Edgy New Design
First things first: the new crossover looks nothing like the square, conservative Escape that bowed over a decade ago. The new model is a striking, thoroughly modern design that may be the most attractive in its segment. The A rounded, bold front fascia leads into aggressive character lines and creases. The roofline curves down slightly past the B-pillars, contributing to the athletic stance. The tailgate is all diagonal lines and sharp edges, with triangular-shaped taillights and an angular license plate opening. Better yet, the new design produces about 10 percent less aerodynamic drag than the current Escape.
The cabin affords 34.3 cubic feet behind the rear seats, which rises to 68.1 cubic feet with the second row folded flat. The interior design mostly follows that seen on other new Fords like the Explorer and Focus, although the center stack has several odd bulges to house the touch screen, climate controls, and other switchgear. Interior surfaces are made from a mix of hard plastics and soft-touch elements. Addressing a key criticism of the current Escape, the rear seats can now be folded more easily in one motion.
