Ford's Big Gamble

It’s been known now for more than a year that Ford is in the process of phasing out its passenger car lineup to devote more resources to building trucks, SUVs, and crossovers. The Focus has already been dropped from the US market, and the Fiesta and Taurus are nearing the end of the line as well. The Fusion just got a minor update for 2019, so it should be good for a couple more years before it is finally retired.

People have speculated whether a Ford lineup without sedans and hatchbacks rounding out the bottom end can actually work. Now, at the 2019 New York Auto Show, we finally got our first look at how Ford plans to guide its traditional car buyers into a new SUV.

The 2020 Ford Escape leads Ford into this uncertain future with a completely redesigned body that eschews nearly all pretenses of off road ruggedness. Soft curves replace hard lines from stem to stern. The roofline is slightly lower and gives the new Escape an undeniable hatchback vibe. Overall, it’s not too dissimilar to the Focus Active that Ford originally planned to sell here but cancelled after deeming it unlikely to generate enough sales.

Engine choices include a base 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder making 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. If the thought of a three-cylinder SUV scares you, wait until you hear that this engine comes equipped with cylinder deactivation. This means you will be able to drive a two-cylinder powered, 3,000 lb. SUV under certain circumstances. Perhaps aware that this engine isn’t for everyone, Ford will also offer a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque on higher trim levels. An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard across the range, and the 2.0 is only available with all-wheel drive.

A hybrid Escape returns after being discontinued for the previous generation. It will be joined by a new plug-in hybrid model. The hybrid will be offered alongside the standard vehicle when it goes on sale this fall. The plug-in hybrid will join the lineup in spring 2020.

So the 2020 Ford Escape still shares its structure and powertrain with the Focus, and now bears a passing resemblance to one too. What still remains to be seen is if buyers on a $25,000 Focus budget can stretch up to the $30,000 price tag of a well equipped, midrange Escape. 

Fluctuating fuel prices will also play a role in determining if Ford’s gamble will pay off. The current Escape gets around 23 mpg city and 30 mpg highway. Not bad, but consider that compact cars now get miles per gallon anywhere between the high 30s to the low 40s.

I have already seen fuel prices in my hometown rise 50 cents in less than three months. I’m afraid that once gas prices get above $3 per gallon, people are going to get jittery and Ford will once again be caught with its pants down by not having any cheap, fuel efficient cars available for buyers whose budgets have suddenly tightened. This is a dangerous game that Ford is playing, and there may not be another bailout if things go wrong.