X

Small tweaks add up to big changes for the 2017 Ford Escape

Don't judge the 2017 Ford Escape by the cover; it's got all new tech inside of its cabin and engine bay.

Antuan Goodwin
Antuan Goodwin gained his automotive knowledge the old fashioned way, by turning wrenches in a driveway and picking up speeding tickets. From drivetrain tech and electrification to car audio installs and cabin tech, if it's on wheels, Antuan is knowledgeable.
Antuan Goodwin
2017 Ford Escape SE 4WD
1 of 36 Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow

At a glance, it would appear that not much has changed since we last visited with the Ford Escape. The exterior styling hasn't changed much and has been described by more than one of our editors as "a bit anonymous."

2017 Ford Escape SE 4WD
2 of 36 Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow

Tweaks to the design free up a bit more interior space, but the Escape is still a bit smaller than many of its fiercest competitors.

2017 Ford Escape SE 4WD
3 of 36 Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow

The 2.5-liter naturally aspirated and 2.0-liter Ecoboost engine options persist for this year. The Ecoboost model gets a five-pony and a 5-pound-foot boost to horsepower and torque.

2017 Ford Escape SE 4WD
4 of 36 Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow

New for the 2017 model year is a smaller 1.5-liter Ecoboost option. This model slots between the other two engines boasting 179 boosted horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque.

2017 Ford Escape SE 4WD
5 of 36 Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow

You'd think the downsized engine would come with a boost to fuel economy, but the 1.5-liter turbo trails behind the competition's 2.5-liter naturally aspirated offerings by a few mpg across the board.

2017 Ford Escape SE 4WD
6 of 36 Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow

The two Ecoboost engine options are available in both front- and all-wheel drive configurations. The latter is an on-demand system that only sends power to the rear axle under acceleration or in low-grip situations.

2017 Ford Escape SE 4WD
7 of 36 Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow

At the mid-tier SE and top-grade Titanium trim levels, the Escape can be outfitted with a wide range of premium driver aid features, including semi-autonomous parking, adaptive cruise, lane-keeping assist and more.

2017 Ford Escape SE 4WD
8 of 36 Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow

Available Sync 3 infotainment is significantly better than much of what the competition can offer. The software is responsive and quite easy to use.

2017 Ford Escape SE 4WD
9 of 36 Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow

This model year marks the addition of Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and Ford's own Sync Connect and Ford Pass systems to the already solid dashboard experience.

2017 Ford Escape SE 4WD
10 of 36 Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow

If the Escape has an Achilles' heel, it's the fit and finish of the cabin design. I was neither a fan of the rubbery dashboard material nor the touchscreen's awkward positioning.

2017 Ford Escape SE 4WD
11 of 36 Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow
2017 Ford Escape SE 4WD
12 of 36 Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow
2017 Ford Escape SE 4WD
13 of 36 Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow
2017 Ford Escape SE 4WD
14 of 36 Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow
2017 Ford Escape SE 4WD
15 of 36 Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow
2017 Ford Escape SE 4WD
16 of 36 Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow
2017 Ford Escape SE 4WD
17 of 36 Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow
2017 Ford Escape SE 4WD
18 of 36 Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow
2017 Ford Escape SE 4WD
19 of 36 Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow
2017 Ford Escape SE 4WD
20 of 36 Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow
2017 Ford Escape SE 4WD
21 of 36 Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow
2017 Ford Escape SE 4WD
22 of 36 Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow
2017 Ford Escape SE 4WD
23 of 36 Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow
2017 Ford Escape SE 4WD
24 of 36 Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow
2017 Ford Escape SE 4WD
25 of 36 Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow
2017 Ford Escape SE 4WD
26 of 36 Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow
2017 Ford Escape SE 4WD
27 of 36 Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow
2017 Ford Escape SE 4WD
28 of 36 Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow
2017 Ford Escape SE 4WD
29 of 36 Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow
2017 Ford Escape SE 4WD
30 of 36 Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow
2017 Ford Escape SE 4WD
31 of 36 Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow
2017 Ford Escape SE 4WD
32 of 36 Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow
2017 Ford Escape SE 4WD
33 of 36 Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow
2017fordescape-050.jpg
34 of 36 Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow
2017fordescape-051.jpg
35 of 36 Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow
2017fordescape-052.jpg
36 of 36 Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos