2017 Ford Escape: Pros and Cons

2017 Ford Escape profile on road ・ Photo by Ford

The Escape compact crossover is usually one of Ford’s biggest sellers, often second only to the phenomenally successful F-150 pickup truck. It’s now in its third generation, which debuted for the 2013 model year. Four years is a long time in this business, so the Escape has received a mid-cycle revamp to coincide with the 2017 model year. This entails updated styling inside and out, plus new equipment choices. Like everything, though, there are two sides to the story. As well as having plenty to recommend it, there are some aspects of the 2017 Ford Escape a buyer should know before rushing off to the Blue Oval dealership. So take a quick moment and pay heed to our pros and cons.

Pro: Handsome Design

Naturally, everyone will have their own take on the looks, but most people will agree that the styling tweaks applied to the 2017 Ford Escape are an improvement. Everything appears to be tidier and more cohesive. A six-corner grille has echoes of the Edge (Ford’s midsize crossover) and the taillights enjoy a new shape. The interior of the 2017 Ford Escape has seen a similar refreshment, with upgraded surfaces, plus the addition of an electronic parking brake that opens up some space in the center console for phones and new cupholders. The steering wheel has also been redesigned, and the stowage area beneath the center armrest has been increased.

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Pro: Available Equipment

Ford was one of the first to offer a hands-free tailgate, which is an option in the Escape. Imagine walking up to the locked tailgate with hands full of shopping and/or kids. Instead of putting everything down to fumble for the keys and the handle, just wave a foot under the rear bumper and it opens automatically. Sure, other makes now offer such things, but it’s simultaneously cool and useful. The 2017 Escape can also come with safety features like adaptive cruise control, forward collision prevention with automatic braking, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring, and a driver fatigue alert. Other choices include leather upholstery, heated steering wheel, and an upgraded Sony audio system. The Titanium trim level has many such items as standard.

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Pro: Turbocharged Engines

The entry level engine in the 2017 Ford Escape is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder that makes a workmanlike 168 horsepower and 170 lb.-ft. of torque. On a more exciting note, the 2017 model year sees the introduction of two new turbocharged engine options. There’s a much more efficient 1.5-liter with 179 hp and 177 lb.-ft of torque. At the top of the range is a 2.0-liter developing 245 hp and 275 lb.-ft. of torque. The compact crossover class is not exactly packed with thrills, but an Escape with that kind of muscle really keeps the interest going. The 1.5 is also a smart choice, though, with its respectable power and fuel efficiency.

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Pro: Sync 3 Connectivity

Although we could have mentioned this in the Equipment section, Sync 3 is good enough to have a spot on its own. Earlier Escapes had the MyFord Touch infotainment system, which didn’t find many fans. Sync 3 is far easier to use. It’s more intuitive and quicker to respond. It has an 8-inch touchscreen with pinch/zoom capability while an app can lock or unlock the vehicle, start the engine, adjust cabin temperature, and locate it in a crowded parking lot. Speaking of smartphones, the 2017 Escape can now integrate Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. And let’s not forget MyKey, a feature that allows the owner to preset speeds, audio volume and seat belt reminders.

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Pro: Great Driving Dynamics

This is an area where Ford typically has an advantage over the competition (with the arguable exception of the equally fun Mazda CX-5). Right from the lowly Fiesta, there’s a great quality to the Ford's suspensions. It's supple without getting sloppy (not even the 19-inch wheel option has too much of a negative effect on the Escape’s ride comfort), while also being poised and precise. Get to an interesting stretch of road and it won’t be wasted on an Escape. This crossover has the same basic platform as the Ford Focus, which is one of the best-handling compact cars around. This chassis can easily deal with the power from the top engine option.

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Con: Pricing

We’ve touched on some of the great gear and engines available in the 2017 Escape, but there is one major issue: to get most of them means buying the top Titanium trim. Even then, some of the good stuff—like a panoramic sunroof, active park assist, and some advanced safety features—costs extra. If a buyer isn’t watchful of the bottom line, a well equipped Escape in Titanium trim could cost close to $40,000. Which is pretty extravagant for a family-oriented compact crossover. Although the 2017 Escape has yet to be fully assessed, resale values of earlier Escapes have not held up as well as those of the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.

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Con: Fuel Consumption

Let’s start with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) figures. The 2.5 achieves 21 MPG in the city, 29 MPG on the highway and 24 MPG combined. The 1.5 turbo returns 23/30/26 and the 2.0-liter turbo (the most powerful of the three) manages 22/29/25. The 2016 Mazda CX-5 is rated at 26/33/29, while the 2016 Honda CR-V achieves 26/32/29 (these are all for versions with automatic transmissions and front-wheel drive; all-wheel drive tends to bring a penalty of one or two MPG in each cycle). So the Escape’s fuel consumption is reasonable, but by no means class-leading. The turbo engines, of note, have stop/start functions.

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Con: Relative Cargo Space

It’s not that the Escape is cramped. It compares well with the 2016 Honda CR-V. Headroom for each seating row is more than adequate. But the design of the dashboard encroaches on knee room for the front passenger, which will encourage that person to slide their seat farther back. And the footwells taper toward the bottom; probably not a problem for the driver—whose right foot has to be over the pedals—but the front passenger may feel restricted. With the rear seats folded flat, maximum cargo space is 68 cubic feet, making the Escape only an average performer in this respect. The Subaru Forester accommodates 74.7 cubic feet and the Toyota RAV4 accepts 73.4.

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Con: Safety Scores

This isn’t a huge deal, it’s just that the bar is so high. The 2017 Ford Escape fared better in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) crash test program than its predecessor, earning a maximum of five stars overall. Similarly, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the vehicle its top score of Good in every category but one: the small overlap front impact (with which a lot of vehicles struggle). The Escape was rated Acceptable here (the second-best score), whereas the 2016 model was deemed Poor. The 2016 Honda CR-V, however, took full marks. So seriously consider spending the extra on those new optional driving aids—they might save much more than repair costs.

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Con: Creature Discomfort?

The mere fact that we’re pointing out the difference of one increment in one safety test and questioning seat comfort gives some idea of the 2017 Ford Escape’s wide range of competence. Deal-breaking details are few and far between. Some of the Escape's passenger space, it should be noted, is made possible by having relatively thin seatbacks and cushions. This may or may not be a problem, but it’s a serious consideration when you have to live with a vehicle day in and day out. Make this an aspect worthy of attention during a test drive. Considering how much time most of us spend sitting in traffic, we’re more likely to value comfort and how good the stereo system is over technical details like torque figures.

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