Ford’s fully redesigned 2020 Escape and Explorer kick off their next generation. Both are attractive with new designs, let’s compare the two to see which vehicle meets your needs.
Design and Style
Escape’s sporty new redesigned 2020 SUV offers buyers roomy interior and cargo space. With seating for 5, this stylish new compact SUV is easy to drive and packed with the latest features. The sliding second-row seats open up to an enormous 40.7 inches of legroom. When rear seats are folded, the maximum cargo space yields 65.4 cubic feet. For a two-row crossover, that’s a useful amount of room and makes it easier to get in and out of the vehicle.
The Ford Explorer comes with its own attractive changes, with increased passenger space and cargo room. Most models are equipped to seat 6 with its second-row captain’s chairs; but you can also have the option to seat 7 with a bench seat. The captain’s chairs provide plenty of legroom and can slide forward, offering passengers easy access to get back to the third-row seating. Cargo space is generous, featuring 18.2 cubic feet behind the third-row seat, 47.9 cubic feet behind the second row, and up to 87.8 cubic feet with all rear seats folded down.
Power, Handling and Gas
The Escape handles well for a compact SUV. It offers three different powertrain options ranging from sporty performance to a new efficient hybrid, with improved power and acceleration to move your vehicle well. Its sporty performance and handling make it drive more like a smaller car. The 180-horsepower three-cylinder Eco Boost turbocharged engine and 250-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine provide plenty of power for everyday driving. It earns respectable ratings of 27/33 mpg on the city and highway. When properly equipped, the Escape can tow up to 3,500 pounds. Not bad for a compact SUV.
The Ford Explorer boasts improved handling, in part because of its new rear-wheel-drive base. There are four powertrain options for the 2020 Explorer; a base turbocharged four-cylinder engine, two twin turbocharged V6 engines, and a new hybrid variant. It has an estimated 21/28 MPG city and highway for rear-wheel drive and it declines by one with the four-wheel-drive models. Fuel economy for the twin-turbo V6 engine is estimated at 18/24 MPG city and highway. Towing capacity for this midsize SUV is up to 5,600.
Safety, Tech and Price
Ford Escape’s popular safety features include, Evasive Steering Assist, Lane Keeping System, and Blind-Spot Information System (BLIS) to help give you the security you need on our roads. Other safety features include a rearview camera and automatic emergency braking. All this is bundled into the Ford Co-pilot360. The new Escape comes standard with user friendly 8-inch freestanding touchscreen, navigation, android Auto, Apple CarPlay, a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, satellite radio, a Wi-Fi hot spot, and a SYNC system with an option for a SYNC 3 infotainment system. Starting price for this compact SUV is $24,885 for the S and ranges to $33,400 for the Titanium.
Ford also bundles its impressive safety features in the Co-Pilot360 for the Explorer, which is what Ford has done well in its vehicles. Even the base trim comes with a highly praised infotainment system that quickly connects to your smartphone, thanks to standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Explorer comes with either an 8-inch touch screen or a vertically oriented 10.1 touch screen. The larger screen splits to display Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Starting prices for the Explorer range from $39,770 for the basic XLT to $59,345 for the loaded Platinum – a little price difference than the Escape, but it also offers a little more for a midsize SUV.
Overall
Ford has built two great vehicles with the Escape and the Explorer. Both offer their own unique style and functions with their respectable sizes. It comes down to the passenger and cargo space that you need and the price you are willing to pay.