Ford chose total makeover of popular Escape for 2020 in competitive segment
Face-lift won’t do for 2020 Escape The compact crossover jungle is fiercely competitive and players in this segment can’t afford to be caught napping – if you snooze, you lose. So, it’s no surprise that Ford has opted for a total makeover of its popular Escape for 2020 – a facelift wouldn’t do. The Escape is the second-best-selling vehicle in Ford’s Canadian portfolio, trailing only the F-Series trucks, and the company wants that popularity with consumers to continue, hence the decision to keep pace with the competition (or get a step ahead) by introducing a fresh new Escape. Here are 20 freshen-ups of the new Escape. ▲
New from the ground up While a family resemblance to its predecessor remains, this fourth-generation Escape is new from the ground up. Built on Ford’s new front-wheel-drive global platform, the 2020 iteration is a couple of centimetres longer, a couple of cm lower in height and about five cm wider. The new exterior dimensions have resulted in more people space – the cabin volume is bigger than the current model. Underneath the sleek exterior there’s a new suspension system and a new isolated rear subframe. ▲
Shield-shaped trapezoidal grille Up front, you’ll notice a new shield-shaped trapezoidal grille, which Ford designers say has been inspired by the sixth-generation Mustang; others may say it resembles a Kia. The lower front fascia has hints of the Ford GT. The beltline has been lowered, improving visibility, while the sloped roofline, liftgate spoiler and underbody shielding help make this the most aerodynamic Escape. ▲
Fresh, clean instrument panel The total makeover has extended to the interior, too. A fresh, clean look dominates the instrument panel, which features an 8.0-inch touch screen (standard on SE models and above.) There’s also an available 12.3-inch all-digital instrument cluster that displays vehicle information such as speedometer and fuel level. ▲
Opening up space The transmission gear selector is now a rotary shifter mounted on the centre console, rather than the conventional lever, adding to the interior’s clean design and creating more cabin space. A wireless charging pad in the front centre console is available for drivers and passengers with compatible mobile devices. Also available are type A and type C USB charging ports, as well as three 12-volt charging sockets. For audiophiles, a 575-watt, 10-speaker B&O premium sound system is available. ▲
Taking the chill out of winter Several standard features will help owners escape the chill of Canadian winters, including a windshield wiper de-icer, engine block heater, heated front seats and exterior mirrors (standard on SE trim and up), heated steering wheel (standard on SEL and Titanium) and remote start (standard on SEL and Titanium; optional on S and SE.) ▲
Room, room, room everywhere Ford’s interior designers have reconfigured the cabin to provide increased headroom for front- and rear-seat passengers, as well as adding more shoulder and hip room. There’s more steering wheel adjustability, helping big and tall drivers get more comfortable. ▲
Best in segment adjustability and room One new interior feature worth noting is the second-row seats – they now slide fore and aft about 15 cm, as well as recline slightly. With the 60/40-split bench fully positioned rearward, Escape occupants can enjoy increased kneeroom and footwell length, plus expanded legroom that Ford says is best in the compact crossover segment. ▲
Expanding cargo hold Slide those seats forward and the cargo area expands, resulting in enough space (up to 1,062 litres) to hold four sets of golf clubs or a full-size dog crate. There’s also an innovative new cargo shade that’s attached to the liftgate. ▲
Driver-assists score with consumers Ford says the 2020 Escape is the smartest small crossover in the segment. It comes standard with Ford Co-Pilot360 driver-assist technology, which is expected to score well with consumers. The system features blind-spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert; lane-keeping technologies, including lane-keeping assist and lane-keeping alert, plus driver alert; pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, forward collision warning and dynamic brake support; rearview camera, and auto-high-beam headlights. ▲
Intelligent useful technology FordPass Connect is also a standard feature, providing 4G LTE Wi-Fi for up to 10 mobile devices with a compatible wireless subscription service. This system also gives drivers remote access to their Escape, allowing them to use their smartphone to lock, unlock, locate and start the vehicle, as well as monitor key vehicle diagnostics. ▲
Class-exclusive technologies Additional driver assist technologies are available, including adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go feature and lane centering and post-impact braking, plus two class-exclusive technologies – Active Park Assist 2.0, which allows the driver, with the touch of a button, to park in a parallel or perpendicular spot without having to work the steering wheel, gear shifter, gas or brake pedal, and Evasive Steering Assist, which detects a slower-moving or stationary vehicle ahead and provides steering support that can assist the driver to avoid an imminent collision. ▲
Selectable drive modes For 2020, all Escapes are fitted with a selectable drive mode system that allows the driver to toggle through five different settings to engage the mode preferred for the conditions and demands he or she is encountering. The mode choices show up visually on the display cluster in front of the driver: normal, eco, sport, slippery and deep snow/sand. ▲
Trimmed for the fight Increased use of high-strength steel has helped trim the new Escape’s weight – it has shed more than 90 kilograms – while making the vehicle stronger. There are now 3D-rolled high-strength steel tubes lining the A- and C-pillars, creating a safety structure not unlike a race car’s roll cage. Similarly, high-strength boron steel has been used in the subframe to better withstand impacts. ▲
Further in Sync Ford’s upgraded infotainment/connectivity technology – SYNC 3 – is available in the new Escape. This system is compatible with available features such as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Waze navigation. ▲
Return of the hybrid Four powertrains are offered for 2020 – two conventional gas-fuelled engines and a pair of hybrids. Every model powered by either of the two EcoBoost engines is expected to have an EPA-estimated range of at least 640 km per tank, while the standard front-wheel drive hybrid (a return to the lineup, since it was phased out in 2012) is expected to deliver a best-in-class EPA-estimated range of more than 885 km. The plug-in hybrid (available on every trim level except S) will have pure-electric range of at least 48 km, also best in class. ▲
Smaller, more efficient batteries The liquid-cooled, lithium-ion battery used in the new Escape Hybrid has been positioned below the second-row seats rather than under the cargo area, the more conventional location which typically reduces useable space for cargo. The briefcase-shaped battery in the standard hybrid is approximately one-third the size of the old Escape Hybrid battery. ▲
New engines A new 1.5-litre EcoBoost 3-cylinder is standard on S, SE and SEL trims. It produces 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque (using 93 octane fuel) and is fitted with cylinder deactivation, a first for Ford in North America, which senses when one cylinder isn’t needed and shuts it down to conserve fuel until power demands change. The other gas-fueled engine is a new 2.0-litre EcoBoost 4-cylinder producing 250 hp and 275 lb-ft. It’s available on the SEL and Titanium and is 10% quicker from launch to 100 km than the current Escape 2.0. Both engines are paired with 8-speed automatics and intelligent all-wheel drive is available. ▲
Towing; the line When properly equipped, the 2.0-litre EcoBoost powertrain is capable of towing almost 1,600 kg (3,500 pounds), while the 1.5-litre 3-cylinder can tow more than 900 kg (2,000 pounds.) ▲
Coming this fall The 2020 Escape will be available in four trim levels: S, SE, SEL and Titanium. It is built at Ford’s assembly plant in Louisville, Ky., and goes on sale in the fall, at which time pricing will be announced. ▲
Keyword: FIRST LOOK: 20 reasons Ford Escape not resting on laurels