Consumer Reports has long lavished praise on a select number of Ford vehicles, but that obviously doesn’t apply universally across the lineup. Rather, the consumer organization has had a few Blue Oval models in its proverbial crosshairs over the years, and that includes the Ford Escape. Over the past few years, the Ford Escape has landed on CR‘s list of vehicles to avoid multiple times, and that’s once again the case with the 2024 model.
In its latest list of small SUVs to avoid and what to buy instead, the 2024 Ford Escape was singled out as a poor choice for a variety of reasons. While CR calls the Escape a “competitive” model in this space, it notes that the crossover is also unreliable (at least in base form) and not a recommended vehicle, its infotainment is laggy and not intuitive to use, and the front seats are flat and lack adjustability. As a result, it recommends that shoppers buy a Honda CR-V instead.
The 2024 Ford Escape only managed to secure an overall score of 59 from Consumer Reports, largely because of its low predicted reliability ranking and predicted owner satisfaction. None of this is terribly surprising given how the Ford Escape has ranked in CR studies over the years, starting back in 2021, when the organization panned the pre-refresh model for many of the same reasons, including “an annoying vibration at low engine speeds” in models equipped with the 1.5L EcoBoost powerplant.
That same rating carried over to the 2022 model year based on the issues with the same powerplant, which has been plagued by various gremlins among owners. In fact, Consumer Reports went so far as to include both the 2020 and 2021 (hybrid) models on its list of used vehicles to avoid as well, largely based on information it obtained from its member surveys that indicate the Escape has worse-than-average reliability compared to its rivals.
Low-interest financing on the heavy-duty pickup truck.
They could claim the credit before taking delivery.
Which could even mimic a home's lighting.
Tariffs have resulted in investments in U.S.-based production.
Its application from 2022 is still under review.
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Well, I think Ford should take these criticisms seriously and incorporate them into their product improvement cycle. Another option would be to poll the owners of each vehicle line for their comments. Data points are what it's about. The more data one can accumulate and parse, the better armed one will be to affect updates in a positive way. I'm sure warranty claims are one way, but wouldn't it also be nice to get some positive feedback too?
"As a result, it recommends that shoppers buy a Honda CR-V instead." Ugh, this is the most common old lady vehicle around me. It's a warning sign to stay away from that driver.
Your comment is a sign to stay away from YOU. I agree with CR 100%. This generation has been a flop since Day One and everybody knows it. Too small, nasty 3-banger, unreliable and WAY overpriced. $33K for a 3-banger basic ST-Line? They must be on drugs. Which is why lots are overflowing with '24s and they can't move them. Because they won't discount them reasonably. And not a single '25 has been built yet.
Overflowing? I see very few on the local lots. Unless they've got them hidden behind all the F-Series trucks.
There are 30,000 Escapes on lots right now. That makes it second only to the 60,000 F-150s sitting on the lots. So, they may indeed be hiding behind all the F-150s.
Ford is just letting this vehicle whither away into extinction. First, they didn’t update the Edge and it is gone in NA. It was a great vehicle but needed updating. Second, the Escape was once a great compact crossover and now it’s horrible compared to the competition. Jim Farley better get his act together soon before he does irreparable harm to this company.
The Escape is gone after next year anyway. I have owned 3 Escapes with no problems.
Loving my '23 ST Line. City gas mileage isn't ideal but highway mileage has been better than billed. The info screen could use one less step to choose music sources and select recirculating air. And some of the cheap looking interior details clash with the better elements, but overall it's been a pleasure to drive and looks great with the black wheels. This, after I had a 2019 Edge with transmission issues Ford did not ever resolve.
Remember when Escape owned this category? But don't worry, Farley is working on it and it will be - in his words - only a couple more years until quality is up to par.
I love my 22 Escape PHEV. No problems yet even though there are several recalls. It get 40 miles per charge so I rarely buy gas when running around town. Feels solid and has all the bells and whistles. It was $39K back in 2022 but got a $6400 federal tax credit and a $500 state credit. I just plug it in at night and by the morning it is recharged and ready to go.
Since they are going to discontinue it I guess it makes sense to not put too much effort into it. But I don't think the Bronco Sport and Maverick will be enough in the segment, and someone looking for something less truck-like will now go somewhere else. Of course, CR buyers will go for a CR-V or RAV4 anyway...
Buy a FORD? You just wouldn't do it to yourself !!
For years, CR has been rating cars, mostly poorly. The CR-V has a CVT, a decidedly inferior way of getting the engine power to the wheels. The Honda has a 1.5L engine powering the wheels through a CVT, and according to Car and Driver, it takes 9.0 seconds to go from 5 MPH to 60 MPH on a freeway on-ramp. That's not only abysmal, it's downright dangerous. If CR's reporting has any value, it's to tell you what NOT to do. I recall in 2013 when they panned the Ford Fusion because the infotainment system was too complicated for their advanced-age subscriber base. In the same issue they equated that "flaw" to a different brand's transmission failure rate; they considered both flaws equivalent.
Consumer's Reports has always touted their total objectivity, but it doesn't take too much work to see that they have, and have always had an agenda. This example is no different. CR sucks.