Ford Escape Review

Lots of changes have been made to the Ford Escape, which was once known for not having much style at all!

The completely redesigned Escape is now sleeker and sportier looking. It’s also now lighter than before and it offers more interior space. Plus, it has an extensive powertrain lineup with four different options, including two hybrids.

There are a number of different trim options with the Escape and the standard and available engines vary depending on which one you opt for. There’s the base S, SE, SE Sport Hybrid, SEL, and the range-topping Titanium.

SUVs.com had the chance to test drive a 2020 Ford Escape Titanium with the more powerful of the two gasoline powertrain options under the hood.

Having frequently driven the previous-generation Escapes, we can definitely say the 2020 model is a big upgrade!

Continue reading below for even more about the fourth-generation Ford Escape.

You can tell the Ford Escape has been drastically changed by just looking at it. The old boring grille of the past is gone! The new grille is much more aggressive looking, giving the front end a sportier and more distinctive look. It looks more fun to drive than it used to. There’s also LED signature lighting and dual chrome exhaust tips.

The Titanium trim that SUVs.com test drove comes standard with 19” machined face aluminum wheels with Dark Tarnish-painted pockets.

You can opt for a Panoramic Vista Roof on certain trims. It helps bring the outside in and makes the spacious cabin feel even roomier.

The first thing we have to note about the interior of the all-new Escape is how roomy it feels for it being a compact SUV! That’s by no mistake. The interior is now more spacious and the sliding second-row seat offers lots of versatility. It helps open up a massive 40.7 inches of legroom! Or, you can also slide it forward to make way for more cargo space. There’s up to 65.4 cubic feet of cargo space offered, by the way.

You’ll notice how the technology featured in the Escape has been updated and now feels more premium. There’s a new rotary gear shift dial which frees up some space up front and helps make the interior feel more modern.

We do suggest opting for at least the SE trim or above because the S trim does not come with the SYNC 3 system as standard. The base S trim features the more basic Sync system and while it does still offer an array of features, it doesn’t have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. It also only has a 4.2” LCD audio display, which is quite small.

The SYNC 3 system that comes standard on the SE trim and above, however, features a larger 8” touchscreen and you get Apple CarPlay/Android Auto with it.

There’s also an available 12.3” digital instrument cluster with your Escape. Plus, an optional head-up display and that stunning Panoramic Vista Roof!

The Titanium trim that SUVs.com test drove featured nice leather-trimmed seating with cool textures in different areas. But, not all Escape trims are so nice. To get a more luxurious feeling interior, you’ll definitely want to upgrade. But, that could end up making the Ford Escape much more expensive than you thought!

There are four different powertrain options with the all-new Ford Escape, offering plenty of variety.

The standard engine is the all-new 1.5-liter EcoBoost turbocharged 3-cylinder engine with auto start/stop technology that’s coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It produces 180 horsepower. It comes standard on S, SE, and SEL.

The SE Sport Hybrid comes standard with the hybrid setup, of course. The hybrid setup also comes standard on Titanium. The 2.5L I-4 Atkinson-cycle powertrain features an eCVT and an 88 kW electric motor. With both the hybrid and plug-in hybrid, the lithium-ion battery measures less than one-third the size of the old Escape Hybrid battery. So, that’s an improvement!

While the Titanium model comes standard with that hybrid, the one that SUVs.com test drove featured the more powerful of the two gasoline powertrains under its hood. It’s a 2.0L EcoBoost turbocharged 4-cylinder with auto stop/start technology that produces 250 horsepower and is paired to an 8-Speed SelectShift transmission with paddle shifters. All-wheel drive is standard with the 2.0-liter and is optionally available otherwise. When equipped with the available towing package, it can tow up to 3,500 pounds.

And we can’t forget about the fourth powertrain option, the plug-in hybrid. It targets more than 30 miles of electric-only range and 209 horsepower. You can get it on SE, SEL, and Titanium. Using a 240-volt Level 2 charger, the battery can fully charge in about 3.5 hours.

Fuel economy figures are improved across the board with the all-new Ford Escape and all powertrain options offer an EPA-estimated range of at least 400 miles per tank.

As for safety, there’s plenty of advanced features at work with Ford Co-Pilot360. It includes pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, auto high-beam headlamps, a lane-keeping system, and a rearview camera. There’s also plenty of other advanced safety technologies you can add.

The entry-level Ford Escape is budget friendly with a starting price of $24,885. Upgrading to the SE trim in order to get the improved SYNC 3 system with the larger 8” touchscreen and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto will set you back to a starting price of $27,105. The range-topping 2020 Escape Titanium with the optional 2.0L EcoBoost engine and standard AWD that SUVs.com test drove has a starting price closer to $40,000.

As for the competition, you could take a look at the Toyota RAV4, Nissan Rogue, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, or the Mazda CX-5.

As always, be sure to test drive any vehicle you might be interested in purchasing! Also, be sure to check with your local Ford dealing on pricing and to see if there are any specials.

SUVs.com definitely appreciates all the changes made to the 2020 Ford Escape. Having spent a lot of time in the boring Escapes of the past, we can confidently say the all-new model is a big improvement!

It’s roomy, versatile, has a solid powertrain lineup that’s also fuel efficient, and has improved exterior styling. The interior also has a more modern feel and the more advanced technology features help with that!

While the fully loaded Titanium that SUVs.com test drove is definitely nice, we’re not so sure people are that willing to spend $40,000 on a Ford Escape. For that price, they may choose to opt for a more luxury nameplate instead.

SUVs.com gave the 2020 Ford Escape an SUVs.com deal score of 77/100. Did you watch our video review of it on YouTube? Please be sure to leave us a comment if you did!