Some Big Changes to the 2020 Ford Escape | MotorWeek Road Test
Vložit
- čas přidán 23. 08. 2024
- Crossovers as we know them haven’t really been around that long. Ford’s original 2001 Escape was a joint venture with Mazda in response to the unexpected success of the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, and it has been very competitive with them ever since. 19 years later, and it’ time for a 4th generation Escape, and given Ford’s pledge to focus mostly on trucks and SUVs, this Escape could change how we look at crossovers forever.
People are always ragging on the looks of this thing. The thing is, this actually looks like a really well made, practical, well priced crossover that does everything a crossover buyer would want it to go. Good gas mileage, good handling, good interior space, good cargo capacity, really good brakes. I really think it’s an excellent crossover by all means, regardless of the controversial looks. Well done, Ford.
Not bad in general but a lot of cheap plastic inside. To the Ford bean counters, the competition has nothing to worry about.
@ guy prolux
To a point.
You pay more for Honda and Toyota in terms of price and financing.
And at 200,000 miles the Honda and Toyota will be worth more, but will have lost more money.
And not really being any more reliable. Let’s see how Honda’s CVT or Toyota’s oil consumption is doing at 200,000 miles.
Not gonna lie, I've been waiting for MotorWeek's review of this. Good to see Mr Davis.
As a 30 year Motorweek fan, I'm surprised John didn't exclaim that 92ft 0-60 Stop Distance! That beats any MW test ever except for a few exotics. WTH!? Are the hybrid inverters giving extra stopping power?
Its a typo, it doesn't brake that well. 70-0 is 162 ft.
That John Davis guy is immortal.
1940s cars were taller than most crossovers. Which means crossovers are just cars going back to their original heights.
I think the popularity has a lot to do with being easy to get in and out of, rather than climbing up and out of a traditional sedan. Good point about the old cars!
@@jamesengland7461 True. All it takes is the onset of typical, middle-age back and/or knee pain to start appreciating the easier ingress/egress of a slightly higher ride height.
Today requirements are that we can bring back everything from costco and ikea at the same time . At least small suv are FWD based with unibody . Old cars look more like the craze for ''modern'' pick-up-truck who really takes us back technologically speaking with theirs solid rear axle ,ladder frame ,absurb drag coefficient due to which automaker will make the truck with the most aggressive look . A '37 Chrysler Airflow is more advanced .
1940s cars were also all body-on-frame, so they HAD to be taller by design because the bodies sat on top of the frames. The same as pickup trucks.
I agree. Modern US trucks are monstrosities of grotesque design and engineering, a real step back for the auto industry. 10 foot tall trucks-are you fucking kidding me? @@martinmartin5904
My 2008 Escape V6 was the most dependable vehicle I ever owned. Other than maintenance, my only repair was a new ABS sensor with over 200,000 miles on the clock. I still see it running through town. Hope the new 4 cyl engines can do so well.
Best voice in the business!
I think it looks really good. Nice job Ford.
Very nice update to the Escape.
I watch this, then I watch some of the retro reviews, and it's amazing how far auto tech has come since '81.
I had 2010 Escape Limited NON HYBRID and took a 460 mile trip. It had a 16 gallon gas tank. My Escape got 38 MPG and had 65 miles worth of fuel remaining yet. It was phenomenal on gas mileage and when telling the dealer, they could not believe it got that great of gas milage. It was extremely comfortable for the long ride.
My 2009 Escape XLT v6 also got good mileage on the highway, 35-36 regularly (at least when it wasn´t raining). But mileage was poor in the City, 16-19. I wouldn´t say that I wish I still had it, but I would consider one with a brand new engine. Probably the funest vehicle I ever owned, a real blast to drive. Unfortunately persistent oil leaks caused me to sell it.
That Focus looks huge!
Its a mustang wagon.
@@alexyoungberg5232 No, that's the Mach-E LOL
blahhhhhahhhhh... lmao!!!
Why the hybrid? I want to know what the 2.0's like!
I dunno.. Ford wants me to eventually move from my '16 Fusion Hybrid to an Escape, but I feel like that would be a step down. The Escape is basically a lifted Focus. Now, if there were a hybrid or plug-in Edge, I'd be interested in that.
I'm wanting to upgrade my 15 FFH for the Maverick Hybrid, but the market is too insane for me to do that for the foreseeable future.
I don't know why people are complaining about the front and it actually looks good in my opinion
The body design looks descent. The 2.0 liter 4 cylinder awd seems like the best choice of engine drive train combos for the 2020 Ford Escape.
My dad is considering a 22 or 2023 escape SEL model hopefully next year in the spring. He would prefer the 2 liter 4 cylinder for more pep for easier and powerful performance. These are nice compact suvs with plenty of room inside and out and excellent power.
Just realized these taillights look nearly identical to the Rav-4. Kinda funny that two separate design teams would have similar ideas at pretty much the same time.
*Newsflash! All cars today look the same!*
Alex Youngberg exactly, look how the new 3 series looks like a Lexus on the rear
@@alexyoungberg5232 Actually I disagree, I was only referring to this specific example of two parts that were designed similarly. From 1940 to the mid 80's, all cars had literally the exact same headlamps. You could choose round or square. Car design has changed dramatically in the last 25 years. If you can't tell the difference between cars, you're not paying attention.
There’s a Porsche element to this design
It's looking like Ford hit it this time with the newest Escape. It's practicality, space, handling, and looks are perfect for competing with the Japanese.
Keep dreaming.
@guy proulx Ford sells 300,00 Escapes annually.
@guy proulx It's not unreasonable to believe that Ford will start seeing a boost in Escape sales with this new generation. Toyota only recently started outselling the Escape with its RAV4 in 2015. Which makes sense considering the last generation of Escape had been around since 2012 and the RAV4 got a facelift in 2015. Since the year 2000, though, Ford has sold 4,023,716 Escapes compared to Toyota's 3,514,938 RAV4s over the same time period. So the statement that Toyota sells "way more" isn't entirely accurate.
yea, sure lol...
@guy proulx you are aware that aesthetics are entirely subjective, right?
The prices are ridiculous
The original Escape was more boxy .... fast forward and now the Bronco sport is the size of the original Escape !
I rather like the looks of the new Bronco. But I´ll never buy one, ya know why? Because it´s named after a horse. I don´t hate horses, but I won´t drive a car called a Bronco, I don´t care how good of a vehicle it is. I´m weird I know.
I haven't been a fan of this new Escape by looking at the pics and videos. It looks too round and bulbous, basically like a taller Focus. However, I saw one on the road a couple of days ago, and it looked much nicer in person.
Motor Week could test a turd and make it sound amazing.
Agreed!
That review would be a stinker 🤷🏻♂️😂
Marky Mark 😂😂😂
The new Toyota Turd is fantastic!
Those original Escapes along with the Mazda Tribute and Mercury Mariner were pretty good.
EJ XOF66 execpt for those dam four speed automatic.
I grew up on 3 speed autos
Look good but RUST like hell. These new escapes will barely reach 50,000 before the engine or transmission will need replacing. I pressure turbo engines die fast
@@natelove187 You may be right. But I wanna know this: what other manufacturer is provably better at making these types of vehicles, ones that are more reliable? Both Toyota and Honda, while highly regarded as being a step above Ford in reliability, have issues with some of their engines as well. Seems like anything I might buy is really just a roll of the dice. Man, if Ford would make an electric-only version of this new Escape, now that would be a game-changer. Take that problem-prone ICE right out of there.
I’ll bet Ford will produce an ST version of this. 🤗
Renderings exist online...... It looks badass.
Probably with the 2.3L turbo-4 that’s in the Lincoln Corsair.
I saw a report that the 2.0 titanium got to 60 in 5.7. Thats better than most
I can't believe 92ft from 60-0mph. Awesome braking power.
It looks like a Kia Sportage mixed with Porsche Cayenne.
Spot on! I don't really have an issue with the styling other than it's derivative and a bit unoriginal. At least it isn't offensive, but that's hardly glowing praise either. The cabin looks better and I like the color combinations on the test vehicle with the lighter color seats, but I still can't help thinking that Mazda and Honda do it better.
With the side silhouette of the first gen CX-5.
Now I’ve been looking more, I see a CX-5 in the profile with a weird, widened Focus-like face. It’s not ugly but it’s not beautiful either.
It's pretty incredible how much better the Corsair looks. Still like the Escape though.
Many high end performance cars do not stop in less than 100 feet
That's pretty impressive for this escape
looks like a baby Macan. Not bad.
Does this guy talk to his wife in that voice?
I just drove a Titanium version today and I really liked it. The HUD is super crisp. Brakes are great. Spacious on the inside ,I’m over 6 feet tall.
Not cheap! But you definitely get what you pay for!
5:08 That spare tire doesn’t look so embarrassing like normal donut spares like before
What John did Not say is that the 1.5 is a VERY CAPABLE 3 Cylinder!
Not gonna lie, kinda like the spare ford gave it
If the grill was lined up with the headlights I’d like it better
The interior looks great!
3:18
PTSD inducing FoMoCo chime😰
Looks like they took a Mazda and glued on Ford emblems and grille
No.
The previous Escape design failed the NHTSA offset crash test. Will this one pass?
The MMC Escape was improved and didn't fail the driver's side test anymore, but Ford didn't improve the passenger structure.
Hey genius the last Escape's basic structure and chassis was designed years before that test was added. This new one has been designed with that test in mind. So instead of attempting to slander, why don't you do some research on the tests? Amateur.
@@gjrip Shut the fuck up you idiot, do your own research.
Many other manufacturers platforms were dated, but at least they improved their structure to get an Acceptable rating or higher after the test was introduced. See a CR-V or a Forester as an example with pre vs post test performance. Ford beefed up the driver's side structure for the Escape, but neglected the passenger side unlike almost everyone else. Cost cutting at it's finest at the expense of the customer and their safety.
Shoutout to Owings Mills.
Why does everyone think the giant iPad look sticking out of the dash looks good now. Gross
Mercedes started this trend
I know! it really looks like they didn't even try
Eeww. This car looks like something a 5 year old would design
@@thevinceberry Was Tesla really wasn't it?
@@HeavyMetal-jy4vj Tesla design the whole infotainment on a big screen but Mercedes was the first one to have a small screen sticking out I believe
Looks nice to me!!!
It's like a Fiesta/Focus SUV
While the front end on this new Escape is way better than the horror shows we're seeing out of other makers (coughLEXUScough), it still looks too cartoonish for my tastes. Reminds me of all those smiling Mazda front fascias from the last 10 years or so that I didn't buy either.
It's a tall Ford Focus with a tablet glued to the top of the dash like an afterthought.
Lol afterthought stupid comment every manufacturer does this bet you praise Toyota
@@JamesThomas-dn6ee Can't stand Toyota. The manufactures that tack the touch screen on top of the dash rather than bother to integrate it into the dash are lazy.
@@davesgarage78 I don't like that tablet add on either , but Toyota makes some really good vehicles . I find that cars in general although over complicated now are pretty competent .
Nicely styled, good looking car.
How does it drive in the snow?
I still prefer the mid-2000s look
Kia escape
This looks nothing like a Kia Sportage at all. How about the Kia Sportage looks like a Porsche Cayenne. Kia has history of copying other automakers. Lets talk about the Telluride. Looks like a Range Rover slash Volvo love child. This is escape is very nice. Good job Ford!
It looks like a much larger ford focus 😂
It looks like Kia tried to make a low budget Porsche.
That's some irony right there.
Looks like you tried to make an original comment.
Where is it built?????
Almost $40k for compact crossover? The price of cars is increasing rapidly, more than enough to offset the the money saved at the pump. Probably would be best to wait for the good incentives and discounts to start. My mother saved $5k on her car a few months ago because it was a remaining 2018.. I’ve also seen folks save close to 50% by purchasing a demo model used by the dealers. As usual the sheep will flock to the dealerships, check book in hand and ready overspend.
For a top level loaded trim. The prices start at 25k. Cars are expensive, no doubt, but your comment is a bit disingenuous.
A 1990 explorer was base priced at 22k which is 40k in today's money so no. Cars are not getting more expensive.
Interesting!! I also like all the talk with your statement. They all have costs and percentages for "base" models!! Unfortunately, almost nobody ever buys a "base" model!! Just like when we watch videos with the "base" price!! Then, they share the Price as Tested...and we all GO crazy because it is so HIGH!! "Base" price means NOTHING folks!! Pay more attention to the popular model...and then do your price comparisons and percentages.... Geeeeeezzzzzzzzzz!!!!
I love the looks of this revision! Much better than the last.
Looks like a Hyundai on the front end! (Its the grill)
It does. It's grille btw. But you're correct. Kia Hyundai look going on
@3 name changes allowed every 90 days. calm down buddy. You can learn something anywhere. Comment wasn't even for you
Don’t have to squint to see a Ford Focus on stilts.
From the back you`ll never know what it it, since the Rav4, Tiguan, even Skoda use that taillight style
There have been some cars that grew on me and cars that never did.
This is one that the front end won’t for me.
"squint just right" ?? lol what, squint till you cant see maybe
Wow a 94 foot stopping distance!
4:49 LOOK AT ALL THE ORANGE PEEL ON THE REAR QUARTER NEXT TO THE LATCH!!!!!! Is this a new car or a salvage rebuild!?
That's literally the door jamb.. But yeah, new car paint jobs suck..
@@JakeDrives1 I wasn't sure, was thrown off by the double fold. Still it looks like a poor crappy shop paintjob after an accident. brutal
@japanwatchconnection Ford having bad paint jobs isn't the same as having transmission or engine problems like in a dodge or a chevy 🤷🏽♂️
That was a very SLUGGISH looking 0-60 off the line movement! LOL
It's a hybrid that gets 40mpg combined. The 2L turbo does 0-60 in 5.7 seconds I've heard.
A 2.5 Liter Non turbo Engine would be Nice for Me The less Complicated the better
That would be nice. A version with no ICE would be cool as well, an electric-only .
You can add a second or two to that 0-60 time if the engine was off and had to start up due to that stop/start system... another feature being crammed down our throats. I don't know anyone who thought: "I wish my car's engine would shut off automatically when I stop and restart automatically when I step on the gas to go. That would be great!" Saves very little fuel and annoys every owner of a car with that system.
Agreed! When it first came out, there was no option to turn it off. As manufacturers learned people hated it, more and more now have that option to turn it off. I suspect that it'll go away altogether soon.
Perry Beyer I found this out today, which it wouldn't work with a rotary shifter if I had to guess. I own a 2017 Ford Escape SE 2.0. It has the basic shifter, and its gear pattern is like every other car, but if you go passed drive, you go into sport mode. That automatically turns off Auto Start/Stop, so you won't have to press the button every time you start the car.
The DBX looks very similar
Wow, now that is a lot spray tan.
Gary Houtz only on 75% of John’s head!!!
Need to bring back the v6
Go Ford well done. Watch German vehicles and the muscle cars not Japan and Korea for styling
4:42 WT....
Why he so orange?
4k please
Why does every new Ford model since the 2013 Fusion look like a surprised catfish?
Resembling a Cobra is no vice.
The front end looks awful with that oversized grill and the headlights are too far from the center of the vehicle. Other than that looks great!
A good start would be a good engine unlike the previous version that have coolant leak into cylinders bad motor don't buy get a Toyota or Honda you will thank me later
Ford stole the Toyota Rav 4 Tail lights:)
I see why they did this, but I still need to drive on bad roads, gravel, and dirt. If this can't even handle soft-roading, I have no use for it.
5 modes, regular, eco, sport, slippery and sand/snow.
The front end is awful
It remains to be seen if Ford can make a reliable Ecoboost engine sometimes known as Ecoboom for their huge history of serious problems from expensive blown head gaskets, to carbon build up, cam chain issues, cracked blocks, rod and main bearing failures, and more. They’re highly stressed engines and Ford has typically cut too many corners resulting in lots of well documented failures they often refuse to properly fix under warranty instead trying to blame the customer or claim there’s nothing wrong. Even police departments are refusing to buy Ford Ecoboost vehicles as they’re just not reliable.
Let me put my thought into your comment to straighten your thoughts out, I'm not trying to argue like everybody is in the comments, but I'm just saying what a non biased Escape owner should say. One, you need to drive one. It actually has life. Most CUV's are absolute garbage in terms of "speed" however when I bought mine back in 2017 the only two I found with a hint of fun in it was the Forrester and the Escape. Second, I went from a KIA Forte so I was unsure about the EcoBoost. Fortunately, almost all of the issues you stated are fixed. For instance, when the 3rd gen Escape came out, the engine had an ass load of issues. By the time the face lift came out with the gen two 2.0, all of those issues were fixed besides carbon build up which can be slowed depending on your oil (?). It's normal for newer engine to have questionable reliability, just like Toyota's cracked blocks in their 2.5's, Honda's oil issues in their 1.5 and Nissan's CVT issues. All EcoBoost engines are in generation two, which fixed most their issues. The 2.0 has actually had three gens so it's most likely the more reliable EcoBoost. And from my knowledge, the only time Ford claimed there wasn't anything wrong was with their DCT's (massive failure). And the police do buy Ecoboost engines all the times dude, especially the 3.5. They have used them since Ford came out with them for the two intercepter's they have. I've heard they use the Fusion and the Escape with the 2.0 in New York but I would't know for I'm from Virginia
2017escapo Some good points and I agree Ford has eventually fixed many of the problems but they’ve had way more problems in total than any other mainstream turbo engines from other manufacturers. Another source of denied warranty claims were the catastrophic problems with the Focus RS engine. The nature of the car was such that owners did things like install a new exhaust from the cat back and Ford used that, and similar unrelated things, to deny warranty repair for the failed engines. Someone even published the internal advisory to dealers that said as much. And I know for a fact some police departments would only buy their explorers with the N.A. V6 and only buy the N.A. V8 in larger Ford vehicles. That includes the California Highway Patrol.
Shared Knowledge I hear you, they really never should had those issues in the first place. The first gen EcoBoosts were a waste, my aunt has a 2014 Escape with 140K miles but she probably just got lucky because I've heard to many things about them. I don't think Ford has ever had a more problematic engine line, the 3.0 V6's were very reliable and so were the 3.5 and 3.7 until the water pump went out. There was no need to switch it up because what they had worked. They said part of them making EcoBoost were for better fuel consumption but I have the 2.0 and I get 22 mpg and highest I have had was 24 mpg but I love the low end power. I think they should have kept the V6 options for their cars and just made the EcoBoost an option
2017escapo you are correct. Ford just can’t seem to grasp their buyers want solid well engineered reliable vehicles and powertrains. Instead they give us a dual clutch automatic in the Fiesta that was so awful it fueled multiple class action lawsuits. And then a Focus RS motor prone to self destruction in the first few months of ownership. And Ford trucks with spark plugs in such a poorly designed head they only engage a few threads and are often launched out of the head. Or stupidly designed two piece plugs that break in half when trying to replace them. Ford seems to have largely lost their way.
I can't decide if I like or dislike that front end. It almost makes this thing look like a Focus on stilts. That MPG rating MotorWeek was able to achieve is outstanding; who would have thought just years ago that an SUV would be able to achieve that kind of fuel efficiency? I'm surprised nothing was mentioned about the interior quality; the design seems OK but multiple magazines have slammed the Escape's interior for using a lot of chintzy materials.
The original Escape hybrid used the Prius's hybrid system. Ford payed Toyota for the use of their tech.
Nooooo not true at all.
Yeah that’s not even close to true.
These new suvs are just station wagons. They are so low to the ground.
I love it .
200hp from a 2.5l hybrid? Really?
92 feet that’s crazy good
all these suvs look exactly the same just another diff badge
Video quality is poor. You need to upgrade to 4K cameras
SE Hybrid sport model is a nice looking car. All blacked out (no chrome) with smoked rear lights and black wheels. Saying goodbye to my 2017 Escape SE (19.9 mpg). 40.5 mph sounds a lot better and fewer trips to the gas station.
19.9! Holy hell
There's no question that the Escape isn't attractive looking package however each and every generation of the Ford Escape almost always is plagued by a dismal reliability record, weak automatic transmission, and mediocre resale values. As a wholesaler I'm always taken back when I drive or ride in a car that may only be two or three years old yet feel as if they are 10 or 15 years old. Stick to either a Toyota RAV4 Orr Hyundai Tucson.
It’s a bigger hatchback, I wouldn’t call this new Escape a crossover?
If my calculations are correct, when this baby hits 88 mph... you're gonna see, oh wait, never mind.
AmraphelofShinar When this baby hits 88 mph... you're gonna SEE ... VT (CVT) 🤢🤢... 🐌...😭😂🤣lol
Looks like a Porsche
This car is an awesome way to lose a lot of money. Buy the hybrid for $37,000 with tax, add another $1,500 in finance fees over 5 years, and you'll have an unwanted difficult to work on hybrid no one wants to buy in 2025. CarMax might offer you $7,000 on trade in. $30K+ gone!
price is too high (3500 euros) for Europe. For that price (33000 euros) I get a Subaru Forester e boxer 4X4 with all options, included eyesight. Ford is too expensive, it is as simple as that.
200hp WTF
*( Oh no!! It looks like a Kia/Hyundai hybrid vehicle!! )*
This guy has waaaay too much makeup on! He looks like a talking wax figure.
$25,000 seems a lot for what should be a budget crossover.
somethings wrong with my laptop . he deems awfully orange .. hmmmm
I want him to hit the gym !!! Wow he is finally showing age