#NYIAS: Does The All-new, 2020 Ford Escape Look PREMIUM Enough For You To Give It A Try?

#NYIAS: Does The All-new, 2020 Ford Escape Look PREMIUM Enough For You To Give It A Try?
Back in the early 2000s when the first-generation Ford Escape made its debut, it was a successful compact sport-utility vehicle. With its simple yet purposeful look, it found a home in many driveways.

To me, it was kind of like the Ford Explorer. Not fancy, no gimmicks, just an SUV.

2019 New York Auto Show

Fast forward to the second-generation Escape and it suddenly looked a bit cartoonish. A bit goofy. And then it aged rather horribly.

Thankfully, at the 2019 New York Auto Show, Ford revealed an all-new 2020 Escape. But now it appears to be playing for keeps. That's because it has a much more premium look on the outside and inside. Clearly, Ford knows that its playing for keeps.

But, is it enough to get YOUR attention?

We know that you, our audience, is a rather discriminating bunch. So, does it fit the bill or is just something you'll walk past on a dealer's lot?


2019 New York Auto Show




















































MDarringerMDarringer - 4/21/2019 9:56:09 AM
-2 Boost
Why would we expect the Escape to look premium when it's a mainstream vehicle? The interior looks appropriate to its mission, but is nothing special. The overall look is that of a vehicle at the end of its product cycle. The face is wrong in every conceivable way.


dumpstydumpsty - 4/21/2019 2:41:53 PM
+1 Boost
agreed.

"...is the 2020 Escape PREMIUM enough..."?

this is the problem with the auto industry today. the expectation that EVERYTHING - even the basic mainstream
vehicles - has to be upscale or premium or luxury-like. it's a viscous circle b/c this is what enough consumers are buying.


Agent00RAgent00R - 4/21/2019 3:35:26 PM
+2 Boost
It's very well understood at this point that most vehicles, especially SUVs headed for the 'burbs, need to bring their "A" game and look higher end than they actually are.

People are looking to make an impression in a Kardashian-obsessed world.

There's a reason why some design cues from higher-end products are mimicked by lower-end models.


MDarringerMDarringer - 4/21/2019 4:37:16 PM
0 Boost
If that's the goal, then Ford failed miserably.


TomMTomM - 4/22/2019 4:43:12 AM
+1 Boost
Agent 00R

THat cars are being designed to look higher than they actually are is nothing new
For Decades - the was what sold many lower end vehicle. Certainly the original Ford Granada was designed to remind buyers of a particular foreign car named it its ads. THe original Monte Carlo and Chrysler Cordoba were sold that way as well (Fine Corinthian Leather?). ANd when Chevrolet brought out the NEW CHEVROLET in 1977, it had a sort of upright rear window looking similar to a Cadillac Seville.

The fact is the burbs is where cars are sold - because it is where most drivers live - they don't have subways there. And making a car look expensive is one way to sell more cars there - they multiply magically down the streets.


dumpstydumpsty - 4/22/2019 1:50:25 PM
+1 Boost
Tom - It's more or less automaker's way of luring "average" customers into the dealerships. Living their own "dreams" of owning prestige but still driving something generic. Throw in some flashy bits here & tech gadgets there is all apart of the big show.


MDarringerMDarringer - 4/22/2019 2:12:59 PM
+2 Boost
And when people realize how little separation there is between premium and mainstream, premium buyers who aren't badge whores can save a lot.


skytopskytop - 4/21/2019 10:50:44 AM
+2 Boost
Looks like a very nice Rent a Ford economy SUV.


MDarringerMDarringer - 4/21/2019 11:07:00 AM
+1 Boost
This will definitely be a fleet special given how uninteresting it is.


mre30mre30 - 4/21/2019 11:17:25 AM
+1 Boost
Its good enough for its target market. Is Lincoln doing a version?

I think the Escape is still the platform base for the Range Rover Evoque and the Land Rover Discovery Sport. The Discovery Sport is a packaging miracle - Ford should copy that and do a slightly larger version of the Escape. LR fit a third Row into the Disovery Sport that is as functional as most third rows in the mid-size segment.

Lincoln version would be a killer.


MDarringerMDarringer - 4/21/2019 11:50:41 AM
0 Boost
How did you miss the Lincoln Corsair introduction? The LR/RR products mentioned are still on the old platform. Slightly larger "Escape" would be an Edge, right? or conversely a 3 row Escape would be a 3rd row for photo opportunities.


TruthyTruthy - 4/22/2019 11:02:42 AM
0 Boost
Spoiler alert, Ford sold LR to Tata in 2008 or 11 years ago. They do not cooperate on products.


MDarringerMDarringer - 4/22/2019 11:15:19 AM
-1 Boost
WRONG! The Evoque is a Ford EUCD platform mate.


cidflekkencidflekken - 4/22/2019 3:52:50 PM
+1 Boost
Premium enough? Not premium at all.


MrEEMrEE - 4/22/2019 9:42:54 PM
+1 Boost
Controls certainally are lacking, looks like design symmetry won over functionality and the stop/start button was an afterthought.
I am not a fan of tall or elevated car styling.


SuperCarEnthusiastSuperCarEnthusiast - 4/23/2019 7:33:47 PM
+1 Boost
It competes well against most of its competitors but falls behind the Mazda CX-5 and RAV-4.
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