The interior is a mixed bag. There are a lot of soft surfaces, and the upholstery is high quality in the various Escape Titanium trim show cars. Ford’s leather seats don’t always come across well, but here the various layers and accent stitching work well. The rough-hewn cloth upholstery on another show car also works.
As advertised, the backseat’s head restraints fold at the push of a button, allowing the backrests to fold flat when you pull a separate lever. Pretty simple, though the 2012 CR-V just a few paces away has reduced this procedure to a single step. (It’s hard to keep up in this market.)
Getting at the cargo area is the most entertaining aspect if you option the hands-free power liftgate, aka the hokey-pokey feature. If you have the key fob on you, you can stick your foot under the bumper and shake it all about. The liftgate opens. That’s what it’s all about.
Executive Editor
Joe Wiesenfelder
Former Executive Editor Joe Wiesenfelder, a Cars.com launch veteran, led the car evaluation effort. He owns a 1984 Mercedes 300D and a 2002 Mazda Miata SE.