Used 2020 Ford Escape for Sale nearMadison, WI

Compare 2020 Ford Escape Trims

The 2020 Ford Escape offers a range of trims from budget-friendly options to well-equipped models, catering to various needs and preferences.

• Starting at $12,784
• Best MPG/MPGe: 27 city / 33 hwy
• Most Popular: SE AWD

Trim Overview

Prices updated weekly from CarGurus listings.

Quick Compare Table

Listing prices sourced from CarGurus — updated weekly. OEM specs from manufacturer data.

Missing data displayed as "—".

Trim Deep Dives

S FWD — "Who It's For"

The S FWD is the pick for shoppers who want a budget-friendly option without sacrificing essential features.

• Avg. market price: $12,784 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 27 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 832 listings
• View S FWD listings

S AWD — "Who It's For"

The S AWD is the pick for shoppers who want all-wheel drive without a hefty price tag.

• Avg. market price: $13,579 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 31 hwy
• Inventory: 168 listings — lower availability; may limit negotiating room
• View S AWD listings

SE FWD — "Who It's For"

The SE FWD is the pick for shoppers who want a well-rounded vehicle with added features without going over budget.

• Avg. market price: $13,746 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 27 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 2,636 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View SE FWD listings

SE AWD — "Who It's For"

The SE AWD is the pick for shoppers who want a popular trim with all-wheel drive and a good mix of features.

• Avg. market price: $15,232 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 31 hwy
• Inventory: 3,635 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View SE AWD listings

SEL FWD — "Who It's For"

The SEL FWD is the pick for shoppers who want a touch of luxury and advanced features without going for the top trim.

• Avg. market price: $15,446 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 27 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 697 listings
• View SEL FWD listings

SEL AWD — "Who It's For"

The SEL AWD is the pick for shoppers who want sporty performance combined with luxury features in an all-wheel drive package.

• Avg. market price: $16,561 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 31 hwy
• Inventory: 1,487 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View SEL AWD listings

Titanium AWD — "Who It's For"

The Titanium AWD is the pick for shoppers who want the ultimate in luxury and performance with advanced technology features.

• Avg. market price: $17,375 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 23 city / 31 hwy
• Inventory: 1,688 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View Titanium AWD listings

Trim Recommendations

Most Popular — SE AWD

With 3,635 active listings, the SE AWD is the clear volume leader in the lineup.

Browse SE AWD listings

Best Budget Option — S FWD

At $12,784 avg market price — below the lineup median of $15,232 — it's the most accessible entry point.

Browse S FWD listings

Best for Fuel Economy — S FWD

The S FWD offers the best fuel economy in the lineup with 27/33 MPG/MPGe.

Browse S FWD listings

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 17, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.

How much does the 2020 Ford Escape cost?

Prices have softened 8.30% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 3,589 listings available, which gives you a solid amount of inventory to compare before you buy.

Is the 2020 Ford Escape a good car?

Generally — the 2020 Ford Escape earns a 4.42/5 user rating and an 8.00/10 expert rating. The model scores 9/10 across Look and feel and Safety.

Owners consistently praise its smooth driving experience, numerous features, and safety technology. The review summary also points to strong acceleration and comfort, which fit the Escape’s modern, easy-to-live-with character.

The main trade-offs are limited cargo space and some complaints about space for taller occupants, plus a noisy engine under acceleration and mixed feedback on the gearshift design. In practical terms, that means you should like this Escape most if you want a small SUV that feels polished, tech-forward, and comfortable rather than maximally roomy.

Good and great deals account for 31.9% of listings, so there is still meaningful room to shop selectively.

Is the 2020 Ford Escape reliable?

Owners rate it 4.42/5, a solid signal of long-term satisfaction.

The owner summary points to a vehicle that many drivers feel good about living with over time, especially because it is described as smooth, feature-rich, and safety-focused. That kind of feedback usually lines up with a model that owners feel they can count on day to day.

The expert evaluation also emphasizes the Escape’s quality, performance, and commuter-friendly appeal, which supports the idea that it is built to be a dependable used buy. If you are shopping used, the main long-term risk is less about outright durability and more about finding one that has been maintained well and not worn hard.

What should I look for when buying a used 2020 Ford Escape?

At 74.4% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle history report and then prioritize a careful inspection of bodywork, alignment, and signs of prior repair. Because some listings have accident history, condition matters more than usual, especially if you want to avoid hidden issues that can affect long-term ownership.

Pay close attention to how the cabin fits your needs, since owner feedback and expert notes both point to space limitations for taller passengers and cargo. It is also worth checking that the tech and driver-assistance features work properly, since those are a big part of the Escape’s appeal.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base S comes with a 4.2-inch instrument-panel screen and a 4.2-inch center screen, while the SE adds an 8-inch Sync 3 system, automatic climate control, heated front seats, and a power driver’s seat. CarGurus recommends the SE because it adds the most useful everyday equipment for the money.
• Powertrain: The Escape offers a 180-horsepower 3-cylinder engine, a 250-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder, a hybrid setup, and a plug-in hybrid variant. The turbo engine brings brisk acceleration, while the hybrid setup is the efficiency leader.
• Safety package: Ford Co-Pilot360 is standard and includes forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver drowsiness monitor. The base trim still gets the full suite.
• Infotainment: The SE’s 8-inch Sync 3 screen adds Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the system supports over-the-air updates. The base trim’s 4.2-inch screen is much more basic.
• Fuel efficiency: The non-Sport hybrid returns 44 mpg city, 37 highway, 41 combined. The SE Sport returns 43/37/40, the 1.5-liter turbo returns 27/33/30 combined, the AWD version returns 26/31/26, and the 2.0-liter turbo with AWD returns 23/31/26.

Which 2020 Ford Escape trim should I buy?

The 2020 Ford Escape is offered in 5 trim levels: S, SE, SE Sport, SEL, Titanium.

Here's the short version:

• S: This is the entry point, and it gives you the core Escape experience with standard driver-assistance features and basic connectivity. It makes sense if you want the lowest price, but the small screens and simpler cabin equipment leave it feeling stripped down.
• SE: This is the best-value trim. It adds the 8-inch Sync 3 screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, automatic climate control, heated front seats, and a power driver’s seat, which makes it the smartest choice for most shoppers.
• SE Sport: This trim swaps in the hybrid drivetrain and adds sportier visual touches plus a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel. It suits you best if efficiency matters and you want a more distinctive look.
• SEL: This trim adds more comfort and convenience, including a hands-free power liftgate, heated steering wheel, memory for the driver’s seat, and upgraded exterior details. It is the right step up if you want more everyday luxury.
• Titanium: This is the most upscale version, with premium audio, leather seating, a dual-panel moonroof, and more premium cabin materials. It is the one to choose if you want the most features and are willing to pay for them.

Ford Co-Pilot360 is standard across the lineup, so even the lower trims start with a strong safety foundation.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2020 Ford Escape?

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop carefully without feeling rushed.

• Deal availability: 31.9% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 3,589 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 8.30% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 74.4% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $15,087, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2020 Ford Escape's resale value?

The current average of $15,352 sits slightly below last year's $16,742.

That decline suggests the Escape has already moved through a meaningful portion of its depreciation curve, which can be helpful if you are thinking about eventual resale. For a future seller, that means pricing pressure is real, but it also means the market is already anchored around a lower, more stable used value.

Because the model still has broad appeal thanks to its tech, safety features, and multiple powertrain choices, it should remain reasonably easy to market later. Vehicles with solid owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.42/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2020 Ford Escape safe?

The 2020 Ford Escape earned the best overall score of Good from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in all phases of testing.

It earns a 9/10 safety score from our experts.

Ford Co-Pilot360 is standard, and it includes forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver drowsiness monitor. That means you do not need to move up the trim ladder to get a strong safety feature set.

The Escape also comes with a full array of front- and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera, traction control, and a tire-pressure-monitoring system. The main safety caveat is not a crash-test weakness, but rather that you should still verify the condition and calibration of the driver-assistance systems on any used example.

Should I buy a 2020 Ford Escape or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2020 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2020 if:

• 31.9% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 74.4% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 8.30% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.42/5 — a solid satisfaction signal.
• Ford gave the redesigned Escape more car-like styling and emphasized fuel efficiency.

Consider the 2021 if:

• At $16,256, the 2021 costs more than the current year's $15,352 average.
• It adds new appearance packages, exterior colors, an available tow package, and slightly better base-engine fuel economy.

The bottom line: If you want the better value, the 2020 is the smarter buy because it already has the redesign, strong safety tech, and a lower average price. If you are willing to pay more for a slightly newer model with a few incremental updates, the 2021 is the cleaner alternative.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 15, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.