2020 Ford Escape review

1. Fresh exterior style

The launch of the fourth-generation Escape for 2020 necessitated a revamped exterior, and Ford certainly delivered on that front. The 2020 Ford Escape looks fresh and contemporary, taking style cues from sport-focused Ford models like the Mustang and GT. It almost doesn't look like your average crossover SUV, but rather a larger sporty sedan or wagon, depending on how you look at it. The 2020 Ford Escape has enough curb appeal to stand out in the crowded crossover SUV market—and parked outside your house.

2. Plenty of space inside

Part of the appeal of a crossover SUV is the impressive interior space offered, and the 2020 Ford Escape lives up to that as well. 104 cubic feet of passenger volume gives you and your passengers plenty of space to stretch out inside, and 37.5 cubic feet of cargo volume can easily cope with most everyday requirements. And, should you need even more storage space in the back, folding the rear seats down expands cargo volume to 65.4 cubic feet. Whether groceries, travel luggage, even furniture for the house, the 2020 Ford Escape transports your stuff in style.

3. Great engine selection

The base 1.5L EcoBoost three-cylinder engine prioritizes efficiency and features automatic cylinder deactivation. And, while it still produces 181 hp—more than enough for the daily drive—it also gets an EPA-estimated 30 mpg combined when in front-wheel drive with the eight-speed automatic transmission.

Meanwhile, the 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder EcoBoost engine boosts the output up to 250 hp and enables the 2020 Ford Escape to provide a towing capacity of an estimated 3,500 lbs. when properly equipped. This engine manages an EPA-estimated 26 mpg combined when equipped with the eight-speed automatic transmission.

4. A hybrid option for enhanced efficiency

For the first time since 2013, the 2020 Ford Escape provides a hybrid powerplant, and it's very impressive. A 2.5L Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine is mated to two electric motors to generate 198 hp and 153 lb-ft of torque in total. Even more impressively, this engine is capable of an EPA-estimated 41 mpg combined and up to an estimated 44 mpg in the city.

If you're after a Ford Escape that'll serve you well as a city runabout, look for one with this hybrid engine.

5. Lots of driver convenience features

You get plenty of great features with the 2020 Ford Escape. The base model includes features like a tire-pressure monitoring system, as well as the Ford CoPilot360 suite of features: forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, a rearview camera, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. Even on the base model, that's more than enough to make every journey as stress-free as possible. Additionally, there are features like a reverse sensing system (Escape SEL trim) and Active Park Assist 2.0 (Escape Titanium trim) available elsewhere in the range.