2020 Ford Explorer vs 2020 Ford Escape

The 2020 Ford Explorer was a striking vehicle, more handsome than the Land Rover Discovery. Its refined, upscale design featured widened headlights, an extra-large grille, and prominent "Explorer" lettering on the hood. The ST version, with black 21-inch rims, blacked-out trim, and quad exhaust pipes, was particularly eye-catching. However, the interior was a letdown. Despite its high price tag, the materials felt cheap, with low-grade vinyl and rough-grained plastic dominating the cabin. The Explorer's interior failed to match the luxury of competitors like the Kia Telluride and Toyota Highlander.

The 2020 Ford Escape, on the other hand, was a very attractive compact crossover. Its large grille and headlights were inspired by the Ford GT supercar, making it one of the best-looking small SUVs on the market. Inside, the Escape boasted a modern cabin with a fully digital instrument panel and a floating infotainment screen. The design was forward-looking yet kept basic controls easily accessible. The Escape's interior was well-equipped across its various trims, offering features like automatic climate control, heated front seats, and a power driver's seat in the SE trim, making it a tremendous value.

The 2020 Ford Explorer offered a range of powerful engines and a rear-wheel-drive (RWD) chassis, providing a balanced and nimble driving experience. The ST trim featured a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine with 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. This setup delivered smooth, uninterrupted power and impressive handling. The Explorer also offered a 2.3-liter turbo inline-four engine with 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, as well as a gas-electric hybrid option with a net 318 horsepower. Towing capacity varied from 5,000 to 5,600 pounds, depending on the engine. The Explorer's fuel economy ranged from 18 to 27 mpg, depending on the trim and drivetrain.

The 2020 Ford Escape stood out with its four engine options, including a new 3-cylinder engine making 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. The 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, available on the SEL and standard on the Titanium trim, produced 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, offering brisk acceleration. The hybrid drivetrain, combining a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with electric power, made 198 horsepower. A plug-in hybrid variant was also available. The Escape's conventional engines used an 8-speed automatic transmission, while the hybrids used a CVT. Fuel economy for the Escape ranged from 23 to 44 mpg, depending on the engine and drivetrain. The Escape's steering was direct and taut, providing an athletic feel and strong, responsive brakes.

The 2020 Ford Explorer offered ample interior space, making it ideal for long trips. The second row featured air vents, USB ports, a center console, and a panoramic moonroof, providing a first-class experience. The third row could accommodate six-foot-tall adults for short journeys. Cargo space behind the third row was 18 cubic feet, expanding to 48 cubic feet behind the second row and 88 cubic feet with all seats folded. The Explorer's physical knobs and switches made it easy to use, though the thick D-pillars and fuzzy 360-degree cameras were drawbacks.

The 2020 Ford Escape, while sleek, sacrificed some cargo space for its design. It offered 37.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, dropping to 34.4 cubic feet in hybrid models. With the backseat folded, cargo space ranged from 60.8 to 65.4 cubic feet, less than some competitors. However, the Escape emphasized passenger space, providing plenty of headroom and legroom in the second row. The front seats offered commanding positions with good visibility. The Escape also featured numerous storage solutions, including deep water-bottle holders and multiple trays and compartments.

The 2020 Ford Explorer came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen, Sync 3 infotainment, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and 4G WiFi. Keyless entry, remote start, 3-zone climate control, and SiriusXM satellite radio were also standard. The Premium Technology Package for ST and Platinum models included a 10-inch vertical touchscreen and a 12-inch digital instrument cluster. However, the instrument panel lacked customization options, and the Co-Pilot360 Assist+ system was not as effective as competitors' systems.

The 2020 Ford Escape's base trim featured a small 4.2-inch audio control screen, but the SE trim upgraded to an 8-inch Sync screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The Titanium trim included a head-up display (HUD) with a flip-up screen, though it was less effective for taller drivers. The latest version of Sync allowed for multi-tasking, enhancing the user experience. The Escape's technology package provided a good balance of features and usability.

The 2020 Ford Explorer came standard with Ford Co-Pilot 360, which included forward emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, auto high beams, and lane-keep assist. The Assist+ option added adaptive cruise control with steering assist and reverse braking. The Explorer had not been tested by the NHTSA but received an Acceptable rating in the IIHS small overlap test on the driver's side.

The 2020 Ford Escape also came with a full array of airbags, a reversing camera, traction control, and a tire-pressure-monitoring system. It earned the best overall score of Good from the IIHS in all phases of testing. The Escape's standard Ford Co-Pilot360 suite included forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver drowsiness monitor.