Refreshing or Revolting: 2017 Ford Escape

For 2017, the Escape crossover receives significant styling updates that make it look more like its Edge older brother. Sure, it loses some of its individuality and what rugged appeal it had left, but the small crossover also gains plenty of refinement. The more important question is: Does the 2017 Ford Escape look better than the previous version? Let’s take a closer look.

Up front, the Escape is completely new. It gains a glammed-out, upper hexagonal grille that’s similar to the one on the Edge. The lower grille is much less prominent on the new model, and the fog lights are also positioned differently. Meanwhile, the hood has also been completely redesigned.

The Escape looks essentially the same from the side. One character line cuts across the door handles just like on the old model, while another sits lower on the doors. The model retains the same side cladding, too.

Ford eschews the latest trend in taillights, fitting its new Escape with chunky taillights instead of thin, narrow ones. In fact, the taillights on the new model are even chunkier and more vertically oriented than before. Ford has also redesigned the portion of the rear above the license plate, and the actual license plate area itself.

Inside the cabin, Ford made a few key changes. Ford repositioned the gear shifter lower and closer to the driver, and there’s a new push-button electronic parking brake. The media bin at the bottom of the center stack gives drivers access to a USB port and a power outlet. Higher up, much of the screen controls and knobs are laid out in a familiar fashion. The 2017 model features Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment system that was featured on the 2016 model.

So is the 2017 Ford Escape refreshing or revolting? Let us know in the comments below.

Last week, we asked for your thoughts on the 2017 Audi A4 Allroad. Although many said the design didn’t change much, the comments were mostly positive.

“Refreshing! Anything to combat the proliferation of crossovers and SUVs ,” said jamay1.

“I like it. Lots of little tweaks that add up to a nicely improved car,” said PLAY_HRD.

But Jeff-V wasn’t feeling it. “The infotainment screen looks like it was sourced by Best Buy and dealer installed.  It’s a growing trend to have them balanced on top of the dash which puts it a little too far away from the driver,” Jeff-V opined.

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