Unfortunately, things are not nearly as good in practice as they seem on paper. In terms of standard and optional tech features alone, Ford is among the best in offering everything you may want or need at a reasonable price. To put it midly, using the Sync 3 infotainment system in the Escape was nothing short of a hair-pulling experience. There are lots of cubbies to store various knickknacks, and a few USB charging ports for all of your mobile devices. Thankfully, there are some redeeming features and a couple of new tweaks to the 2017 Escape that make it more favorable in the utility department, mainly more storage space in the cabin thanks to smart repackaging and the addition of an electronic handbrake in place of a traditional lever. What makes matters worse is that the Escape's cargo hold is deceptively narrow, so don't expect to fit wide items with ease. The Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, for comparison, manage 37.2/70.9 cubic-feet and 38.4/73.4 cubic-feet, respectively. In terms of cargo volume alone, the Escape again falls behind its two major competitors with only 34 cubic-feet available behind the second row seats and 68 with those seats folded down.
Though the Escape lacks in actual trunk space, it makes up for it in useful cubby scape upfront and the pioneering foot-activated lift gate in the back.
Why Ford decided to prioritize keeping the relatively useless media controls front and center while pushing the all-important touchscreen to the back is beyond me, and the result is far less than elegant. Unfortunately, like many Ford products, switching between media, radio, phone, navigation and settings on the infotainment unit still requires use of the touchscreen, which is set unusually far back in the console and difficult to reach and operate while driving, especially to press the function buttons on the bottom row of the screen.
2017 ford escape driver#
Ford also makes the configurable driver information display a breeze with steering wheel mounted buttons for swiping through displays as well as offering stereo and phone functionality, plus the adaptive cruise control interface right at your fingertips. The same Sony audio controls rest inconveniently in front of the screen, but the climate controls behind the shifter are clear, concise and easy to use as are the various functions on the row of buttons underneath. Thankfully, Ford has done away with the absurd configuration of numbers and audio controls on base versions of the Escape in favor of a much more ergonomic dial and button configuration, and the same can be said about Escapes equipped with the Sync 3 touchscreen. Steering wheel-mounted controls make changing media settings a breeze, but Ford didn't put the same level of care into the main touchscreen. In terms of rear seat comfort, several of the Escape's competitors are better suited, specifically the CR-V and Kia Sportage.
2017 ford escape full#
The Escape's rear cabin is not necessarily akin to a penalty box, but you may want to think twice about hesitating to call "shotgun!" in a car full of people. Rear passengers may have more to quibble about, however, with a flat, unsupportive bench that provides decent legroom but doesn't deliver on suppleness.
2017 ford escape drivers#
Side bolstering is on the thinner side, but this isn't a sports car, after all, so most drivers and passengers will find themselves more than comfortable up front in the Escape. The front thrones in the Escape – fitted with leather upholstery in the top-tier Titanium model – are an adequate place to spend long periods of time, with decent cushioning, better-than-average thigh support, and a nice high and upright driving position. As comfortable and supportive as the front thrones are in the Escape, the same can't be said for the passengers banished to the penalty box in the back seat.
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