First Drive: 2020 Ford Escape Looks to Impress With Sleek Redesign

Consumer Reports' initial review of this new SUV is based on hours of test driving by our experts

Jon Linkov, Consumer Reports Autos Editor.

By Jon Linkov
Autos Editor

Updated April 3, 2020

With the redesigned 2020 Escape, Ford abandoned the upright, boxy styling of traditional SUVs and wrapped its new model in sleek sheet metal with an outwardly sportier look.

It’s a showroom-floor pitch to consumers looking for more style—and maybe even more performance—in this SUV segment that teems with competitor vehicles that are marketed more as practical family cars.

You can access our test drive-based assessment of the new Ford Escape by becoming a CR member, which also gives you full access to exclusive ratings on all the products we evaluate.

Since this first drive was originally published in October 2019, we finished testing the Ford Escape and Escape Hybrid.

See the complete Ford Escape road test.

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Jon Linkov

Jon Linkov is the deputy auto editor at Consumer Reports. He has been with CR since 2002, covering varied automotive topics including buying and leasing, maintenance and repair, ownership, reliability, used cars, and electric vehicles. He manages CR’s lineup of special interest publications, hosts CR’s “Talking Cars” podcast, and writes and edits content for CR’s online and print products. An avid cyclist, Jon also enjoys driving his ’80s-era sports car and instructing at track days.