CARS OF THE WORLD

Ford Escape 2020.

Ford Escape is one of the best-selling cars of the American manufacturer. The bad news for Ford is that Escape is not a sales leader in the compact SUV class. He is inferior in the struggle for the buyer to such cars as Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. Given that the era of sedans and hatchbacks is drawing to a close, Escape is perhaps the only potentially interesting small Ford passenger car (with the exception of EcoSport). Therefore, we can say without exaggeration that for the future automaker a lot depends on the success of the Ford Escape 2020 model year.

The previous Escape, taking into account its shortcomings, did not occupy a very high place in a variety of car ratings. Therefore, the new Escape 2020 has great potential for improvement. We were most attentive at the event dedicated to the presentation of the model. And we saw that Ford went all-in. The 2020 Ford Escape not only makes significant improvements to the car, it has been rethought to make it a much more compelling rival in this highly competitive segment.

Transformational proportions and aerodynamics

The current Escape is not aging very well. With his tiptoe stance and more square shape, he looks more utilitarian than the rest of the segment. The new Escape 2020 looks completely different, more like sneakers than hiking boots. As if everything had changed except the name.

There are nice curves here, with longer, lower and wider proportions that lengthen the shape. This is because this new Escape is 6 cm longer from nose to tail and 4.5 cm wider. It is also about 1 cm lower, but the effect is further enhanced due to the extended wheelbase, which has grown by almost 2.5 cm. The lower border of the windows is also lower, reducing the visual weight of the car even more.
And this is not only a more attractive appearance.

A carefully smoothed body also creates less aerodynamic drag. And the new Escape 2020 doesn’t just look easier. It actually weighs 90 kg less. The great merit in this is the wide use by engineers of high-strength steel, which allows thinner materials to withstand the same load.

Manageability has never been a weakness of Escape. But the changed posture and less weight could make it even more dexterous and attractive. Ford officials say they updated the suspension and installed a new insulated rear subframe. From this we can conclude that the characteristics of the chassis and sound insulation have been improved. We’ll have to wait for the first test drives to see how the car will behave on the road.

Significantly improved interior

Elongated proportions also lead to a much larger interior space than before. Both the front and back rows have more room for the head, hips and shoulders than in the previous model, and the rear seat now slides and leans back. The difference is palpable, and the feeling of increased volume is further enhanced by the low windows that come with the new style. Escape 2020 instantly moves the arrow of perception of the interior from the cozy zone to the amiable and helpful.

The legroom in the rear seats is the best in its class — 103 cm, and the luggage compartment behind the second row has increased from 963 liters to 1062 liters — a 10 percent increase. However, there is a small footnote in the brochure. A large amount of legroom is obtained when the rear seats are shifted back, at that moment you have 949 liters of cargo space. You have to move these seats forward (they move 15 cm) to get the claimed 1062 liters, but then taller people are unlikely to fit. Fold the rear seats fully and the luggage space will increase to 1852 liters, which is slightly less than last year, due to the smooth contour of the rear window. But this value is still competitive for the segment.

The driver’s seat is very comfortable thanks to the wide range of telescopic steering wheels and the extra visibility provided by the extended windshield. The basic controls are fairly logical and at hand, and there is a clear separation between climate control and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment interface. This time the screen is located separately, and not built into the niche of the front panel, which greatly facilitates access to all corners of the screen.

Technologies

This 8-inch touchscreen is standard on SE and above. It has Ford’s easy-to-use Sync 3, which also supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The graphics are clear and the menu is easy to navigate. The response on the screen seemed pretty sharp in the few minutes that we used it. It is worth noting convenient free-standing volume controls and settings buttons, which are within easy reach.

For all Escape 2020, regardless of configuration, the Ford Co-Pilot360 is installed — this is a whole set of advanced driver aids. This complex includes: a collision avoidance system with automatic emergency braking, assistance in maintaining the lane, control of blind spots with a warning of cross traffic at the rear, automatic switching of headlights (near-far) and a rear view camera. Additional active safety options include adaptive cruise control with a stop and continue function, as well as steering assistance to avoid a threat that suddenly arises on the road (such as a pedestrian).

It is definitely worth mentioning the active parking assistance system. She will steer the car in a parallel or perpendicular parking space without the need for the driver to control the steering wheel, gear lever, gas or brake. Although you must be in the driver’s seat. The new Escape 2020 also offers, for an additional fee, a 12.3-inch all-digital instrument cluster and a 6-inch retractable screen that puts important information right in front of the driver.

New powertrain

Ford uses the new 1.5-liter turbocharged EcoBoost three-cylinder engine as the base powertrain in the S, SE, and SEL trim levels, replacing last year’s 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder EcoBoost engine. This new engine has a cylinder deactivation system that can shut off one cylinder for low power requirements, and it is connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission instead of a six-speed. Despite a completely new configuration, the estimated power of the base Escape of 180 horsepower and 240 Nm of torque is almost identical to last year, receiving one additional horsepower. It is worth noting here that all Escape 2020 engines can run on 92nd gasoline, but EcoBoost engines are measured using AI-98.

In the SE Sport or Titanium trim levels, the standard transmission is already a hybrid system that combines the Atkinson 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a pair of electric motors built into an electronic continuously variable automatic transmission. This Escape hybrid is not the first at Ford, but the concept was discarded when the current model debuted in 2013. Now he is back in an improved form, including a more compact battery, which takes up less space.

Fuel economy is something Ford is not yet ready to elaborate on, but Escape has many reasons to reduce fuel consumption. Last year’s Escape with front-wheel drive and a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine consumed 9 liters per 100 km in mixed mode (10.2 — city / 7.8 — highway), which is a liter with a little more than that of CR- V and RAV4. The streamlined body of the new Escape 2020, lighter weight, an eight-speed gearbox and a modern 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine will certainly improve fuel economy. But whether Escape 2020 can overcome its lag behind competitors is a big question. As for the hybrid, its main rival in the market is the new RAV4 Hybrid AWD, which consumes 5.9 liters in the combined cycle (5.7 — city / 6.1 — highway). The 2012 Escape Hybrid was good — the front-wheel drive version consumed 7.3 liters per 100 kilometers, but much has changed in eight years.

Opt for more power or a hybrid.

Unlike the previous model, only a 2020 Ford Escape Titanium with all-wheel drive can get a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder EcoBoost engine that provides 250 hp. and 275 Nm of torque. This is the same torque and only 5 hp. more than the engine that accelerated the Escape of the previous model year to 100 km per hour in 7.1 seconds. Ford employees say the 2020 version should accelerate 10 percent faster, which we estimate will be less than 6.5 seconds. Five horsepower can not provide this, so most likely this is due to weight loss, a more streamlined shape and additional gears in the transmission.

Ford has yet another rearrangement of powertrains in its sleeve; this is a new version of the 2.5-liter hybrid, which will be optional for the SE, SEL, and Titanium trim levels. Its increased installed battery will have a capacity of 14.4 kWh. And Ford is expecting it to provide a nominal electric range of at least 48 km — the largest distance in this tiny but growing subcategory. This hybrid will also have four driver-selectable modes, including the EV Now setting, which allows it to remain as an EV (Electric Vehicle) for the entire battery life.

Price and start of sales

Confirmed Ford Escape 2020 model year prices and official EPA fuel consumption will be announced in a few months. Nevertheless, we will definitely learn more in the coming weeks when we get closer to the start of sales of the Escape 2020 planned for early autumn. At this time, Ford will begin shipping all versions of Escape, with the exception of the hybrid version, which will be released in about 6 months — in the spring of 2020.

We expect to drive and talk a lot more about the car this summer. Our opinion will certainly be strengthened as soon as we spend time alone with the Ford Escape 2020. But for now, we hope that the 2020 Ford Escape improvements are real changes that will allow the model to impose a struggle on its main competitors: Toyota RAV4 2019 and Honda CR-V.