2020 Ford Escape - Review & Road Test

The fourth generation Ford Escape gets a complete overhaul from the previous gen. We did a first drive video when it initially came out, but with a new look, new powertrains and new interior, there's a lot more to talk about. Micah Muzio breaks it all down for you here.
For the latest Ford Escape pricing and information:
www.kbb.com/ford/escape/

[@williamharding5163]

Seems to be a lot of negativity in the comment section. My wife and I have had our 2020 Ford Escape Titanium for ten months now and we absolutely love it. Everything works well on it. The copilot 360 has saved us from two potential accidents. Their was a car in front of us making a left turn and slammed on their brakes, our car stopped immediately. We are seniors so we needed a vehicle that has a comfortable ride and handles well. I like the performance and economy it provides.

[@daleval2182]

10 month is nothing, come back 5 years,

[@donaldtireman]

I have the S trim, just a little over 20,000 on the odometer...the car is a good fit, fairly thrifty (I've hit 41 MPG with the 1.5L), especially important with the price of gas as it is right now, is comfortable for a lengthy drive...And it's peppy enough to merge onto the Interstate without difficulty. Other than some minor transaxle quirks, I'm happy with the choice. I'll have had it for 2 years this coming Halloween 🎃 🚘

[@TreeTop9]

I did a 2500 mile round trip in my 2020 2.0 last year. Drove the entire trip by myself. It's great for long trips. The adaptive cruise control is like auto pilot. That engine really does have some nice power.

[@bIurry_bandito]

i had the original 2001 model escape (my dad's car) , the 2013 model (my moms) and now the 2020 one (mine) and let me just say the escape line has never let me down! i love my escape, and for a learning driver its really easy and simple to drive.

[@GrumpyShihTzu]

Tim deserves a beer for the beep beep segment.

[@MicahMuzio]

He's also a new father, so I think he deserves vodka.

[@viktoramasova87]

My first car is Ford Escape 2002, even in it’s last leg it let me Move here in Illinois from Wyoming. I miss Ford Escape.

[@citystategov]

Thank you for the review, very informative.

[@vincento1067]

We have owned 4 Escapes now since its introduction on 2001. All 4 performed flawlessly. We presently own a 2015 Titanium 2.0 AWD and it is a great vehicle. over 60,000 miles, not one issue. We plan on looking at the Hybrid next year.

[@TalismanPHX]

The Escape in that Mazda-esque Soul Red... looks just like a MAZDA. And thanks for the LBC travelogue, Micah and Tim. 🥰😍

[@TurfSurf]

In LA, 180hp is way more than enough for any car, ,most of the time you drive below 35 on 405 anyway.......LOL

[@Davido50]

Yes true. I see Escapes all over Southern Cali.

[@ShogunAutoworks]

The ecoboost 2.0 will FLY we have a 2014 and it's nuts

[@robinbledsoe2792]

Had a 2016 and it was a lemon. Dealer had to do a buyback.

[@shawns843]

Robin Bledsoe what trim/engine? Eco boost?

[@robinbledsoe2792]

@@shawns843 titanium and yes EcoBoost. 4 cylinder.

[@jennymcaninch]

The transmission shifting was an issue in the one I test drove and the issue with the stop start system along with the rear view mirror was bulky making a large blind spot when driving and for those reasons I chose the 2019 model instead.

[@tomw.4255]

2019 model is no good. The Ecoboost engines from 2017-2019 have a design flaw in the blockhead--leading to coolant intrusion--in other words, leading to needing to spend 8K for a new engine. Hope yours is still okay, but wanted to give you the heads up.

[@gowithgid3274]

Our 2015 Escape Titanium has been a stellar vehicle. I especially like the display in the middle. The screen is much larger and easier to see. I love my 2015 but I'm glad to see some of the updates for 2020. It's off the dealership next week.

[@jennierenzi8739]

I would like your old one please

[@Stingray_614]

6:22 you’re absolutely right about being gentle with those brakes. I had one as a rental for a week while my f150 was getting work done and the first time I come up the a red I damn near flew out the windshield with how sensitive this cars brakes were.

[@matthewlocke9225]

Toyota RAV4 has the exact same problem, and the Escape rides 10X better.

[@husq48]

I noticed the same thing when I moved one out of my way a few years ago!

[@ariwiththestars]

made a trip to utah for work, drove around to national parks in my time there, then drove to Illinois and back home on my escape. the fuel economy on this car is INSANELY great. it’s a fantastic car for first time buyers, travelers, and people who just need a comfy car to drive in.

[@matthewlocke9225]

I’ve had my 2008 Ford Escape for about 4 years now and the only problem I ever had was needing to bleed the breaks, pretty good for a 13 year old vehicle with 201K miles. I don’t understand why the 2020-2021 Escape isn’t selling well.. it reminds me of a Porsche it looks so great and rides nice

[@edlawrence6553]

Well said. I bought my 2020 SE SPORT hybrid in December 2019. I love it. My wife lives it. Yes, a couple recalls (software; and backup camera that didn’t affect us), but over the last year and a half, no big problems. We recommend it.

[@NICKELS181]

Escape is s great car. We have a 2006 only 165000 miles. One transmission so far. Basic maintenance. Great car.

[@X-OR_]

Bring back the Small SUV Look and capability. I owned a 2007 Ford Escape, It was a great Car !

[@TransMaryland]

Actually @2:00 the circular flat spot in the upper interior trim is for an optiona factory onlyl cargo cover which would have a pin to hook the corded end of a privacy shade.

[@arombob]

The most entertaining and memorable car review on u tube, for m,e at least. Provided there is such a category as reviews on the review channel, you qualify for a nomination for the Academy award. Well written car review!

[@Beth9228]

I do have a 2020 Ford Escape SE in black a little bit over 2 years since mid March 2022. When I test drove the Escape and I really liked the smooth ride. I figured out on using Apple Car Play by myself. It took me a couple weeks on the controls. My last vehicle was a 2015 Ford Escape SE. I had it almost 5 years till it died on me with an oil leak. Even my sister had a 2002 Ford Escape for almost 16 years. That was the longest that she owned a vehicle. She inherited my mother’s 2013 Ford Edge in June 2018. I grew up on my parents having Ford vehicles mostly. My mother had a Volkswagen Beetle when I was little. She did had a 1989 Dodge Grand Caravan in silver grey, a 2006 Sebring convertible. My father had a 1983 CJ-7 Jeep and a 2002 Jeep TJ.

[@AkioWasRight]

I mean, if they're getting rid of their sedans, wouldn't you think they would make their CUVs better?

[@Davido50]

Fords SUVs are best in business.

[@andrewl3847]

David Klimmek no

[@dospuntosuve5384]

David Klimmek I disagree

[@Davido50]

@guy proulx thruthful.

[@Davido50]

@@dospuntosuve5384 well I'm simply suggesting we support our home grown automakers as most there products are world beating. I dont like Asian vehicles myself.

[@bryanevans9566]

Oh man. The face Micah makes when realizing it doesn't have the parking feature... made my day 😂

[@Ryan57Garr]

I like your music choice 😎👍

[@miguelagawin]

Nicest looking gen, especially the interior while also an elegant exterior redesign.

[@troyjean3749]

I tried this suv today it runs great I would buy one if the rebates are good

[@fernandovargas7562]

Cool video ... thank you dude ..

[@takata98]

I'm a Canadian currently in Europe. I was looking forward to the release of this escape to replace my 2011 escape. Technically this new model has many new technical advances. Unfortunately many of its body style cues come from other brands i see in Europe which are 3 and 4 years old and being replaced by newer body styles. Consequently my opinion of this new model is it has passed its sell by date before it's release in North America.

[@ryanfrisby7389]

Awesome video!😸😸

[@MicahMuzio]

Thanks, Ryan!!

[@parkedjeep96]

I think Ford made this new Escape more aerodynamic, soft, and car-like because they discontinued their sedans and plan on re-introducing the Bronco and Bronco II for people who want a more rugged CUV

[@bnguyen112]

The juddering you describe sounds like the Focus I drive for work. Drives me nuts, I always feel as if I'll get into a car accident with that juddering.

[@autonewstv86]

*This looks like an oversize 2019 Ford Focus* 😍👍

[@stephenhendricks103]

Here's a hint for Ford. Make sure your "press" cars, i.e. vehicles provided to reviewers are trouble free.

[@danielc3321]

Props for having Soundgarden’s Rusty Cage on the stereo. 🤘

[@MicahMuzio]

I was chatting with Tim about songs with odd time signatures. The end of Rusty Cage seemed like the coolest example. I still can't follow it!🤘

[@danielc3321]

I love that stuff. Soundgarden, Tool, and Meshuggah are the best at that sort of thing. You almost can’t count it; you just have to feel it.

[@normt5463]

"During our testing, the front-drive (Equinox 1.6t diesel)model was put through Real MPG's evaluations, and the results were an impressive 33.1/46.7 mpg, making this oil-burning family car one of the most fuel-efficient crossovers we've tested." Motor Trend

[@aycemanm8151]

What do you mean the new escape styling doesn't move you ? It is the best feature your going to tell me the CR-V or Rav 4 look better? I think not only the CX-5 is comparible

[@pbentsonable]

Looks better in person. It’s truly not bad if Ford can fix all recalls in a timely fashion.

[@sonhuynh106]

Are there any diesel version of escape like fiesta and focus ? The funny thing that i dont see much other brands make diesel engine for Sedan like Ford, they do that for Crossover and Suv, Ford should do that too

[@CarsofGlasgow]

Do you guys get the Ford PUMA suv?

[@dforwardslashsporeman7387]

Is there a fungus outbreak in Michigan? The alternator still under the passenger floorboard?

[@MotownRockinroller]

I bought a 2017 Escape Titanium brand new and it's been the BEST SUV I've ever owned (and I've owned a bunch). 25mpg average with the 2.0 ecoboost, better traction in (Michigan) winter than the Jeeps I've had, and extremely comfortable front seating. When shopping, I went with this over the Cherokee and others because Ford had the option of dual power seats in front--something Cherokee didn't offer (at the time--apparently now they do, but only in the "Elite" trim which costs $1000s more than the other trims). Frankly, I wouldn't trade for this new version simply because of the rotary transmission selector, which I hate.

[@CarsofGlasgow]

Oh it looks good, almost DBX looking

[@wtutt6810]

Please do an indebted show on the hybrid version and how it compares to RAV4s hybrid.

[@connordurham8216]

W Tutt Toyota RAV4 will win hands down

[@DeanT1987]

Instant health Man drove both cars a month ago, escape was the better ride. Smoother, quieter and felt faster. Didn’t get either one so doesn’t matter anyway.

[@hr9592]

It looks OK, but the interior screams rental car

[@naveenthemachine]

Don’t Toyota’s scream that too?

[@BilalKhan-qj4cr]

@@naveenthemachine own a Ford?

[@disneyfan9099]

naveenthemachine Yes it does

[@amanasd26]

yup, I was given this as a rental car recently.

[@GintaPPE1000]

Ford went in on tech for the Escape rather than interior. Not many cars below $30k MSRP will give you a lane-keeping system, active cruise with start/stop, wi-fi, and wireless charging. With the Mustang Mach E already trying tech in that segment, I’m not sure that was the right call, but they do have the Bronco Sport for looks and excitement, so gearing the Escape more towards the average car buyer will be justified if the Bronco picks up the slack for enthusiasts

[@Staroth999]

I'm going back to a Ford, it's the only cars that lasted me years without major issues! My brand new Nissan just lost power in the middle of the road and I am here shopping for something non-Nissan!

[@CaptKeo]

I have had my 2020 Escape for a little over a year and it has less than 1700 miles on it. It has gone back to the garage several times on the back of a flat bed. When I first got it the first week I went to the store only a mile away and the doors weren't going to open. I tried several things and gave it a rest. Then on one try they opened. The dash board remained dark some of the Icons started to light. It started so I drove it home and called AAA to come and take it back to the dealer. When I got it back I was told there was oil on 3 spark plugs?? After that it seemed to run rough so I returned it to the dealer. They couldn't find anything and assured me it was OK now. Then a short while later I went to a restaurant and as I was a short distance from my destination the dash started flashing and it quit running. Fortunately it coasted into the parking lot. Once again I called AAA. The dealer said they couldn't find anything again. Recently on a drive when I got on the highway, there was a loud banging noise so loud that other cars were looking at me. The dealer was near by so I pulled in. A mechanic took it for a ride and said you had your windows down and that was what made the noise. Seriously?? Frankly living in a area that cell service is sketchy at best I am afraid to drive it far from home. I have had a drivers license on 3 continents and never had a a car that I was afraid to drive.

[@sadtoast6122]

I would have to get the 4 cylinder

[@thinle1034]

Thanks

[@devongee1776]

You would think that in shutting down their sedan lineup, Ford would aim all their time and energy into offering the best non-luxury SUVs but still they continue to get slapped by the just about everybody outside of the US. If all they have to offer is horsepower, they're not going to win more sales than the competition that's giving a healthy dose of everything for less money.

[@THENAKSHOW]

I have this suv it's awesome !

[@CapELarry]

I had the opportunity to drive one this last weekend as a rental from Hertz in Vegas. They had just put it out as a choice. Only 23 miles on the odometer. I got in and the front driver side speakers didn’t work. Fiddled with the fade and balance for a bit to confirm. Gotta love Ford quality control. I switched to an Altima instead.

[@mikehoard7033]

Ford messed up when that got rid of Mazda. The older Fusions/Milan/MKZ and Edges/MKX were so much more reliable than the new ones. My 2011 MKZ has been rock solid with no issues

[@pascutia]

Mazda has gotten so much better since they left, but I agree with you. I had an 04 Mazda 6 and a 2011 Fusion and they were both extremely solid. The only problems I had were a bad throttle body in the Fusion that went bad at 150k miles (got it replaced by Ford for free), and a bad power steering line in the Mazda.

[@Davido50]

Theres no reliability issues what are you speaking of? U mean Hyundai maybe?

[@Davido50]

@@pascutia mazda only improved there interiors had nothing to do with Ford corporate. Ford saved Mazda more than once from extinction. Try a new Ford u wont be disappointed.

[@corionh4775]

@@pascutia Just traded in my wife's old 2010 Fusion Sport back in December. It was a piece of shit by the time she finally told me she wanted to upgrade, but it still ran and drove good even with 183k miles the day we traded it, original engine and transmission. Wouldn't trust a new one to be as reliable.

[@kenhoward3512]

@@Davido50 "Try a new Ford u wont be disappointed." - You are sounding like a Ford salesman - 'not good for one's credibility.

[@EricFortuneJr.]

$34,000 for a compact crossover is ridiculous. Carmakers are pricing these things out of most family's budgets, particularly in higher trim. If it weren’t for discounts and incentives the industry would be dead.

[@mark4tesla]

And yet, the average cost of a car in the US is $37,500. Also, factor inflation and value per dollar. The new Camry costs about as much as the one sold 10 years ago when adjusted for inflation and you get: a touchscreen display, blindspot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, etc etc etc. You're paying more, but look at all the things you get that were only on the most expensive of luxury cars just ten years ago...

[@modernsoccer1860]

well its not 34k, i contact a dealer and they have big sales, foe example i can get sel turbocharged with leather seats for 28k but listed as 36k.

[@wrightcodyj]

The Euro version of this (Kuga) looks worlds better. Why does Ford always dumb down the looks of it's vehicles sold in the states?

[@ast5515]

Don't worry, the 4th gen looks just as bad here. Edit: autocorrect

[@coejbee]

Agreed. The higher trim Kuga's of this new generation, as well as the previous generation look way more upscale than the high end Escape's offered in the US.

[@RobertTm]

Simple. Lincoln sales

[@mcbalzer6121]

It IS the new generation of Kuga. It's the same car.

[@wrightcodyj]

@@mcbalzer6121 No, take a look at the front end of the Euro-spec vs. the US-spec. Completely difference fascia.

[@scabaa2017]

Rusty Cage....nice tunes!

[@cjt7243]

"Digitally spelunk"....that's awesome haha.

[@MicahMuzio]

Thanks! 😄

[@_jg00]

So many automotive experts on KZbin in the comments section. Everyone should have their own review channel.

[@aboalooos]

Ford all the way :)

[@thomasnuckols]

I drove the 3 banger, rental car, for about 15 minutes before a check engine light came on. I was also unimpressed by how choppy the car felt....idk if that's the right word to use, but it almost felt like the engine was unbalanced.

[@corionh4775]

These damn things JUST came out and you already had one as a rental? Let alone a rental that "just so happened" to have a check engine light on? Sounds alot like bullshit from a internet troll to me. Try harder to be less transparent bro smh.

[@BarcelonaBlitzer]

I’m not a fan of its exterior design and don’t know about the durability of the drive train. Does Ford believe this can truly earn the #1 spot in its segment?

[@lance_r72]

Silent Shores if they are dreaming of #1. They won't get close with this as long as the Rav exists along with Kia/Hyundai. The extior is bland and interiors are cheap and bland. Definitely rental car material.

[@dave3682]

I've heard that Ford made the new Escape bland and unimpressive on purpose in order to shoo more buyers towards the upcoming Baby Bronco/Maverick which will also compete in the same segment.

[@BarcelonaBlitzer]

Lance You know that’s interesting because until the mid 2010s you’d think it was only Toyota and Honda at #1 and #2. Now Hyundai is at it with Toyota these days since that oil dilution issue with Honda’s 1.5l.

[@markknudsen1755]

Why did you not mention the Subaru Forester? That's a comparable model as well

[@mrthomaslaux1]

Ground clearance?

[@makwa]

Is this the new Aston Martin suv?

[@AlversonLayne]

4:40 “alarming inconsistency in acceleration” Ford has had that same issue with other model cars like the Fiesta.

[@AlversonLayne]

4:48 “harsh gear changes and a sensation that the drivetrain was slipping” sounds like a 2012 Ford Firsta

[@connordurham8216]

Alverson Layne the Ford Focus has that problem too it’s just so jittery and not sure of itself

[@AlversonLayne]

Instant health Man wow, smh.

[@mbach2826]

@@connordurham8216 I was thinking the same thing when he said that

[@rafarga1980]

Isn’t the upcoming Ford Puma replacing this already?

[@nathaliejohnson4811]

Is this a good SUV for ride share jobs?

[@salocin911]

I am not a fan of of styling of this car. It honestly looks like a cira 2013 Mazda CX5 inspired design that melted a little bit in the oven. :( It seems like every possible design cue or character line was smoothed out by "Committee" or "Customer focus groups".

[@btbbelesky]

salocin911 this screams Mazda. Look at that interior screen. Total Mazda style Without the nice navigation wheel

[@healthylifecircle2801]

This one....nice looking and attractive...perticularly on road.

[@rosesmith2410]

3 cylinders?!

[@14s0cc3r14]

7:50 Anyone who thinks the “trolley problem” is something AI will deal with is really not understanding self driving cars at all. They work by mapping the world ahead of them and reacting to it. If they predict an object will be in front of them in the future, the correct response would always be to avoid impact. If someone is hit it’s not because the AI saw them, identified them as a living person, and calculated the safety of the driver over the pedestrian. It would be because the car lacked the ability to avoid them completely for whatever reason.

[@David-uc8mi]

Oh Ford makes the best vehicle EVER! So good that in 5-7 yrs it turns into a convertible whether you want it to or not. I own a 2011 Ford Escape and leaks water in front windshield, sunroof and rear hatch window. Honestly tried to do my part and buy American. After 3 Chevys and 2 Fords sorry but I went Honda. Japanese seem to care about quality and reliability not quantity and profit.

[@bassandtrebleclef]

3 cylinder engine, rough shifting auto, numb steering, squealing tires.... The Escape used to be a fun cuv. Sounds like Ford dumbed it down and cheaped out. I don't see many reasons to get this over competing Honda, Toyota or Kia cuvs.

[@Beanrock124]

I only like this car because of Journey’s X9 platinum album Escape. Their best album. I bet one of Journey’s members have or had this.

[@kiranchaudhari]

Ummm can software fix everything? I don't know about transmission.. Please please not another DCT issue with focus and Fiesta..

[@Kromer0]

That interior quality is way beyond par. A potential driver will see it from the inside 90% of the time and with that amount of plastic it just does not say "daily" pleasure. Especially at this Price!

[@LGMinnesota]

What do you drive? I've test driven a lot of SUVs and they all lack great quality. Even the Toyota Rav.

[@BaleshNTP]

Bronco and Bronco Sport next!

[@johnfredrickson9462]

I wouldn’t call the exterior inoffensive

[@Rosso488]

I’d consider the Ecosport or the edge first. The only advantage I can see with the escape is it’s fuel mileage.

[@Davido50]

We will test drive the new Escape hybrid soon . If we dont like will go Edge or new Explorer!

[@pavanv6040]

When s releasing in India?

[@111danish111]

Maybe there will be an ecosport.

[@theMLBfan]

2:27 oh hello there Mr happy robot 🤖

[@LastMumzy]

Now that you mention it...

[@Rosso488]

Age well, didn’t this body style come out on a Porsche in 2002 or something like that?

[@wolflarson71]

Love me some Soundgarden, Rusty Cage!

[@MH-lk8md]

Everything sounded pretty good until they mentioned the wonky transmission. Has Ford learned nothing?

[@jaredstephenson6468]

What, no Forester?

[@Texze]

We just purchased a 2020 Escape Titanium Hybrid, and for the money, it had the most features, and was the best value in the class. When you can get a Titanium for under 28,000 it’s a no brainer. We found the Titanium Escape to be a jack of all trades, with the only master coming in the Hybrid power train. It checked all of our boxes, and in our opinion the easiest on the eyes in the entire class. When buying a domestic, never compare window stickers. Also, this whole review was very snarky, and seemed to have a negative Ford bias right out of the gate.

[@asalipscomb]

Am I insane or did this review spend quite a while on the hybrid without ever even mentioning the fuel economy?

[@Texze]

Asa Lipscomb that would require praise, which this reviewer’s snarky bias shied away from. The Titanium Hybrid is best in class in terms of city MPG, braking feel, and refinement.

[@troymitchel4790]

Unfortunately these look like cars. Too bad they didn't keep the 2012 and under body style so you could at least fit stuff in the back.

[@kenhoward3512]

The '21 Bronco Sport will be basically the same car as the Escape, but with a body styled more like the earlier Escape you're referring to.

[@RyanOpelac]

@2:27 My Alexa got triggered and told me how it does voice recognition by it hearing Alexa from Micah

[@haze1123]

I saw one on the road yesterday and it didn't look terrible. Looks good from all angles except the front, I think. That grille has a goofy "smiling" expression. And now Ford has no design consistency with the grilles across their SUV lineup. They all look totally different. Weird.

[@royalewithcheese1000]

Looks like a big hatchback that got the short end of the stick.

[@PhossAnx]

Okay but I need that shirt

[@photomaker4502]

CVT was the reason i didn't go with the Escape. I bought the Mazda cx-30 instead!

[@ut1004bp]

...lol...2020's and on up, No CVT's in escapes unless you went Hybrid

[@ExenPrism]

i have a one to

[@shwnn._]

These are all of my or my parents cars. Ford Escape, Dodge Nitro and Mitsubishi Pajero

[@louislopez55]

I remember when they said American cars are catching up to the imports. Then they said they were as good or better! Now the domestic manufacturers have mostly given up on cars. After seeing this latest example of a mainstream SUV I think maybe they should stick with light-duty pickup trucks and commercial vehicles.

[@hphillips7425]

I am researching the escape. When you started pointing out the transmission problem I lost interest. I’ve had enough of fords power shit transmission on the ford focus

[@awsmnessedit]

*Looks at thumbnail. The new Kia Sportage looks nice.

[@brianlee5649]

LOL! Also, take a drink every time Micah mentions *Honda/Handa.*

[@davids1816]

There are some good points here - like the motor... and... I'm sure something else. But the extreme, relentless blandness and laziness of every single design choice is kind of astonishing. I priced one out and for what you get for like 36 (32 out the door) in a Sportage turbo, is like $42,000. Not sure what they are expecting as far as incentives but paying 40k for this makes me happier I got a Stinger GT every single day. Yikes. That's also enough money to buy a Sorento SX and almost enough for a decently optioned Honda Passport.

[@R3putaytion13]

One thing i can't stand to look at is the gauge cluster. Looks like something from the 90s

[@diegomontoya8889]

Where does the need for sliding second row seats arise in a two row crossover...? For when your rear seat passengers decide they have far too much legroom?

[@palmviewlobos15]

Get Jim Hackett out and hire someone who actually treasures Ford and knows what it is capable of like Mullally!

[@adalycean]

its better than cvt i hope