The Ford Escape has been one of the very few SUVs in the segment that offers the practicality of an SUV and the fun to drive character of a sporty sedan. Ford has tried to infuse the same characteristics while designing the 2020 Ford Escape.
In this crowded market of compact SUVs, Ford has been able to carve out a name for itself through the Escape. The 2020 Ford Escape offers great handling and a very potent engine, which works in tandem with one another to create a well-round off car that's hard to ignore. The 2020 Ford Escape starts at just $24,100 for the base S trim and goes over $35,000 for the top Titanium trim.
Vehicle images are guides only and may not reflect the model's exact specifications/features– exact specifications/features should be confirmed with the seller.
Ratings
Features
7.5
Engine And Performance
6.5
Interior
7.5
7.1
OVERALL RATING
Expert Review, Pricing Analysis and Buying Guide
7.1
Overall Rating
The base variant is only available in the FWD configuration while the other 3 Trims can be had in either an FWD or an AWD setup. Three Engines on offer are -a 2.5L Naturally Aspirated I-4 unit on the base S trim, a 1.5L turbocharged I-4 unit on the SE and SEL trims and a powerful 2.0L Turbocharged I-4 unit on the Titanium trim.
2020 Ford Escape Angular Front view
2020 Ford Escape Angular Rear View
7.5/10 Features
6.5/10 Engine and Performance
7.5/10 Interior
2020 Ford Escape Features
7.5/10
The 2020 Ford Escape comes in 4 well-defined trim levels namely; the S, SE, SEL, and Titanium. 3 Engines are on duty for powering different trims. All trims except the base S gets the option of an AWD drive train.
Trims
S
SE
SEL
Titanium
Price(2WD)
$24,105(2.5L)
$26,500(1.5L Turbo)
$28,445(1.5L Turbo)
$32,620(2.0L Turbo)
Price(AWD)
-
$28,995(1.5L Turbo)
$30,940(1.5L Turbo)
$35,115(2.0L Turbo)
Features
Cloth Upholstery
Adds/Upgrades these from “S” Trim
Adds/Upgrades these from “SE” Trim
Adds/Upgrades these from ‘SEL”
6 Way Manually Adjustable Driver Seat
10 Way Power Adjusted Driver Seat
Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel, Gear Knob, Seats
Auto-Dimming Rear-View mirror
Rear View Camera and Ford My Key
Push Button Start
LED Headlamps Accent
Bi-Xenon Headlights with LED Accents
1 USB Port
Remote Start
Rear Parking Sensors
Heated Steering
4.2” SYNC Infotainment System with Voice Activation
8” SYNC Touchscreen Infotainment System with Satellite Radio
Foot Activated Powered Liftgate
10 Speaker Sony Audio System with Navigation System
6 Speaker Audio System
Dual Zone Climate Control
Autonomous Parallel Parking
17” Wheels with Wheel Covers
17” Aluminum Wheels
19” Aluminum Wheels
Power Windows
Fog Lamps
Heated Outside Mirrors
Automatic Start-Stop
Apple Car Play and Android Auto
Power Adjust Passenger Seat
The 2.0L Ecoboost Engine is the most powerful engine among the 3 options but is only exclusive to the Top Titanium trim.
We Recommend
The SE trim adds a lot of creature comforts with a potent engine that does not sacrifice on performance. For people who want a more powerful engine and a feature-loaded SUV, the Titanium trim should be their choice.
2020 Ford Escape Engine and Performance
6.5/10
With snappy engine response and strong braking and handling, the Escape feels more like a sport sedan than a touring crossover–Edmunds.com
Engine and Transmission
The 2020 Ford Escape comes in 3 Engine configurations with the 2.0L EcoBoost motor being the most powerful unit of all the 3 available units.The base 2.5L naturally aspirated motor just about gets the job done and offers performance which suits the price at which it is being sold.
The 1.5L EcoBoost is the second engine on offer that delivers 179hp @ 6000 rpm and 177 pounds-feet of torque beginning from as low as 2500 rpm. This engine comes with the SE and the SEL trims and can be had in both FWD and AWD configurations. The engine delivers good punch past the 2500 rpm mark and makes overtaking maneuvers a bit easier than the base variant.
For people who want the Best in terms of Power and Performance, have the option to go for the powerful 2.0L EcoBoost turbocharged engine that delivers a massive 245hp and 275 lbs-ft of torque.
Models
Ford Escape S
Chevrolet Equinox L
Mazda CX-5 Sport
Volkswagen Tiguan S
Honda CR-V LX
Hyundai Santa Fe SE
Kia Sorento L
Nissan Rogue S
GMC Terrain SL
Mitsubishi Outlander ES
Subaru Forester 2.5i
MSRP
$25,100
$24,795
$25,345
$25,190
$25,345
$26,545
$26,980
$25,795
$26,195
$25,690
$24,295
Engine
2.5L i4 Regular Unleaded
1.5L I4 Turbocharged
2.5L I4
2.0L I4 Intercooled TSI
2.4L I4 i-VTEC
2.4L I4
2.4L I4
2.5L i4
1.5L i4 Turbo Gas/Ethanol
2.4L i4
2.5L Flat 4
Transmission
6 Speed automatic
6 Speed automatic
6 Speed automatic
8 Speed automatic
CVT
8 Speed automatic
6 Speed automatic
CVT
9 Speed automatic
Continuously variable automatic
CVT
Horsepower
168 hp@ 6000rpm
170hp@ 5600rpm
187hp@ 6000rpm
184hp@ 4400rpm
184hp@ 6400rpm
185hp@ 6000rpm
185hp@ 6000rpm
170hp@ 6000rpm
170hp@ 5600rpm
166 hp@ 6000rpm
182hp@ 5800 rpm
Torque
170 lbs-ft @ 4500rpm
203 lbs-ft @ 2000rpm
186 lbs-ft @ 4000rpm
221 lbs-ft @ 1600 rpm
180lbs-ft @ 3900rpm
178 lbs-ft @ 4000rpm
178 lbs-ft @ 4000rpm
175 lbs-ft @ 4400rpm
203 lbs-ft @ 2000rpm
162 lbs-ft @ 4200rpm
176 lbs-ft @ 4400rpm
A 6-speed automatic transmission comes mated to all the 3 Engine options. The transmission does well in shifting gears at the right moments during hill climbs or tackling city traffic. We do however feel the need for a better transmission for the 2.0L Engine variant as that would have doubled the fun of driving the same, especially on the highway.
Acceleration
Despite its high curb weight, the Ford Escape Manages to outrun nearly all of its rivals, in the 0-60 sprint. The Ford’s aerodynamic design and powerful motor help it, achieve the 60 MPH figure in just 7.1secs.
Models
Ford Escape S
Chevrolet Equinox L
Mazda CX-5 Sport
Volkswagen Tiguan S
Honda CR-V LX
Hyundai Santa Fe SE
Kia Sorento L
Nissan Rogue S
GMC Terrain SL
Mitsubishi Outlander ES
Subaru Forester 2.5i
0-60 MPH
7.1 sec
6.3 sec
6.4 sec
8.7 sec
7.2 sec
7.7 sec
8.9 sec
7.3 sec
6.4 sec
6.8 sec
9.6 sec
Quarter mile
16.7 sec
15.1 sec
15.5 sec
16.7 sec
16.7 sec
16 sec
16.7 sec
16.8 sec
16.1 sec
15.4 sec
17.3 sec
Engine
2.5L i4
1.5L I4
2.5L I4
2.0L I4 Intercooled
2.4L I4 i-VTEC
2.4L I4
2.4L I4
2.5L i4
1.5L i4 Turbocarged
2.4L i4
2.5L Flat 4
Emission
(Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)
7.3
6.5
6.3
6.3
7.7
N/A
N/A
N/A
6.1
N/A
N/A
The compact Chevrolet Equinox, with its low weight and powerful engine, manages to top the chart of 0-60 MPH runs while its sister car, the GMC Terrain manages to stay second courtesy of similar design and performance.
Ride and Handling
The Ford Escape lays down the benchmark for its class in terms of handling dynamics. The Escape manages to tame corners like a sporty hatch and offers a lot of confidence coming out of them with minimal body roll. The straight-line stability is fantastic as well and there is very little buffeting while doing high speeds at the motorways.
The ride quality has not been compromised for sporty handling. The suspension absorbs bumps with ease and moving over speed humps won’t cause much trouble to the passengers sitting inside.
Braking
The engineers at Ford have worked hard on improving the braking performance of the 2020 Escape after the 2018 model received a lot of flak for the same. The brake rotor size has improved over its predecessor and some improvements have been made in the manner the brakes dissipate brakes.
Models
Ford Escape S
Chevrolet Equinox L
Mazda CX-5 Sport
Volkswagen Tiguan S
Honda CR-V LX
Hyundai Santa Fe SE
Kia Sorento L
Nissan Rogue S
GMC Terrain SL
Mitsubishi Outlander ES
Subaru Forester 2.5i
Brake Front (in.)
12.8
11.6
N/A
11.7
13.4
11.1
12.6
12.6
11.7
11.6
11.8
Brake Rear (in.)
12
11.9
N/A
11.9
11.8
10.2
12
12
11.5
11.2
11.3
60-0 MPH (ft.)
112
3329
115
136
N/A
115
130
N/A
N/A
130
129
The improvements have ensured that the Ford Escape now ranks among the top in terms of braking performance in the segment. The Honda CR-V still sits at the top half with the Chevrolet Equinox in braking while the other competition still has some ground to cover.
2020 Ford Escape Fuel Economy
While the Ford Escape thrills with its performance and handling, its gas economy doesn’t deliver the same level of thrills. The Ford delivers the lowest MPG rating in this comparison by 1 MPG as compared to its nearest rival.
Models
Ford Escape S
Chevrolet Equinox L
Mazda CX-5 Sport
Volkswagen Tiguan S
Honda CR-V LX
Hyundai Santa Fe SE
Kia Sorento L
Nissan Rogue S
GMC Terrain SL
Mitsubishi Outlander ES
Subaru Forester 2.5i
MPG (city)
21
25
26
25
22
26
22
22
26
26
26
MPG (highway)
29
30
32
31
29
32
29
29
33
32
30
MPG (combined)
24
27
28
28
25
28
25
25
29
28
28
Range (city/highway)
(miles)
330/455
415/498
387 / 477
370 / 459
337 / 444
364 / 448
414 / 545
414 / 545
377 / 479
387.4/447
431.6/547.8
Tank Capacity (gal)
15.7
16.6
14.9
14.8
15.3
14.0
18.8
18.8
14.5
14.9
14.9
In terms of range though, the 15.7-gallon gas tank ranks on the top half of this comparison and helps it deliver a decent overall range of 330 miles on the city.
2020 Ford Escape Interior
7.5/10
With easy entry and exit and a high driving perch, the Escape feels and drives smaller than it looks. That's a good thing– Edmunds.com
Seating and Comfort
The Ford Escape offers a lot of features and creature comforts starting from the base variant and increases, as you climb up the trim ladder. The base S trim gets 6-way manual seats while Escape SE gets 10-way control seats.
Models
Ford Escape S
Chevrolet Equinox L
Mazda CX-5 Sport
Volkswagen Tiguan S
Honda CR-V LX
Hyundai Santa Fe SE
Kia Sorento L
Nissan Rogue S
GMC Terrain SL
Mitsubishi Outlander ES
Subaru Forester 2.5i
Passenger capacity
5
7
5
5
7
5
5
7
5
5
5
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)
39.9/55.9/43.1
40.6/56.4/40.9
40.0/57.2/40.9
39.7/57.1/41.0
39.6/57.0/40.2
40.1/57.9/41.3
41.2/59.1/44.1
39.5/59.1/44.1
41.6/56.6/43.0
41.2/58.2/43.3
40.0/57.2/40.9
Second
(Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)
39.0/55.2/37.3
38.4/56.0/37.3
38.5/55.5/39.7
39.0/54.8/39.6
39.1/55.9/36.5
39.2/55.6/40.4
39.2/58.3/40.9
39.3/58.0/39.4
38.5/55.9/37.9
39.6/57.2/39.4
38.5/55.6/39.7
The Escape can seat up to five passengers. The front passengers are treated to liberal legroom and well-bolstered seats. The back seats offer decent headroom but the legroom seems compromised and appears cramped for grown-ups.
Infotainment System
Ford has updated the infotainment system of the 2020 Escape to keep pace with the competition. The 2020 Ford Escape comes with Ford’s SYNC 3 Infotainment System. The base trim feels underequipped against the competition as the base gets a non-touchscreen 4.2” infotainment display while the competition offers a Touchscreen Unit. Higher trims, however, get a more feature-loaded system that ranks among the best in class.
These are the list of Features available from the infotainment system of the 2020 Ford Escape
Android Auto and Apple Car Play Compatibility
8” Touchscreen Infotainment System with Navigation
SiriusXM Radio Subscription
10 Speaker SONY Audio System
FM/AM Radio connectivity
Dual Zone Climate Control System
Bluetooth Telephony and Connectivity to Multiple devices
HD Radio
Cargo Capacity
The 2020 Ford Escape offers a respectable amount of space in the cargo. The Escape can seat only 5 people and space behind the rear seats is copious for carrying maximum cargo.
Models
Ford Escape S
Chevrolet Equinox L
Mazda CX-5 Sport
Volkswagen Tiguan S
Honda CR-V LX
Hyundai Santa Fe SE
Kia Sorento L
Nissan Rogue S
GMC Terrain SL
Mitsubishi Outlander ES
Subaru Forester 2.5i
Cargo Volume (ft.3)
34.0
10.3
29.9
30.9
37.6
39.2
35.9
11.3
39.3
35.4
29.6
The Nissan Rogue’s practical cabin and big exteriors help it beat the rest in terms of cargo space while the Honda CR-V comes in a close second.
Interior Features
The Spacious Interiors of the Ford Escape has some good set of features inside. Though some of the features are not standard people willing to shell out a little bit of extra cash will reap the benefits of doing the same. These are some of the features offered in the Interiors of the Ford
Adaptive Cruise Control
Blind Spot Monitoring System
Auto-Dimming Rear-View Mirror
Ambient Lighting
Automatic Start-Stop System
Power Adjustable Front Seats
Keyless Access with Push Button Start
Dual Zone Climate Control
Leather Seats and Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel
2020 Ford Escape Exterior
Still taut and sleek from the outside, the Escape drops all SUV pretense with its fast roofline and lower ride height–TheCarconnection.com
Design and Dimensions
The 2018 Ford Escape exteriors scream sportiness from the moment you first see it. The exterior shell flaunts Aston Martin-like front grille (signature of modern fords) and numerous tight lines visible from the side profile the makes the SUV feel like it has been carefully made and tested in an aerodynamic tunnel. The Rear End looks similar to other SUV’s of the segment while the Skid plates on the Rear Bumper adds to the “Tough” feel of the SUV.
Model
Ford Escape S suv
Mitsubishi Outlander ES suv
Chevrolet Equinox L suv
Mazda CX-5 SPORT suv
Volkswagen Tiguan S suv
Honda CR-V LX suv
Hyundai Santa Fe SE suv
Kia Sorento L suv
Nissan Rogue S suv
GMC Terrain SL suv
Subaru Forester suv
Curb weight (lbs.)
3552
3329
3274
3541
3721
3307
3591
3810
3456
3449
3499
Length(in)
178.1
184.8
183.1
179.1
185.1
180.6
187.8
189.0
184.5
182.1
182.3
Width(in)
72.4
71.3
72.6
72.5
72.4
73.0
74.4
74.4
72.4
71.5
72.4
Height(in)
66.3
67.3
65.4
66.2
66.3
66.1
66.1
66.3
66.3
68.1
65.4
Ground clearance (in)
7.8
8.5
N/A
7.5
7.9
7.8
N/A
7.3
7.8
8.7
6.9
Wheelbase (in)
105.9
105.1
107.3
106.2
109.8
104.7
108.9
109.4
106.5
105.1
107.3
Track width (in) F/R
61.5/61.6
60.6/60.6
62.2/62.2
62.8/62.8
62.2/61.8
62.9/63.5
64.3/64.7
64.3/64.7
62.8/62.8
61.6/61.8
62.2/62.2
The 2020 Ford Escape looks big in the Flesh but in terms of sheer numbers, it’s compact and smaller than the rest of its rivals. The Escape’s wheelbase is similar to the rest of the competition and so is the width and height. The smaller length of the Escape gives it the leverage of being easily maneuvered through crowded areas or parking in tight spaces.
Exterior Features
Ford has decked the exteriors of the 2020 Escape with some decent features. Some of those features include
Outside Powered and Heated Mirrors
19” Alloy Wheels
Foot Activated Powered Tailgate
Fog Lamps
Rear Parking Sensors
Autonomous Parallel Parking
LED Accents on Bi-Xenon Headlamps
2020 Ford Escape Safety
The 2018 Ford Escape performed well in different tests conducted by the NHTSA and earned a 5-star overall rating. While the competitors offer a lot of safety tech as standard, Escape owners will have to climb up the trims for getting a good safety package for their Escape.
Some of those features include
ABS with Electronic Brake Force Distribution
Traction Control
Rear View Camera
Adaptive Cruise Control
Rear Parking Sensors
Active Lane Control
Blind Spot Monitors
Seatbelts with Pre Tensioners and Load Limiters
2020 Ford Escape Competition
Ford Escape vs Honda CR-V
There is no denying the fact that the Honda CR-V is one of the best SUVs in the segment. It flaunts an easy to understand infotainment system and best in class cargo space. The CR-V additionally has a rich lodge that offers two lines of seating and has enough space to oblige grown-ups. The Ford, however, offers a lot of technology onboard and is the better handling and fun to drive SUV among the two.
Ford Escape vs Mazda CX-5
The Mazda CX-5 is one of the most sportiest SUVs in the segment. The Mazda offers one of the Best 2nd-row seating arrangements in the class. When it comes to the off-road ability, both the SUV’s are nearly matched and have potent 4WD systems. The Escape, however, offers a slightly better handling package and has a roomier cabin as compared to the Mazda.
Ford Escape vs Volkswagen Tiguan
The Volkswagen Tiguan has to be one of the best-built SUVs in the segment. The car has been solidly put together and exudes presence in flesh. It also has a potent AWD system in the form of the 4Motion technology on offer. The Ford Escape though offers a much sportier ride and an engaging drive experience.
2020 Ford Escape Final Verdict
The 2020 Ford Escape has been targeted towards the consumers as a fun to drive SUV with a hint of sportiness. This is a great daily driver, and should you opt for one of the Turbocharged engines, the highway drives will be fun too. The interiors are spacious as well and the cargo space is capable of fulfilling the demands of most consumers. What makes the Ford Escape an irresistible proposition is its 2.0L EcoBoost motor that totally blows the competition. Overall, if you are in the market to buy an SUV that can take you off roads and also give you immense pleasure of driving, the Ford Escape is an SUV you can’t go wrong with.