Table of Contents
Ford Escape Ground Clearance Chart
Compact SUVs are prized for practicality, not necessarily performance. Yet as SUVs replace sedans as America’s car of choice, buyers want more than just a roomy interior and large cargo space. The 2020 Ford Escape satisfies both needs with powerful engines, versatility and sporty handling that makes it drive like a smaller car.
The Escape has been thoroughly overhauled for 2020. Aside from a revamped exterior design that gives the Escape a sportier look, there’s a new base engine, an improved suspension and 200 fewer pounds’ worth of weight. We won’t know until we get an Escape in for testing, but these changes should address our criticisms of the last Escape, notably its choppy ride quality and disappointing fuel economy.
The Escape Hybrid also returns after a prolonged absence. It’ll be one of just a few hybrid small SUVs available. A new plug-in hybrid model also joins the lineup, giving Ford its most buzzworthy hybrid splash since the C-Max.
The redesigned Escape offers more interior room than before, especially in the rear seat where a sliding second-row seat helps open up a massive 40.7 inches of legroom. Folding the rear seats yields 65.4 cubic feet of maximum cargo space, which is slightly less space than other rival crossovers because of new Escape’s contoured rear window styling. But it’s still a useful amount of room for a two-row crossover.
Other highlights of the new Escape include an 8-inch freestanding touchscreen, a head-up display, and a bundle of driver safety aids (rearview camera, automatic emergency braking and blind-spot warning among them) dubbed Ford Co-Pilot360.
First Gen: 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
| Trim | Lowest ground clearance |
| XLT 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl 4A) | 8.4″ (213 mm) |
| XLT Sport 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl 4A) | 8.4″ (213 mm) |
| XLS 4dr SUV (2.3L 4cyl 4A) | 8.2″ (210 mm) |
| XLT 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A) | 8.2″ (210 mm) |
| XLS 4dr SUV AWD (2.3L 4cyl 4A) | 8.4″ (213 mm) |
| Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl 4A) | 8.4″ (213 mm) |
| XLT Sport 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A) | 8.2″ (210 mm) |
| XLT 4dr SUV AWD (2.3L 4cyl 4A) | 8.4″ (213 mm) |
| Limited 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A) | 8.2″ (210 mm) |
| XLT 4dr SUV (2.3L 4cyl 4A) | 8.2″ (210 mm) |
| XLS 4dr SUV (2.3L 4cyl 5M) | 8.2″ (210 mm) |
| XLS 4dr SUV AWD (2.3L 4cyl 5M) | 8.4″ (213 mm) |
Second Gen: 2009 2010 2011 2012
| Trim | Lowest ground clearance |
| XLT 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 6A) | 8.4″ (213 mm) |
| Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6A) | 8.1″ (205 mm) |
| XLT 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6A) | 8.1″ (205 mm) |
| Limited 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 6A) | 8.4″ (213 mm) |
| XLS 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 5M) | 8.4″ (213 mm) |
| XLS 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6A) | 8.1″ (205 mm) |
Third Gen: 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
| Trim | Lowest ground clearance |
| SE 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A) | 7.8″ (213 mm) |
| SE 4dr SUV (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A) | 7.8″ (213 mm) |
| S 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 6A) | 7.8″ (213 mm) |
| SEL 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A) | 7.8″ (213 mm) |
| Titanium 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A) | 7.8″ (213 mm) |
| SEL 4dr SUV (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A) | 7.8″ (213 mm) |
| Titanium 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A) | 7.8″ (213 mm) |
Fourth Gen: 2020
| Trim | Lowest ground clearance |
| SE 4dr SUV (1.5L 3cyl Turbo 8A) | |
| Titanium 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid EVT) | |
| SE Sport 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid EVT) | |
| SEL 4dr SUV (1.5L 3cyl Turbo 8A) | |
| SEL 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) | |
| Titanium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid EVT) | |
| S 4dr SUV (1.5L 3cyl Turbo 8A) | |
| S 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 3cyl Turbo 8A) | |
| SE 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 3cyl Turbo 8A) | |
| SE Sport 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid EVT) | |
| Titanium 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) | |
| SEL 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 3cyl Turbo 8A) |
Ford Escape Ground Clearance Driver’s Guide
The 2019 Ford Escape works well as a crossover SUV, but has the ride and handling of a smartly tuned hatchback.
Ford Escape Ground Clearance Comparison Chart
| Model | Minimum clearance | Maximum clearance |
| 2019 Ford Escape | 7.8″ (213 mm) | 7.8″ (213 mm) |
| 2019 Chevrolet Equinox | 7.6″ (193 mm) | 8.0″ (203 mm) |
| 2019 Honda CR-V | 7.8 ” (198 mm) | 8.2 ” (208 mm) |
| 2019 Nissan Rogue | 7.4 ” (188 mm) | 8.4 ” (213 mm) |
| 2019 Subaru Forester | 8.7 ” (220 mm) | 8.7 ” (220 mm) |
| 2019 Toyota RAV4 | 8.4 ” (213 mm) | 8.6 ” (218 mm) |
References
Ford Escape By Years:
2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
