Doing more with lessįord led the trend in engine downsizing with its turbocharged EcoBoost engines, which aimed to maintain power while shrinking displacement, all in the name of fuel economy. We didn’t detect any issues with audio quality, which seemed comparable to the top-level audio systems in competitor vehicles. This optional extra uses an externally coupled subwoofer, which Ford claims is smaller and lighter than a conventional sub. A head-up display is available as well.Īlso new for 2020 is a 10-speaker, 575-watt Bang and Olufsen audio system. It’s not as fancy as the version used in the 2020 Ford Explorer, but that’s to be expected given the Escape’s lower price point. New for 2020 is an optional 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, which replaces traditional analog gauges with a reconfigurable display. The 2020 Escape is available with up to four USB ports, and the glovebox can accommodate a laptop, Ford claims Sync 3 is one of the most intuitive systems on the market, and we appreciate Ford’s inclusion of analog controls for things like temperature and audio volume. The 2020 Escape still runs the Sync 3 infotainment system used in the previous-generation model, with an 8.0-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/ Android Auto compatibility, and a built-in Wi-Fi hot spot that can support up to 10 devices. The tech changes aren’t as dramatic as the changes to the vehicle itself, but they do make a difference. The Honda CR-V and Volkswagen Tiguan also offer more cargo space, while the Subaru Forester has substantially more overall passenger space. Every trim level we looked at had too much unappealing-looking plastic, including door cards with a bizarre pockmarked texture on our SEL tester. Not everything about the interior was great, though. The Nissan Rogue is the only other vehicle in this segment with that feature. In the back, the Escape is available with a sliding rear seat that can free up more cargo space, or passenger legroom, depending on what’s needed. Up front, the feeling of spaciousness was partly down to the truck-like dashboard, which doesn’t intrude on your personal space. We found ample headroom and legroom – even in the back. We also felt that the Escape’s long hood and the steep rake of the windshield compromised forward visibility somewhat.Ī sleek design usually compromises interior space, but we didn’t have any issues with the Escape. We felt the Escape’s thinner pillars made a difference in visibility, but your results may vary depending on your height. Thick roof pillars, which are typically required to pass crash tests, are indeed a bane of modern cars. The thinner pillars reduce blind spots, Hughes noted. The use of high-strength boron steel in the roof pillars means those pillars can be thinner without compromising crash safety, Jim Hughes, global chief engineer for the Escape, told Digital Trends. The hood and some suspension components are aluminum, but everything else is a mix of different steel grades. Instead of going with an all-aluminum body, as with the F-150 pickup truck, Ford used multiple metals. Cutting pounds improves everything from acceleration to fuel economy, so that’s definitely a good thing. The automaker claims to have reduced weight by an average of 200 pounds. If Ford wants to win over sedan owners, that’s a smart move.įord made some important changes under the skin as well. It’s a stark contrast to the Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4, which are still going for stereotypical boxiness, and puts the Escape more in line with the Mazda CX-5 and Kia Sportage. The new Escape adopts a sleek look, with a pointy nose and sloping roofline. With the 2020 model, Ford is done pretending. The Escape has always tried to pretend to be a traditional, truck-based SUV, rather than the car-based crossover it actually is. To stand out from the crowd, Ford took the 2020 Escape’s exterior styling in a different direction than either of the previous generations. The compact crossover segment is a lot more crowded than it was when the first-generation Escape made its debut for the 2001 model year, or even when the outgoing-generation Escape arrived for the 2013 model year. Hyundai Ioniq 6 first drive review: welcome to the futureįord recalls more than half a million SUVs over fire risk Ford EV drivers can use 12,000 Tesla Superchargers starting in 2024
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