2020 Ford Escape Review

　　

2020 Ford Escape 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.

　　Ford has redesigned its popular Escape small SUV for 2020. As before, it's a sensible and practical vehicle that can do just about anything you need it to. Bigger than Ford's EcoSport SUV but smaller than the three-row Explorer, the Escape competes against other well-known models such as the Chevrolet Equinox, Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Ford Escape S 4dr SUV (1.5L 3cyl Turbo 8A) 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

　　$128/mo  for Escape S

　　Escape S

　　S 4dr SUV (1.5L 3cyl Turbo 8A) - $24,885 MSRPS 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 3cyl Turbo 8A) - $26,385 MSRPSE 4dr SUV (1.5L 3cyl Turbo 8A) - $27,105 MSRPSE 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 3cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $28,605 MSRPSE Sport 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid EVT) - $28,265 MSRPSE Sport 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid EVT) - $29,765 MSRPSEL 4dr SUV (1.5L 3cyl Turbo 8A) - $29,265 MSRPSEL 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 3cyl Turbo 8A) - $30,765 MSRPSEL 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $33,050 MSRPTitanium 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid EVT) - $33,550 MSRPTitanium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid EVT) - $35,050 MSRPTitanium 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $36,835 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　A revamped exterior design gives the Escape a sportier look for 2020, and there's a roomier interior. The rear seat, in particular, has plenty of legroom, which is great for adults or parents looking to install a bulky child safety seat. Other highlights of the new Escape include an easy-to-use infotainment touchscreen, plenty of advanced driver safety features, and a new hybrid version that promises around 40 mpg in combined city/highway driving.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.7

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

6.5/10

　　How does the Escape drive? We tested the Escape SEL with the turbocharged 2.0-liter engine. This engine makes plenty of power, allowing it to easily squirt through traffic and accelerate up to highway speeds. In zzdcar testing, our Escape covered 0-60 mph in 6.9 seconds, which is better than most rival small SUVs with an upgraded engine.

　　Unfortunately, the eight-speed automatic transmission shifts slowly and can be jerky with its upshifts. Downshifts are similar, and you'll feel multiple small shocks as you decelerate. Even the engine stop-start system bucks the Escape when it restarts the engine as you take your foot off the brake. It all feels terribly unrefined, and something that Ford should have fixed before putting the Escape on sale.

　　The Escape's handling is disappointing too. It rolls a lot and has a ponderous feel as you go around turns. There's not much grip from the tires either. As for the steering, it's very light and low-effort in the default drive mode. Selecting Sport mode gives it more heft and makes it easier to figure out where the front wheels are pointed.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Escape? Overall, we're happy with the level of comfort the Escape offers. The front seats are well shaped and have a pleasing amount of cushioning. The rear seats are also comfortable and provide a suitable amount of thigh support for adults. While our SEL test vehicle was equipped with basic controls for the front passenger, the next-level Titanium adds a power-adjustable seat, which is a rarity in this class.

　　Around town and on the highway, the Escape rides in a smooth and composed manner. It's also fairly quiet at speed, with road noise the prevailing source of sound intrusion. The SEL trim level only comes with a single-zone climate control system; most midgrade trims for small SUVs come with dual-zone control. Ventilated front seats and heated rears are not available on any Escape trim.

　　

Interior

8.5/10

　　How’s the interior? The Escape's cabin is functional and pleasantly laid out. The primary controls are easy to reach, and the steering wheel buttons take no time to decipher. The Sync 3 touchscreen interface is snappy and simple to operate as well. The driver's seat gives you a commanding view outward, and it's only mildly impeded by the rising beltline toward the rear. The seat itself offers numerous adjustments that make it a cinch to dial in the perfect position. On the downside, the door armrests are a touch too narrow.

　　We're impressed by the Escape's use of space inside. There's plenty of room all around, and the deeply sculpted front seatbacks afford lots of knee room to rear passengers. Headroom might run out for very tall rear occupants on models with the panoramic sunroof. Other than a tall doorsill, there are no issues getting into or out of the Escape.

　　

Technology

8.0/10

　　How’s the tech? The Ford Escape's infotainment system is a highlight. The navigation setup is easy to use, quick to act, and shows you directional info when a point-of-interest search returns multiple locations (e.g., a Starbucks is 1 mile forward, or 0.5 mile to the left). The six-speaker system is excellent for a base system, producing clear audio and punchy bass. Smartphone integration, however, is a bit disappointing. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility isn't standard on every Escape, and there aren't many USB ports to charge your devices.

　　The driving aids work well and almost all are standard. Though our test car wasn't equipped with it, experience with an Escape Titanium reveals that car's unique lane-centering feature works quite well on the highway, avoiding the "ping-ponging between the lanes" effect in rivals.

　　

Storage

8.0/10

　　How’s the storage? At 33.5 cubic feet, the Escape's cargo area is average for the segment. We like the low floor and high seatbacks, affording you a lot of vertical storage space before luggage impedes on rear visibility. The rear seats don't fold flat, but the outboard seat belts can be disengaged from their seat holsters so there's no obstruction while loading cargo.

　　Interior storage is much better, with large cubbies in the front and sizable door pockets in the back. All cupholders have anti-tip tabs, which is fairly uncommon in this vehicle class. Easily accessible car-seat anchors and tethers, plus the large rear seat, make it a breeze to load a child safety seat.

　　Escape models with the turbocharged 2.0-liter engine can tow up to 3,500 pounds, more than many small SUVs.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The Escape with the turbo 2.0-liter engine is rated at 26 mpg combined (23 city/31 highway). This is better than all other small SUVs with upgraded engines. Though the estimates are stellar, our observed fuel economy with our test vehicle fell short of expectations. We earned an average of 20.2 mpg over 187 miles of driving — mostly at city speeds but without much traffic.

　　

Value

7.5/10

　　Is the Escape a good value? The Escape's interior has plenty of soft-touch plastics up front, while hard plastics are generally silver, gloss black or otherwise textured in a way that shows effort. The simulated leather upholstery is surprisingly convincing. The panel gaps are a little inconsistent and the interior door handles feel inexcusably cheap, but overall it's an appealing cabin for the price.

　　Ford's pricing is competitive, though you'll often have to pay extra to get features that competitors offer on less expensive trims. Dual-zone climate control, for instance, only comes on the top-level Titanium trim. Ford offers basic warranty coverage for three years/36,000 miles, with powertrain coverage and roadside assistance for five years/60,000 miles. All are average for the class.

　　

Wildcard

7.5/10

　　Remove the fish mouth-like front grille, and the redesigned Escape would look like any other small SUV on the market. The interior won't wow you at first glance either. But your appreciation of what the Escape offers will likely grow as you put it through the paces of everyday living. It's a perfectly serviceable small crossover SUV, and one that Ford can be proud of.

　　

Which Escape does zzdcar recommend?

The Escape offers a decent set of standard features on each trim level and a host of available options. The latter can add up, however, often to an eye-popping price for a small SUV. The SEL trim is a good way to keep things in check. It comes with all of the lower trim features (power-adjustable driver's seat, Sync 3 infotainment) and adds other desirable items such as a hands-free liftgate, roof rails, rear parking sensors and a heated steering wheel.

　　

2020 Ford Escape models

The 2020 Escape is a small SUV available in five trim levels: S, SE, SE Sport, SEL and Titanium. Three engines are available depending on the trim you pick. You'll need to pay a little attention when shopping; one of them is a hybrid, and Ford doesn't explicitly call it out. Feature highlights include:

　　S

　　This base trim starts you off with:

　　181-horsepower turbocharged three-cylinder engine Eight-speed automatic transmission Standard front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive 4.2-inch central display screen Two USB ports Six-speaker sound system Onboard Wi-Fi hotspotEvery Escape also comes with these safety features:

　　Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot) Lane keeping assist (steers the car back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker) Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)SE

　　Perks the Escape's content up with:

　　17-inch alloy wheels Keyless ignition and entry Power-adjustable driver's seat Heated front seats Single-zone automatic climate control system 8-inch touchscreen Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integrationSE Sport

　　A hybrid that comes with:

　　Hybrid powertrain with a four-cylinder engine (200 hp) Continuously variable automatic transmission Leather-wrapped steering wheel Digital gauge cluster displaySEL

　　Switches back to the turbocharged three-cylinder engine and adds:

　　Hands-free liftgate 18-inch wheels Remote start Rear parking sensors Heated steering wheel Driver-seat memory settings Titanium

　　This top-trim comes standard with the hybrid engine. It also has:

　　19-inch wheels LED headlights Dual-zone climate control system Leather upholstery Power-adjustable front passenger seat Premium sound system Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with no driver intervention) Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front) Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)Optional for the SEL and Titanium:

　　Turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (250 hp) with all-wheel drive Panoramic sunroofAll-wheel drive is otherwise optional on all other Escapes. Ford also offers an Escape with a plug-in version of the hybrid engine, the Escape PHEV. It's reviewed separately on zzdcar.

　　

2020 Escape Highlights

Type: SUVHybridSUV

　　Trim: SSESE SportSELTitaniumS

　　

Base MSRP	$24,885
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	30 MPG
Cost to Drive	$128/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	33.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles