2019 Ford Escape

The Escape comes in four different trim levels. The S is the entry-level model and has 17-inch steel wheels and automatic headlights. The SE adds 17-inch alloy wheels, and it comes with chrome exterior trim, roof rails, sound-reducing glass, and fog lights. Bump up to the SEL for a power liftgate, roof rack rails, the option for a panoramic sunroof, and 18-inch wheels. The Titanium, at the top of the lineup, has 19-inch alloy wheels and a power liftgate, and it offers the option for a tow package.

The base engine in the 2019 Escape is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that delivers 168 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque. The SE bumps up the power with its 1.5-liter turbo four-cylinder that gets 179 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. The Titanium has even more power with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder under the hood that generates 245 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. All three of the engines work with a six-speed automatic transmission, and each comes standard with front-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive is an available option for every model except the S.

The most fuel-efficient engine is the 1.5-liter turbo which can get up to 23 miles per gallon in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. The Escape is one of the most comfortable vehicles in its class to drive, and it will stay composed on most road surfaces. When equipped, it can tow up to 3,500 pounds.

Inside, the Escape has room for five passengers, and everyone gets a good amount of space. The well-designed cabin has cloth upholstery, a height-adjustable driver's seat in the base trim, and heated front seats in the SE and above. The SEL adds a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and the Titanium comes with driver-seat memory settings and ambient interior lighting.

The entry-level Escape has a 4.2-inch central display screen, but just a step up to the SE offers the option for the Sync 3 tech package with an 8-inch touch screen, upgraded voice controls, Sync Connect, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Titanium trim adds a 110-volt power outlet and extra 12-volt outlets.

Standard safety features include a rearview camera, and it has Ford's MyKey parental controls so you can set limits for secondary drivers. All the models except the base offer the option for the Safe and Smart package with added driver assist technology which comes with forward collision warning, automatic braking, adaptive cruise control, automatic headlights, along with a blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert. It also has a lane departure warning system with intervention.