The Escape has been part of the Ford lineup since 2001, when it was the company's plucky small SUV. Ford refreshed the Escape for 2017, offering a more muscular grille and updated headlight design. That redesign carries over for 2019.

The Escape has sleek styling, yet it provides plenty of cargo space and interior headroom. The Escape has 34 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats. With the 60/40 split-fold rear bench down, the Escape has a cargo capacity of 70 cubic feet. Inside, the Escape has a modern, high-tech dash layout.

Trims for the Escape include S, SE, SEL, and Titanium. Standard features on the base S trim include a driver’s blind-spot mirror with integrated wide angle, four 12-volt power points, a USB charging port, and the SYNC infotainment system. On the base S trim, SYNC includes a 4.2-inch color LCD screen and Bluetooth.

Moving up to the SE trim gets you the larger SYNC3 infotainment system with an 8-inch color touchscreen. It features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and it can connect to your Amazon Alexa account via the Ford+Alexa system. The SE trim also provides SiriusXM satellite radio, remote keyless entry, push-button start, remote start, heated front seats, and dual smart-charging USB ports.

Moving up to the SEL adds leather seating and a hands-free power liftgate. It’s also available with the SEL Sport Appearance Package, which includes 19-inch dark-accent aluminum wheels, LED fog lights, and dark bezels for the head- and taillights. It also features a gloss black grille with chrome inserts, black roof rails and window trim, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.

The range-topping Titanium trim provides 10-way power-adjustable front seats, voice-activated navigation, and a 10-speaker Sony premium audio system. Buyers can also get a panoramic sunroof as a standalone option on the Titanium, or as part of broader options packages.

The engine in the S trim is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder, making 168 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque. The SE and SEL come equipped with a turbocharged 1.5-liter EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine, putting out 179 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque. The range-topping Titanium trim features a turbocharged 2.0-liter EcoBoost 4-cylinder, putting out 245 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque.

Regardless of engine, power is sent through a 6-speed automatic transmission to the front wheels or available four-wheel drive (4WD). When properly equipped, the Escape is capable of towing up to 3,500 pounds.

The most efficient configuration of the Escape is the 1.5-liter turbo with front-wheel drive (FWD), returning EPA-estimated fuel economy of 23 mpg city, 30 highway, 26 combined. With 4WD, fuel economy falls to 22, 28, and 24.

The 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost engine with FWD returns 22, 29, and 25. With 4WD, fuel economy drops to 20, 27, and 23. The 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine returns 21, 29, and 24.

The Escape comes with standard safety features such as a reversing camera, traction control, and a tire-pressure-monitoring system. It’s also available with a host of driver-assistance features, such as forward-collision warning and avoidance, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. Buyers can also get the Escape with the available active park assist.

With plenty of standard and optional features, potent engines, and the latest driver-assistance features, the 2019 Ford Escape is a modern crossover designed for the modern commuter.