How We'd Spec It: The New 2020 Ford Escape Compact Crossover
The redesigned 2020 Ford Escape is one of the most significant new vehicles that the Blue Oval has released in a while. It competes in one of the hottest segments in autodom, the compact SUV space, and takes on extra significance now that Ford has ditched passenger cars such as the Focus and Fiesta.
The online build-your-own tool for the 2020 Escape is now live, so we figured it was high time to configure one to our liking. With five trim levels and three different powertrains to choose from (and a plug-in-hybrid model still to come), there are a wide range of combinations available. We think this is the best one.
Model We'd Pick:
SEL 2.0L EcoBoost AWD ($33,835)
Power-hungry hot-rodders that we are, we went straight for the Escape's most potent engine option, the 250-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four offered as a $2285 option on the SEL trim and coming standard on the Titanium trim. Choosing the 2.0L engine, which pairs only with all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic, meant skipping over the base engine, a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-three with 180 horsepower, and the hybrid which offers a combined 198 horsepower.
Options We'd Choose:
Ford CoPilot 360 Assist ($695)
Dark Persian Green paint ($0)
Sandstone ActiveX interior ($0)
Although it's disappointing that Ford does not offer all of the Escape's driver-assist features as standard like some competitors do, the features included in the CoPilot 360 package—such as adaptive cruise control and navigation—are worth having, and the $695 cost is reasonable. We also chose the Dark Persian Green exterior paint because it's one of the more interesting options in the Escape's color palette and doesn't cost anything extra, and the lighter Sandstone interior upholstery simply looks more appealing to our eye than the black Ebony upholstery.
Our Escape totals $34,530. That isn't quite a bargain considering that the base Escape S starts at a significantly lower $26,080, but it's a good value compared with with the few other compact crossovers that offer an upgrade engine like the Escape's 2.0T, such as the Mazda CX-5 and its turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-four that starts at $35,915.
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