Meet the 2020 Ford Escape
Ford's (non-pickup) best-seller is lighter, sleeker and better looking -- more useful too
Jake Lingeman
The 2020 Ford Escape offers four powertrain options including two hybrids.
The 2020 Ford Escape is here for a fourth generation, and there's a lot riding on it -- figuratively and literally. It sits in the strongest-growing segment of the new-car market (compact crossovers) and is the strongest selling non-pickup in Ford's stable. The new Escape rides on the company's new flexible, front- and all-wheel drive platform and looks like a cross between an older Mazda CX-9 and new Porsche Macan -- not a bad place to be. The Escape also lost more than 200 pounds versus the previous model. And, after taking a break for the third generation, two hybrid Escapes are returning for the new model year.
For power, the Escape gets two new engines and one carryover. The new 1.5-liter Ecoboost I3 is the most interesting. Not only does the three-cylinder make a solid 180 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque, but it uses cylinder deactivation to go into two-cylinder mode in milliseconds whenever it senses you don't need all three. We don't have EPA fuel mileage numbers yet, but expect this one to be on the high side of 30. The 2.0-liter turbo-four is a carryover but makes 5 extra hp for a total of 250. Torque stays at 275 lb-ft. Finally, a new 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle non-turbo four will pair with the Escape hybrid powertrain, putting down either 198 hp or 209 hp total with battery assist. There will be both a plug-in and a standard Escape hybrid. The plug-in gets the higher power number. The non-hybrids get new eight-speed automatic transmissions. The hybrids get a continuously variable automatic transmission, or CVT. All four new Escape models come with Ford's new rotary shifter and five drive modes: eco, normal, sport, slippery and snow/sand.
All 2020 Ford Escapes come with five selectable driving modes.
The regular Escape hybrid uses a briefcase-size battery under the floor and is good for up to 550 miles of total range with a full tank of fuel. The plug-in has a larger battery (14.1 kWh vs 1.1 kWh), good for 30 miles of pure electric range. Charging time on the plug-in is 3.5 hours on a Level 2 charger, 10-11 hours on a 115-volt home plug. New for 2020, both Escape hybrids have four hybrid-specific modes that include auto EV (the vehicle decides whether to run gas or electric), EV now (all-electric driving), EV later (all gas-powered driving) and EV charge (drivers can continue to charge the battery while driving to generate electric-only miles later). The cargo area is about 3 cubic feet smaller in the hybrids (37.5 to 34.4 behind the second row) due to the placement of the 12-volt battery in the rear. But both have more space than the outgoing model, Ford is quick to point out. To prove it, PR folks stuffed four extra-large-size suitcases in the back of an Escape and closed the hatch. The company also showed us a picture of four golf bags back there, so it can be done. And if you don't have cargo, the back seats slide fore and aft a few inches, allowing the Escape to claim more second-row legroom than a Chevy Suburban (by an inch).
Despite the 2020's lower roof, there's more space for people in the new Escape due to the slightly larger footprint versus last year's car. You can't tell there's a bigger footprint in person -- it looks about the same size -- but you will notice the roof. As opposed to the 2019 model, the 2020 Escapes are smoother with no sharp creases -- slipperier too. In fact, the 2020 Escape is 5 percent more aero efficient than the outgoing model. Ford engineers claim to have looked at everything to reduce drag, including the mirrors, taillamps, front tire spoilers and the fog lamp pockets.
Ford took over Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan for the reveal of the 2020 Escape.
Ford calls the front the "shark nose," and look for LED lights all around. Also new is the "Escape" lettering in the back center. Ford calls it important real estate; we will be seeing a similar treatment on other cars soon.
As expected, tech will be important for Escape buyers, hence Ford offers 4G LTE Wi-Fi, wireless charging, head-up display and the 12.3-inch, customizable, digital cluster that just debuted last year. Escape SE trims and above get the 8-inch central touchscreen. CoPilot360 is what Ford calls its safety suite, and for 2020 it's standard across the Escape line. It includes blind-spot protection, lane keeping, precollision with emergency braking and auto high beam control. Optional features include active cruise control, active parking assist and a few others. Everything is standard on the top Escape Titanium trim.
Ford kept mentioning the words "urban" and "sleek" in describing the car and noted that there will be another vehicle on the same platform, with more off-road personality. We're guessing that's not the vehicle slated to sit under the Bronco, which we think will be a Jeep Cherokee or Compass fighter. This would be sort of a high-riding, all-road version, we're guessing.
When Ford jumped into compact crossovers, there were five other competitors. Now there are 22, and Ford says in a few years there will be 30. A big market, indeed. The Escape was fifth last year in sales, in a class that was responsible for almost 3 million units. We'll predict it'll get a slightly bigger piece of that pie next year, but it still has a ways to go to catch perennial all-stars like the Toyota RAV4 and Nissan Rogue.
We'll see the gasoline-powered 2020 Escape in showrooms this fall; new Escape hybrids will follow next spring.
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