2020 Ford Escape Review
2020 Ford Escape Review





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Used Escape for sale
Appraise This CarFord Escape model years
Ford Escape types
- SUV
- Hybrid
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2020 Ford Escape Review

byDan Frio
Reviews 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 Edmunds, 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.
Pros
- Roomy and comfortable seating
- Smooth ride quality
- Easy-to-use controls
- Available hybrid powertrain that gets around 40 mpg
Cons
- Transmission's abrupt and noticeable shifts
- Lackluster handling and generally not much fun to drive
What's new
- The Ford Escape is fully redesigned
- Hybrid version is back after a prolonged absence
- Improved power and acceleration
- Kicks off the fourth Escape generation
Overview
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 $3.57 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia
$150/mo for Escape S
Escape S
vs
$210/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.
Edmunds Expert Rating
good
7.7/10
Edmunds Rating
Our VerdictThe Edmunds 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.
The Ford Escape provides most of what you'd expect of a small SUV, including a roomy cabin, helpful technology features and very comfortable seats. Storage capability isn't mind-blowing, but it's certainly good enough. The Escape's few but significant drawbacks include unrefined transmission shifting and a lack of handling precision.
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 Edmunds 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Edmunds 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 hotspot
Every 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 integration
SE 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 display
SEL
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 sunroof
All-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 Edmunds.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2020 Ford Escape.
5 star(56%)
4 star(13%)
3 star(10%)
2 star(7%)
1 star(14%)
135 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
5 out of 5 stars
Solid, Fast, Lots of extras
Bill, Bear Delaware, 07/01/2020
2020 Ford Escape Titanium 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid EVT)
I purchased a Ford Escape Titanium Hybrid five months ago. I am vey please with my purchase. I have owned several new vehicles over the years.
I was about to buy a Honda CR-V and then drove the Escape. Ford has shown and eye for detail to the little things that add up to a great driving experience. My criteria was Adaptive Cruse Control, quit ride, good acceleration, braking, styling, … power lift gate, heated seats, good handling and front power seat with presets. The escape delivered on all items except it could be quieter when it comes to road noise. You won't notice it if you are a radio listener. Some people may find the engine to be a little loud, but it has a throaty sound move like a tough V6 and I love it. I give it a 9.5 out of 10 for meeting my expectations. Ford really paid close action to all the ergonomics. It is all the thoughtful little things that makes Escape add up to a really excellent driving experience SUV. In My opinion Adaptive Cruse Control takes about 70% out of the pain of driving on a long trip especially on the Interstate. I hope this review is helpful to someone looking for a really good driving experience.
5 out of 5 stars
I was impressed...so I bought one.
Darlene and Marty (AKA Darty), 03/06/2020
2020 Ford Escape Titanium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid EVT)
In the past few years I had a 2010 Escape hybrid and a 2019 Escape (turbo) as work vehicles. I rated them as 'just ok' but have to say the 2010 was doing very well for a nine year old vehicle. I test drove the 2020 Escape Titanium hybrid and wrote up a full price offer the next day. I had already driven most of the other hybrids that were available including the Rav4 which became my … second choice. I am very impressed with all aspects of the 2020 Titanium. I love the new body style. The Rav4, Honda CRV, and Mitsubitsi were downright boring to look at in comparison. The ride and comfort of the Escape was notably better than the Rav4. If you test drive a hybrid Rav4 the first thing you may notice is that when you come to a stop it makes an annoying electric motor noise [like a siren] that actually startled my wife the first few times it made the noise while she drove. It is that loud. The centre arm rest was found to be uncomfortably high in the Rav 4 and the interior and displays were sort of disappointing. Additionally, the truck like front end treatment on the Rav4 simply does not do it for me. The Escape reminds me of European styled cars like Porsche or Jaguar. I find the lane centering and stop and go traffic self driving features spooky and will take a while to get used to having a car drive itself in stop and go traffic. This Escape is a very good car and really, the only thing I don't like much is the plasticy wood grain treatment in the dash inserts and door panels. I like the aluminum inserts that are installed on the lower trim models better. Anyone want to trade for some wood grain? Gas mileage is fantastic! We started a small trip with about 700 kilometres showing as range till empty. After driving for several hours, with several stops, in the country on winding roads we actually had more kilometres of range showing at the end of the trip. Readouts indicated that battery power accounted for about 15% of our motive force. I recommend giving this car a long look before considering other small SUV's.
4 out of 5 stars
SE Sport Hybrid - The best 2020 Escape
Phaedrus, 03/07/2020
2020 Ford Escape SE Sport 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid EVT)
Wife and I each test-drove the SEL, SE Hybrid, and Titanium Hybrid.
We drove them on both a sunny day and a rainy day. The handling, acceleration, and braking impressed us.
The Titanium trim was beyond our price range. I was trading in my 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid; so, I was very interested in the new hybrid model. I prefer a 4-cylinder over a three. So, we decided on the SE Sport … Hybrid trim.
We like the host of safety features, the myriad of information displays, the Sync3 system, and the large and high entertainment screen. I really like the dial-transmission and digital displays. The controls are mostly laid out well.
Single climate zone. Heat works well; defrosters work well. Fan speeds are a bit too low.
The hybrid operation is very seamless and quiet. The gas engine emits a bit of a growl when you push it. I’m averaging the advertised 40mpg overall, and have frequently exceeded that figure on trips of 13 to 20 miles.
The “sport” in SE is evident when one switches from Normal or Eco mode to Sport. The acceleration is great. This can be a fun car to drive if you want to sacrifice a bit of fuel economy.
The front seats are comfortable (I’m average height). The rear seats can be moved forward or back, depending on where you need the space—passenger or cargo area.
Cargo space meets our needs. I easily fit 16 50-pound bags of heating pellets in the cargo area with the seats down.
Our dealer actually told us not to buy a remote starter; said to use the Ford App; saved us several hundred bucks.
One USB-C slot and one USB; could use more. Model comes with Apple CarPlay and the Android equivalent. Even has a wifi hotspot.
Other reviews mention how the model comes with a tire inflation kit instead of a spare tire. I went to a tire store and bought a tire and rim, which went into the rear 12-volt battery compartment. The added weight doesn’t seem to have affected my mpg.
We agree with multiple reviewers how the interior plastics look cheap, but that “concern?” was way down our list. Our priorities were cargo space and mpg and price. The SE Sport Hybrid hot the sweet spot for us.
Update - September 2020: Here we are nine months later. So, how do we feel about the car, now? Great. People still remark on the styling and color. We average 40mpg overall. I enjoy driving it for long distances and my wife enjoys being a passenger. In other words, the seats are very good. No mechanical problems. We still are very happy with our choice.
Update March 2021: We’ve had the car for over a year and a quarter; driven around 6700 miles. We use it mostly for longer in-state trips. No problems to report. We are still very happy with the car.
Update June 2021: Drove approx 320 miles from Boston area to Mount Desert Island in Maine. MPG driving there was around 42. We drove approx 137 miles around the island over three days; filled up just before driving home—-2.2 gallons! On way home, our mpg was approx 48!
No problems; after a year and a half, very happy.
5 out of 5 stars
2020 Escape Hybrid Titanium AWD
Geo, 05/22/2020
2020 Ford Escape Titanium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid EVT)
We ended up purchasing this vehicle, and we do not regret it. After testing Toyota, Mazda, Honda we believe this was the best fit. The design is great and the interior with the digital instrument cluster makes for a great view of everything you need in front of you. The vehicle around the city averages around 48-55mpg, which is very impressive. Trunk space is very sufficient for the size … of the vehicle. I enjoy the panoramic sunroof and the sliding rear seats. Overall, after 2 months, I am very happy with the purchase, comfort, ride quality and fuel economy. I have yet to see how it performs in snow.
2020 Ford Escape videos
ELANA SCHERR: I feel like I start all my Ford reviews by reminding you that Ford said it wasn't going to build cars anymore. So even though the 2020 Ford Escape looks like a car, it's not one. It's a crossover. It's raised up. Does the Ford Escape deliver on that promise to be both the best of both car and SUV? We're in Louisville, Kentucky, which is the birthplace of the Ford Escape-- really, it's built right around the corner from here-- to find out. Whether you're shopping for a car or an SUV or an SUV that looks like a car, we can help you at Edmunds.com. So the focus of the Ford Escape-- and no, that wasn't a Ford pun. Although it could have been because the Escape kind of looks car-like, and it's supposed to drive car-like. So they took weight out of it, and they lowered the center of gravity. It has a lower roof line than most SUVs. And all of that is supposed to make it more fun to drive on the road, more appealing to people who are coming out of sedans. One of our complaints about the previous Escape was that it didn't have a good ride quality. And it also didn't get very good fuel economy. Now, with the 2020 Escape, they're offering four different engine options, and two of them are hybrids. So you can pretty much guarantee that at least two of them are going to offer good fuel economy. As for ride quality, have they improved it? I'd say yes. It feels light, and the word nimble was thrown around a lot in the press release. But I'd say it's applicable. There are several different driving modes. And they do change the characteristics of the car. There's an eco mode, a normal mode, a sport mode, and then some snow and ice slippery modes. Now, most of the time what driving modes do is they adjust how the traction control works on the car. They can also affect how quick the throttle response is. In performance cars, the modes also affect the steering feel. And the Escape has that, too. However, I didn't notice it at first when I was doing this test drive because I had the lane centering on. Lane centering is one of those semi-autonomous new technologies that helps keep the car in the center of the lines so that you're not bouncing around inside the lane. I think that stuff is really great. But it does affect the driving feel of the car. And once I turned that lane centering off, I enjoyed driving this car a lot more. With it on, I felt like the steering was kind of light and twitchy. And with it off, it has felt much more dynamic. If you're economy minded, you'll probably go with the three cylinder 1.5 liter. And if you're really interested in the new technologies, you'll pick either the hybrid or the plug-in hybrid. For those of you who like a little performance oomph in your driving, you're going to want to go with the two liter turbo four cylinder EcoBoost, which is what is in this right now, backed by an 8 speed automatic transmission. It makes more than 235 horsepower, and with 200 pounds of weight savings in the 2020 Escape, you can really feel the difference. It's down-right zippy. If you've read up on the Escape at all, you might have seen a reference to high strength steel. And the reason why that matters is, if you have a stronger material, you can use less of it. And the way that that is shown in the Escape is in how thin these pillars are like, if they're smaller, if they're thinner, you can see around them more. They're not blocking as much of your view. So the visibility is great in the Escape. And that's something that they really tried to do, and they did it. I'm not going to give them all the props, though, because there are two visibility complaints that I have. One of which is that the angle of the windshield is super reflective of the dash. And the other is that this heads up display that they've got going on here with is kind of janky. There are definitely more sophisticated ways to do it that don't involve having a little piece of sunglass sticking up in your view all the time. Ford does a good job integrating new technology into their cars. And the Escape has a lot of examples of that. Know it's got emergency braking. It even has emergency evasive steering, which I am not going to test for you. But in theory, it would help me steer around an obstacle if I was about to hit something. I don't know if it's just because we're in the Titanium and it's got the big fancy wheels, but there is so much tire noise in here. When it comes to handling and breaking in the Escape, I haven't really thought about it that much on this drive, which, really, I think is exactly what you would want out of a small SUV. I mean, I didn't buy it to go racing. I bought it to go commuting with people in it and be comfortable. And it's all of those things. Ford's trying something different with the Escape. Instead of the straight lines and kind of like beefy stance of a traditional SUV, sort of smooth and friendly looking. In fact, the front end is downright cute. I don't have any problem with cute cars. I mean, Volkswagen bug, anybody? Yeah, they do great. If you're not into cute and you want a tougher looking SUV, Ford is making something called the-- what was it? Oh, yeah, Bronco. That's for you. This Escape is all about offering you options. So if it's cargo space you need, Ford has made it pretty easy to switch from people hauler to stuff carrier. There are some things I really like about the Escape's interior. There's a lot of space in here. I never feel cramped. The seats are comfortable. I think there's some nice trim options like this wood grain here. Ford did take some design risks in the Escape, which is not something that I normally associate with Ford. I usually feel like its interiors are very plain and conservative. But we've got a lot of different materials going here, different colors. I like all of that. There's this pattern here in the door which, honestly, kind of reminds me of cellulite. But hey, that's very body positive. And I'm down with that. The base Escape with the 1.5 liter three cylinder starts around $25,000. The Titanium here, with its optional all wheel drive and turbo charged two liter plus other goodies like leather trim and this panoramic sunroof, will set you back almost $40,000. So there's a huge price range across the different Escape trim levels. There are a lot of storage space for small things up here. But anyone who's ever had a big purse knows that that can also be a curse like the storage in the door is huge. And it goes all the way back in the door panel, which basically just means that you will lose like 17 pairs of sunglasses in this car. There's some trick stuff in the console. The cup holders light up, which is fancy. This car doesn't have it, but there is a charging pad coming. That's going to be good because currently the standard USB is all the way over here. And so then your cord runs across your whole business. Really, it's better guys if you can charge everything up here and then tuck the cord away. But an inductive charging pad will solve that. So when that's an option, you should get it, and everything will be nice and clean. Ford always does a good job in laying out the controls for infotainment and safety features. It wasn't hard to find things. The stuff that I wanted to turn off like the lane centering, which sucks and I hate it, I didn't have to go searching for very long, and it was easy. There are actual knobs for volume and radio tuning, no problem to set the temperature however you want it. And the air conditioning is very good, which has been great during this extremely hot and humid adventure in Kentucky. The Ford Escape is wider and longer than the previous model. But unlike most SUV redesigns, it's not taller. It's actually got a lower roof line. So I was a little worried about whether there would be enough headroom in here-- not for me, obviously. I'm like so short-- but for normal sized people. As it turns out, I think you could be tall and still fit in here fine. Plus, I have plenty of leg room here. But if I didn't, I could fix it with the sliding rear row. Not only is the sliding second row super fun and giving you more leg room, but if you don't need that, you can just slide them forward. And then you have more cargo room. So after spending a day in the Ford Escape, is it good to go or see you later? Hmm, a little bit of both. There are other small SUVs is that do luxury better. Mazda, I'm looking at you. But there are certainly a bunch that do it worse. And I really like the styling. It stands out. I like the idea that you can have a car and an SUV, have enough space, but not have like a big monster machine. It's going to be interesting to see where Ford takes the Escape. This is a brand new redesign, and I think they have big plans for this little SUV.
2020 Ford Escape Review and First Drive
The 2020 Ford Escape has been redesigned to look more like a car yet still offers the increased cargo space and higher driving position of an SUV.
2020 Escape Highlights
SUV
S
Base MSRP | $24,885 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 30 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $150/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 33.5 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
Safety
Our experts like the Escape models:
- Evasive Steering Assist
- Provides additional steering effort to avoid a potential collision if it can't be avoided by braking alone.
- Lane Keeping System
- Alerts the driver when the car starts to drift out of its lane by vibrating the steering wheel and adding correctional steering if needed.
- Blind-Spot Information System (BLIS)
- Illuminates an indicator light in the side mirror when a vehicle enters the blind spot. Also includes integrated rear cross-traffic alert.
NHTSA Overall Rating
5 out of 5 starsThe National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverall5 / 5Driver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverall5 / 5
- Side Barrier RatingOverall5 / 5Driver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront Seat5 / 5Back Seat5 / 5
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of Rollover16.9%
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestGood
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalMarginal
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedMarginal
- Roof Strength TestGood
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintGood
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Starting at $27,490 |
Related Used 2020 Ford Escape info
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