Ford Escape

One of the major highlights of the 2019 Ford Escape is that it offers an interior for every budget. From the more economically priced cabin space with plastic cladding all the way to top of the range luxurious interiors in the Titanium trim which is also offered with a host of optional features, Ford offers a wide range of cabin designs aimed to suit the need of every customer. On the more expensive variants, one would find attractive materials wrapping different surfaces in the cabin like metallic trims on the several panels and leather-wrapped seats.

Creature comforts like power operated front seats with memory setting for driver side are also offered on the more expensive variants. For the SE, SEL, and Titanium trim Ford offers Sync 3 infotainment system as standard which comes mated to an 8-inch touchscreen unit that sits atop the dashboard. The infotainment system also gets both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard along with hands-free navigation and phone controls.

Like everything else on the car, the exterior of 2019 Ford Escape can be described as both versatile and functional. The car manages to adopt the sporty and sleek design accents similar to those found in the hatchback sibling Escape is based on. Embodying Ford's design language which is also shared by the larger Ford Edge SUV, the 2019 Ford Escape manages to bestow a premium feel even with its compact dimensions. The American automaker now also offers a stylish sports appearance package which further enhances the crossover’s overall appearance.

As compared to other offerings in the segment, the 2019 Ford Escape manages to offer a much more responsive feel behind the wheel. Not only the car is compact in dimensions but also feels the same while maneuvering around city streets while also offering a smooth ride. Taking on the Honda CR-V- its arch-rival in the segment- Ford Escape manages to offer the perfect balance between ‘quick on the feet’ acceleration and a cushioned ride.

The more expensive variant of the 2019 Ford Escape comes with turbocharged 4 cylinder units which are paired to a standard 6-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain features a 1.5-liter 128 BHP turbocharged EcoBoost unit which comes paired to

As compared to other offerings in the segment, the 2019 Ford Escape manages to offer a much more responsive feel behind the wheel. Not only is the car compact in dimensions but also feels the same while maneuvering around city streets while also offering a smooth ride. Taking on the Honda CR-V- its arch-rival in the segment- Ford Escape manages to offer the perfect balance between ‘quick on the feet’ acceleration and a cushioned ride.

a 6-speed automatic transmission and comes equipped with the company’s start and stop technology. The larger 2.5-liter 4 cylinder turbocharged unit is offered in the base S trim and produces 168 bhp of power and 170 lb-ft of peak torque.

Prices for the standard S variants start from $24,105 followed by the SE model which is priced at $26,500 and SEL variant, which is priced at $28,445 and lastly the top of the line Titanium variant which comes with price tags starting from $32,620. Unlike other models positioned lower in the company’s lineup, the Titanium model features a 2-liter twin-scroll EcoBoost engine which delivers 245 bhp of power and also comes with the company’s auto start and stop technology. This helps enhance the overall fuel economy delivered by the 2-liter turbocharged unit.

The 2019 Ford Escape does underperform when it comes to its 70 to 0 mph breaking test. The crossovers take 184 feet to come to a complete halt from 70 mph which is 20 feet longer than Honda CR-V and also happens to be inferior to other offerings in the segment.

When tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Ford Escape equipped with optional safety and driver assistance features performed substantially well but as most of the features were paid extras, the car did not manage to perform so well during tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and only manage to earn mid-level scores. Safety and driver assistance features like blind-spot monitoring and reversing parking sensors are offered as standard on the top-end trim but other features like adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and forward-collision warning are only available as optional extras.

It does make one question whether the 2019 Escape has finally become obsolete over the years as compared to other rivals in the segment like Kia Sportage which offers a much more attractive maintenance incentive and also happens to come with a warranty coverage which far exceeds that offered on the 2019 Escape under the company’s new car warranty incentive.

Also, the safety characteristics of Ford’s crossover being outshined by its rival like Honda CR-V are a point of worry. However, the car still manages to offer some best in class handling characteristics and also come equipped with some of the most powerful turbocharged motors which bestow a lively feel behind the wheel. With Ford’s loyal and dedicated consumer base, the scale for the 2019 Ford Escape might stay in Escape’s favor but it will be interesting to see whether that may change when the updated 2020 model year hits dealerships across the nation.