The irony is not lost on us. The all-new, redesigned 2020 Ford Escape looks more car like yet makes its debut as the automaker exits the sedan market.
Still, we get the logic. Ford has a similar-sized crossover coming that’s designed for the urbanite who wants to veer off-road. The unnamed compact utility—possibly “Bronco Scout,” per trademark filings—will be more upright and square in shape, with skid plates and shorter overhangs.
To better differentiate the two, Ford is steering the fourth-generation Escape directly at the urbanite who used to buy cars but now prefers the higher seating position and functionality of a crossover.
In another nod to modern trends, the 2020 Escape will be offered with a variety of powertrain options, including a choice of gasoline engines, a hybrid, and a plug-in hybrid. The latest Escape rides on a new front-wheel-drive architecture with all-wheel drive available on all but the plug-in hybrid.
The base engine on the S, SE, and SEL trims is a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-three engine built in Bridgend, Wales. Mated to an eight speed automatic transmission, the entry-level engine produces 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque, which is more power than the 2.5-liter inline-four that used to be the Escape’s base engine produced. A new twist: The turbo-three has cylinder deactivation that shuts off a cylinder when it’s not needed. With the I-3, the Escape can tow 2,000 pounds.
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