They say the most sincere form of flattery is imitation but you gotta respect when that imitation has enough originality to stand on its own. Take the 2020 Ford Escape, for instance. At a glance, on a dark street at night from a certain distance, I could easily mistake it for a Mazda CX-5. The Escape is a small crossover, so it stands to reason that it will share some of the same design language and profile as other vehicles in the same segment. The 2020 Escape certainly looks sharp but it’s taken some time for Ford to get to this point with the Escape. Is there enough innovation here for the Escape to carve out it’s own space in an already crowded segment.
What Dads Will Dig about the Ford Escape
A Design for Dads – While I admire crossovers like Mazda’s CX-5, they can feel almost too sleek and slender for my tastes. Not so with the Escape. There is enough bulk and bulge here to create a more unisex appeal. There are some nice curves in the side panels and distinctive indentions in the rear door that give the Escape that quintessential Ford look. The small grill upfront could have used a little bit more heft but overall the front end is more aggressive than 2019’s model. In fact, this 2020 Escape is lower, wider and longer than last year’s version and it really helps to give it a more modern stance. It’s definitely more Dad worthy.
Less is More – My daughter loves to climb into the front seat of the vehicles i review when we are parked and she explores the space looking for buttons to push and knobs to turn. She didn’t find much in the front seat of the 2020 Escape and that was totally fine with me. Taking another page from Mazda’s playbook, Ford has wisely chosen the “less is more” philosophy for the dash design. In fact the most prominent feature of the dash configuration is the large touchscreen jutting up above the air vents. It’s the perfect distance from the driver’s seat, making it super simple to use while driving. There is a linear flow to the entire dash that creates a simple, no frills statement that I think adds to the unisex appeal I mentioned earlier.
Space for Baby and fishing gear – Not all crossovers are built equally and interior space can vary within the segment. The Ford Escape feels like it hit the perfect spot between offering a generous amount of space while keeping the vehicle to a manageable size. Plenty of leg and head room throughout the cabin, although – as you can tell from the photo below, there wasn’t much space left to adjust the front seat after I installed Zoe’s car seat. The cargo area is impressive, offering 34 cubic feet of space – enough for tons of groceries, a couple golf club sets or maybe some fishing gear if you get creative with the rods.
Comprehensive Safety – As a marketer by trade, I appreciate a good name for a product, so thumbs up to Ford for choosing a wise name for it’s suite of safety features: Co-Pilot360. It sounds friendly and points to the idea that this type of safety technology really does act like a “second driver” who digitally assists when needed. Co-Pilot360 comes standard on all Escape trim levels and includes the usual slew of safety features you’d expect, including lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, steering assist, blind spot monitoring, and emergency braking. The uber-cool selfing parking technology, called Active Park Assist 3.0, costs extra but is easily one of my favorite features of the vehicle. It worked exceedingly well in my tests. It even parallel parked itself efficiently into a spot that was slightly curved due to a winding road. That particular parking job impressed the socks off my wife and totally sold us on the technology.
A Surprising amount of Thrill – I’ll be honest: I wasn’t expecting to be thrilled by the driving experience offered by the 2020 Ford Escape. Sure, I expected it to be a comfortable and capable drive but I was pleasantly surprised by the peppy amount of power that was produced by the 2.0L inline-four EcoBoost engine under the hood. Producing 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, this engine – coupled with an efficient 8-speed transmission – created lively acceleration and a thrilling amount of power that’s capable of towing up to 3500 lbs. That’s ambitious for a crossover this size.
It’s common in vehicles with this much power to have several driving modes to choose from on the fly: in the Escape the driver gets “Normal,” “Eco,” “Sport,” “Slippery,” and “Snow/Sand.” All modes adjust gear switching and handling, with Sport being the most effective. When dialed to Sport mode, the 2020 Escape lived up to it’s name – I felt like I could rocket away from danger and escape just about anything. Of course, the All-Wheel-Drive that comes standard on the Titanium trim I reviewed helps the Escape get going. The 2.0L EcoBoost engine is only available in the Titanium trim level and combined with the All Wheel Drive system, the total package this trim level offers is certainly worth the extra cash.
Where the Ford Escape Gets a Dad Downvote
With Modern Power Comes a Modern Price – With the 2020 Escape it certainly feels like Ford is bringing its “A-Game” to table so naturally with all this advanced engineering and updated stylings it’s fair to expect a comparable price. The Escape I tested wasn’t a retail unit so the exact prices wasn’t available; however the 2020 Escape does start at just below $25,000 for the base model. That’s an attractive price but many of the bells and whistles I rave about in this review are not exactly available on the base model. Most notable of those offerings is the capable 2.0 EcoBoost engine – the base model comes instead with a 1.5 L engine that only brings 181 HP in power. I haven’t tested that engine but I can’t imagine opting for anything less than the 2.0L – it feels like the right amount of power for a vehicle this size.
On the end of the crossover spectrum where this All Wheel Drive Titanium edition lives, the Ford Escape can top out near $40,000. While the amenities are impressive, at this price you’re entering a segment that has a wide variety of competitive vehicles—some with more space and higher quality materials. While Ford’s loyal fan base might balk at the higher sticker prices, a younger, more adventurous newcomer might easily justify the value in a more powerful engine and added creature comfort. If you’re a Dad Driver—or any type of parent—it all comes down to your particular budget and family needs.
An Escape From the Normal
I remember randomly getting assigned a Ford Escape through a rental company nearly a decade ago, and both my wife and I were more than impressed with the small SUV. At the time, we even considered purchasing one but thankfully we didn’t, only because as the auto industry has changed, so has Ford and their approach to the Escape. Now, the 2020 Ford Escape is a force to be reckoned with and there are plenty of things for any type of driver to love here. Especially, the “modern” Dad Driver who’s looking for a technologically savvy crossover with a reasonable price should set their sight on this Escape route.
Phillip is a filmmaker, an award-winning playwright, screenwriter and craft beer aficionado. He writes about cars, car tech, and various other cool Dad things. He lives, works and plays in Dallas, Texas.
