New Ford Escape revealed

The fourth-generation 2020 Ford Escape has been revealed and confirmed for a 2020 Australian arrival – including a plug-in hybrid version that will be the Blue Oval’s first electrified model Down Under.

Previously, Ford Australia had indicated the Mondeo would be its first plug-in model, but with mid-size passenger car sales tanking and the Mondeo’s future unclear beyond another facelift due here this year, Ford obviously sees more potential in a PHEV version of its all-new mid-size SUV.

As we saw in spy shots last month, the bigger new Ford Escape takes a big leap forward in design and with advanced technologies including a battery-assisted powertrain it could finally challenge segment leaders like the Mazda CX-5, Hyundai Tucson, Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester and Nissan X-TRAIL.

Currently only the Mitsubishi Outlander offers plug-in hybrid power in a mid-size SUV – Australia’s biggest and fastest-growing SUV segment -- but the $45,990-plus model will be joined in doing so by next month's new Toyota RAV4.

Like the RAV4 Hybrid, the 2020 Ford Escape PHEV combines a 2.5-litre four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle petrol engine with an electric motor and generator, in this case producing a total of 165kW -- more than the RAV (155kW).

Unlike all Toyota hybrid in Australia, however, the Escape adds a 14.4kWh lithium-ion battery that can be charged by mains power via plug-in capability, offering “more than” 50km of zero tailpipe emissions travel, says Ford. Fuel consumption is listed at just 1.2L/100km and CO2 emissions at only 29g/km.

Multiple driving modes include EV Auto, EV Now, EV Later and EV Charge. When the battery reaches its lowest state-of-charge, the system automatically reverts to EV Auto mode, in which the petrol engine is assisted by the electric motor using recaptured energy via a regenerative braking system, as in Toyota hybrids.

“We’re proud to bring the first of our global electrified vehicles to Australian customers in the stylish and capable all-new Escape,” said Ford Australia and New Zealand president and CEO, Kay Hart.

“Australians continue to embrace SUVs, which is why we are introducing our first plug-in hybrid powertrain with this vehicle.”

Perhaps more relevant to many Australians will be the 2020 Escape’s all-new C2 platform -- which replaces the existing Escape’s C1 platform – that debuted under the new Ford Focus, liberating more cabin space, cargo area flexibility, interior functionality and occupant safety and technology.

Presenting a more aerodynamic silhouette with a longer bonnet, lower roofline and ‘faster’ rear window, the 2020 Ford Escape is also said to be more dynamic and efficient, thanks to weight-savings of up to 90kg and a claimed 10 per cent advance in torsional body rigidity.

The new Escape is punctuated by a low-set corporate Ford grille similar to the latest Focus models, and an entirely new side window line that, with its clean sweep from A-pillars to C-pillars, looks a lot more graceful than the current Escape’s truncated rear glassware.

Although it wears a specific styling language, the new Escape doesn’t look too dissimilar from the mechanically similar Focus Active crossover due to launch in Australia this year.

Riding on a 20mm-longer wheelbase, Ford says the sleeker new Escape is 44mm wider and a whole 89mm longer than the model it replaces, translating to 43mm more shoulder room and 57mm more hip room up front, and 20mm more shoulder room and 36mm more hip room in the rear.

Despite being 20mm lower overall, the new Escape is also claimed to bring 13mm more headroom up front and 35mm more out back.

Rear-seat legroom or (unspecified) boot space can be augmented by a sliding bench seat, which can be folded flat via a remote release function.

No other local details have been revealed at this stage, Ford Australia saying only that the more upmarket new Escape will be available with premium paint and model grades will be differentiated by unique light signatures, variant-specific alloy wheels and detailing such as intakes, valences and grille facias.

Apart from the PHEV, no other Escape drivetrains have been confirmed for Australia, although mild-hybrid and (non plug-in) hybrid versions of the new Kuga, as it's still called in Europe, were also revealed in Amsterdam last night, where Ford promised to release 16 electrified models for Europe.

Making it what Ford calls the most electrified Escape ever, Europe's Kuga Hybrid pairs the PHEV's petrol-electric powertrain but without plug-in capability to return 5.6L/100km, while the Kuga EcoBlue Hybrid pairs a 112kW 2.0-litre turbo-diesel with a belt-driven integrated starter/generator to form a 48-volt mild-hybrid system that consumes 5.0L/100km.

Our Escape is almost certain to be powered mostly by the more powerful of two (90kW and 112kW) versions of the same 1.5-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost turbo-petrol engine seen in the Focus, consuming at least 6.5L/100km and connecting to either a front-drive or an on-demand AWD system through an eight-speed torque converter automatic transmission.

EcoBlue diesel power, as employed in Euro Focus models, also seems pretty likely for the new Escape here. The European Kuga will be available with 90kW 1.5-litre and 112kW 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engines consuming 4.8 and 5.7L/100km respectively.

Inside, beyond the Ford SYNC 3 infotainment system with central 8.0-inch colour touch-screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, there's a new 12.3-inch 24-bit 'true colour' digital instrument cluster that Ford claims is the first in the industry to use free-form technology allowing curved upper edges and a seamless interior design.

Other new cabin tech, likely to be reserved for Europe's top-spec Vignale variant, includes a premium new 10-speaker, 575-Watt B&O Sound System.

The extensive suite of advanced safety technology seen in the Focus will carry over into the SUV, which also debuts Ford's new Lane-Keeping System with Blind Spot Assist, in addition to Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Stop & Go, Speed Sign Recognition, Evasive Steering Assist, Lane-Centring, Active Park Assist 2, Wrong Way Alert, Adaptive Front Lighting System, front and rear wide-view cameras and a new colour head-up display.

Released in Australia last September, the current ‘MY18.5’ Ford Escape is an updated version of the facelifted and renamed MY17 Escape, which replaced the unloved Ford Kuga that in turn replaced the second-generation Escape in 2012.