2019 Ford Escape Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byDan FrioReviews Editor

　　Dan spent many years covering the go-fast, look-good, get-loud corners of the automotive universe. First, he served as editor of enthusiast magazines AutoSound and Honda Tuning, then as executive editor at SEMA News, the publishing arm of the trade group that produces the annual SEMA Show (yes, that show). As a contributor to zzdcar, he now likes to keep the volume low and the speed limit legal, providing expert car-shopping advice to drivers looking for the perfect match.

　　

What's new

Sync 3 infotainment now standard on SE trims (previously optional)Keyless entry and push-button ignition now standard on SE and SEL trimsPart of the third Escape generation introduced for 2013

　　The 2019 Ford Escape is a rare breed of compact crossover that deftly blends performance and utility. Sporty handling and a powerful turbocharged engine make the Escape drive more like a sedan, without sacrificing SUV versatility, making it a best-of-both-worlds choice.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 Ford Escape S 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$154/mo  for Escape S

　　Escape S

　　S 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 6A) - $24,105 MSRPSE 4dr SUV (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A) - $26,500 MSRPSE 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A) (Most Popular) - $28,000 MSRPSEL 4dr SUV (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A) - $28,445 MSRPSEL 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A) - $29,945 MSRPTitanium 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A) - $32,620 MSRPTitanium 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A) - $34,120 MSRP

　　vs

　　$166/mo

　　Avg. Compact SUV

　　Cargo space ranks near the top of the class (only Honda and Toyota offer more) and optional all-wheel drive offers more confidence in wet weather; front-wheel drive is standard. The optional 245-horsepower 2.0-liter engine is a blast, but if you don't need all that power or the accompanying fuel bill, there's a more sensible turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder with 179 hp. Both engines pair with a six-speed automatic transmission.

　　But the Escape isn't without fault. This generation is getting on in years, and its overall look and design are dated. Also, now-common driver aids (blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control) are optional. Rivals such as the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 now offer them standard on almost every trim level. Finally, the Escape's interior feels more mundane and less refined than the cabins of many of its competitors. Overall, though, we think the 2019 Escape is still worth checking out.

　　

What's it like to live with?

To learn more about the Ford Escape of this generation, read our updates from a full year and more than 20,000 miles of living with a Ford Escape SE. We cover everything from seat comfort to real-world reliability. We were impressed with the performance from the Escape's turbocharged 2.0-liter engine but think it falls short in many other areas. Get the full scoop from our long-term test. Note that while we tested a 2017 Escape, the 2019 Escape is of the same generation. Other than some minor differences in standard and optional equipment for the SE trim, all of our reporting still applies.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

7.1 / 10

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our test of the Ford Escape SE (turbo 1.5L inline-4 | 6-speed automatic | AWD).

　　NOTE: Since this test was conducted in 2017, the current generation Escape has been updated with new infotainment features and driver aids. Our findings remain broadly applicable to this year's Escape, however.

　　

Scorecard

Overall	7.1 / 10
Driving	7.0
Comfort	7.0
Interior	7.5
Utility	7.5
Technology	7.0

　　

Driving

7.0

　　With snappy engine response and strong braking and handling, the Escape feels more like a sport sedan than a touring crossover. But this quality comes at the expense of ride comfort. The dull steering feel, low-grip tires and slow gear changes also undermine the Escape's sporting potential.

　　

Acceleration

7.5

　　The turbo 1.5-liter four-cylinder is slow to get going from a stop. In our test, it did 0-60 mph in 9.6 seconds, almost a full second slower than a notable rival. It feels more lively once the turbo spools up, from 40 to 70 mph, for example. A 0-60 mph run in a turbo 2.0-liter Escape took just 7 seconds.

　　

Braking

7.5

　　The brakes deliver smooth, linear stopping power with no lurching or grabbing. The pedal is easy to modulate during casual slowdowns, while emergency stops yield more tire squeal than antilock drama. In testing, the Escape stopped from 60 mph in 119 feet, a good result for this class.

　　

Steering

7.0

　　The steering has the typical artificial, electrically assisted feel, but enough information comes through the front tires and the steering wheel to make good decisions. It's not luxury-car dull but it's also not the quick, reactive steering you'd want in a crossover with sporty intentions.

　　

Handling

7.5

　　This is a capable, fun handler that's somewhat limited by low-grip all-season tires. Despite its tall ride height, the Escape is surprisingly composed. But the spirited handling comes at a cost to ride quality. Some competitors, such as the Mazda CX-5, achieve a better balance between sport and comfort.

　　

Drivability

6.0

　　The accelerator pedal response is smooth, but the transmission tuning isn't great and shifts are slow. Whether using the shift paddles in Drive or Sport mode, downshifts don't happen as quickly as we'd like them to. This can be an issue when merging with traffic.

　　

Off-road

7.5

　　Its ground clearance (7.8 inches) is better than some competitors', so it's capable of handling some dirt. A 22-degree approach angle also allows it to start up modest inclines, but all-season tires limit scrambling ability. Optional all-wheel drive is meant more for wet asphalt than a muddy trail.

　　

Comfort

7.0

　　Supportive seats, minimal engine noise and strong climate control are the Escape's best comfort attributes. But ride quality suffers at the expense of sporty handling, with a choppy, vibrating jostle and hum on all but the smoothest roads. Other competitors do better at touring or commuting comfort.

　　

Seat comfort

7.0

　　Cloth seats offer all-day comfort and a good range of power adjustments. Power-adjustable lumbar is aggressive, like a foam roller in your back at max inflation. Front seat cushions and seatbacks are narrow, probably not ideal for bigger occupants. The rear seats are fairly flat with decent support.

　　

Ride comfort

6.0

　　The firm suspension tuning gives the Escape a bumpy ride on most road surfaces. Not teeth-rattling but noticeable. It's not our first choice for metro highway commuting. Other crossover SUVs do a better job of soaking road bumps while maintaining agility.

　　

Noise & vibration

7.5

　　The engine is quieter and sounds more refined than some competitors, with a pleasant, throaty growl when you floor the pedal. There's plenty of tire and wind noise, however, which transmits freely into the cabin at highway speeds.

　　

Climate control

7.0

　　Dual-zone climate control is a nice touch, but our test vehicle had no heated seats. Air conditioning blows strong and cold, even on a 100-degree day. But the controls are odd; the up/down fan speed dials are separated by the LCD screen, for example. The air vent locations aren't ideal.

　　

Interior

7.5

　　The Escape's sharp, modern angles looked good five years ago but now feel dated. Even so, it's a nice design with controls that are easy to see, access and use. With easy entry and exit and a high driving perch, the Escape feels and drives smaller than it looks. That's a good thing.

　　

Ease of use

7.5

　　Frequently used controls are in easy reach and easy to use, but a glare hood over the touchscreen makes it tricky to press accurately. A dial-and-button control cluster would be better. The cruise control button placement on the steering wheel requires acrobatic thumbs if you often adjust settings.

　　

Getting in/getting out

7.5

　　The seat height is just right. Like a minivan, there's no bending down to get in and no excessive drop when you exit. The narrow thigh bolsters are also shallow, making it easy to slide in and out of the front seats. Entering/exiting the rear seats is even easier.

　　

Driving position

7.5

　　The seats offer a wide range of power adjustments, including lower thigh support, and a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel makes it easy to find a comfortable setting. Whether you prefer to sit up high in the car or lower in the cockpit for a sportier feel, the Escape accommodates.

　　

Roominess

7.0

　　Cabin space feels on par with room in other compact SUVs, though the Escape trails the Honda CR-V and Chevy Equinox in overall EPA passenger volume. Still there's enough head- and legroom to accommodate four adults comfortably. (Five adults is pushing it.) The smartly packaged interior gives a sense of air and space.

　　

Visibility

6.5

　　A large square windshield offers a good forward view, but only average side visibility as the beltline rises and tapers around to the rear. The large rear headrests obstruct the view out back, creating a pronounced passenger-side blind spot. Getting the optional parking sensors would be a good decision.

　　

Quality

7.5

　　The build quality appears solid for an SUV at this price. Durable materials fit the Escape's bill as a light-adventure vehicle, at least at this trim level. (Leather and fancier materials are available on the Titanium trim.) You won't feel bad putting this car to work and dragging a bit of dirt inside.

　　

Utility

7.5

　　The Escape lacks useful small nooks and storage spaces, but it compensates with a large and flexible cargo hold offering 68 cubic feet of max cargo space (with the second-row seats folded down) or 34 cubic feet for groceries and luggage behind an upright second row. That's a lot of useful space.

　　

Small-item storage

7.0

　　The Escape doesn't have many spots for smaller items. The door pockets can hold slim bottles, but a small SUV like this that purports to inspire and enable adventure needs larger spaces for big containers, medium-size tools and smaller personal items. The center console is deep but not very wide.

　　

Cargo space

8.0

　　Fold-flat 60/40-split rear seats and an optional power liftgate enhance space and utility. The lack of a seatback release from the cargo area is a minor inconvenience. Removing headrests and folding seats create a lot of flexibility for long items such as skis, surfboards and bikes.

　　

Child safety seat accommodation

7.5

　　The LATCH anchors are easy to find and access. The front seats offer a good degree of fore and aft travel to accommodate both front- and rear-facing seats.

　　

Towing

7.0

　　Properly equipped with the Class II Trailer Tow package, an Escape with the turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, like our test car, can tow up to 2,000 pounds, which is better than the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4 at 1,500 pounds.

　　

Technology

7.0

　　The Escape once set the bar for voice-controlled technology in this class, but now it's only midpack. Ford's Sync 3 infotainment software improves on the earlier Sync/MyFord Touch systems, but utility is still limited. Awful satellite radio sound quality and performance drag down the score.

　　

Audio & navigation

5.5

　　Audio & Navigation comment: The sound quality is decent overall, but the satellite radio quality is pitiful, as is the antenna. Signal dropouts and long reacquisition times are common. zzdcar' long-term Escape test car had the same issue. Navigation works nicely, although the system defaults to Apple Maps when connected to CarPlay.

　　

Smartphone integration

7.5

　　It offers standard Bluetooth phone and streaming audio integration as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. An easy solution for smartphone pairing.

　　

Driver aids

7.5

　　A rearview camera comes standard, but Ford also offers a decent set of optional driver aids: rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning.

　　

Voice control

7.0

　　It works well within a limited feature set of phone, navigation and audio commands. Users must follow a fairly rigid sequence of commands, and clear enunciation is key. The navigation results were sometimes irrelevant, while voice commands default to your smartphone when plugged into USB.

　　

Which Escape does zzdcar recommend?

　　A Titanium-trim Escape can escalate to an eye-popping price. The SEL trim is a better way to get some desirable features at a reasonable price, including premium cloth upholstery, leather trimmings (steering wheel, shift knob), a power liftgate and rear parking sensors. The Escape's driver aids remain optional, however, so we'd add the Safe and Smart package, which bundles safety tech such as automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring and lane departure warning.

　　

2019 Ford Escape models

　　The 2019 Escape is a compact crossover SUV that comes in S, SE, SEL and Titanium trim levels. The S is fairly bare bones, so we expect most buyers will want to start with an SE, which offers an upgraded engine, nicer wheels, a power-adjustable driver seat and more available options. The SEL trim level adds more convenience features, while the top-trim Titanium adds luxury touches and an even more powerful engine.

　　The S starts with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine (168 horsepower, 170 pound-feet of torque), a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. Standard features include 17-inch steel wheels, automatic headlights, MyKey parental controls, cruise control, air conditioning, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a height-adjustable driver seat, a 60/40-split folding and reclining rear seat.

　　Tech features include a 4.2-inch central display, a rearview camera, the Sync interface with AppLink smartphone integration, Bluetooth, and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player and a USB port. Note that this model is generally aimed at business fleet buyers and may not be easy to find on your local dealer's lot.

　　Upgrading to the SE gets you 17-inch alloy wheels (optional on the S), added chrome exterior trim, sound-reducing window glass, a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine (179 hp, 177 lb-ft), roof rails, foglights, a keyless entry keypad, rear privacy glass, push-button ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, rear air vents, an eight-way power-adjustable driver seat (with power lumbar adjustment), heated front seats, cloth upholstery, a rear center armrest and satellite radio.

　　For infotainment, the SE offers the Sync 3 tech package, which includes an 8-inch touchscreen, enhanced voice controls, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Sync Connect (which includes remote app services and onboard Wi-Fi), and a nine-speaker sound system with dual USB ports.

　　All-wheel drive is optional for SE trims, as is a Sport Appearance package that adds black 19-inch wheels, black-painted exterior trim, LED daytime running lights, paddle shifters, partial leather upholstery, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.

　　The SEL bundles all the SE equipment and adds a power liftgate, roof rack rails, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, premium cloth upholstery (ideal for hot climates, Ford says), power-adjustable side mirrors with heating, and rear parking sensors. A panoramic sunroof and 18-inch wheels are optional in the Sun and Style package and, like the SE trim, the SEL also offers a Sport Appearance package with similar features.

　　At the top of the lineup is the Titanium. It bundles all the SEL features but adds a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (245 hp, 275 lb-ft), a six-speed automatic transmission, 19-inch wheels, a power liftgate, remote start, ambient interior lighting, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, xenon headlights, heated and 10-way power-adjustable front seats, driver-seat memory settings, a 110-volt, household-style power outlet and additional 12-volt power outlets.

　　Also standard are a navigation system, a 10-speaker Sony audio system with HD radio, front and rear parking sensors, and an automated parallel and perpendicular parking feature (which includes front and side parking sensors).

　　The Titanium options are similar to the SEL options, with the exception of an uprated tow package capable of pulling up to 3,500 pounds.

　　A Safe and Smart package is available for the SE, SEL and Titanium trims, and it includes adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, automatic high beams and wipers, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, and lane departure warning and intervention.

　　

2019 Escape Highlights

Trim: SSESELTitaniumS

　　

Base MSRP	$24,105
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	24 MPG
Cost to Drive	$154/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	34.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles