossover that looks as humble and modest as a car.

Exterior 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-colour 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 watching for a more comprehensive package. While the Chevy might not have the Escape’s more modern and renewed tech and features list as well as the super-smooth ride character 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 CR V is one of the best compact SUV in the segment and is a better vehicle than the Escape. Though the Escape can easily accommodate adults in the second row, the CRV offers slightly better legroom in the second row. Honda also leads when it comes to cargo space with 76 cubic feet.

The new CR-V continues on the path of its predecessor offering a combination of sumptuous and spacious interiors, segment-best fuel economy, predictable handling and well-controlled body motions, good ride quality, and plenty of techs. All this in a reliable and safe package that’s priced appropriately leaves little to complain. However, ford is more deliciously equipped if you are ready to pay liberally.

Ford Escape vs Nissan Rogue

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

The Ford Escape is a well-rounded choice that looks expensive in its class and comes impressively equipped too. But that’s not impressive because it is actually more expensive than competitors and so it’s worth looking at an economical option.

Ford Escape happens to be the most enticing option for anyone who looks for the most upmarket thing in anything they buy. It’s not just cosmetic, the ride quality is supple and the car handles with precision making it a genuine fun to drive alternative to the Mazda CX-5. What’s more, the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine is the shining star in the segment with almost 245 horsepower on tap.

However, the CR-V proves to be as good (and in many criteria like interior space and cargo capacity, better) for a lower price with far better fuel efficiency too. On the other hand, those in search of a low-cost alternative will find the Kia Sportage fulfilling most of their needs.