Ford Escape Remains On Track For Discontinuation By 2026: Report

[tbone]

9 hours ago, rmc523 said:

 

I'm tired of hearing this excuse (from Ford)....we've heard it for 20+ years at this point, and they've never done anything about it.....meanwhile Toyota turns the core of their lineup to hybrid only and have continued to blow past Ford without issues...

 

 

For whatever reason, reviewers widely panned the new Escape when it came out, when I really don't think it was nearly as bad as they made it out to be.  Was it easily a segment leader?  Maybe not, but things they'd nit-pick about on Escape are overlooked in competitors.

The 3-cylinder motor got destroyed by reviewers, but when I drove one, I didn't understand the complaints......it did what it needed to, which is what most segment buyers are looking for.

 

I'd agree that it's odd that Maverick, and to a lesser extent Bronco Sport have seemingly worse materials than Escape, yet reviewers have raved about Maverick's interior.....

 

That said, Ford seems to have a hard time stepping up in segments that aren't F-series, and then wonders where sales go, in a self-fulfilling cycle.

We have had two 20+ model Escapes, a 20 and 23.  I don’t disagree with you regarding the  reviewers.  It could be I’m biased because I’m a Ford enthusiast but it certainly appears reviewers will allow things to pass on other brands but not on Ford. The 1.5L is more than adequate. Its engine noise is acceptable. The transmission programming could use some improvement, as it is laggy here and there, but not problematic.  The fit finish of our Escapes have been good.  There were some nice upgrades to the 23, that definitely made it a nicer looking vehicle with a better interior. I’m still disappointed about the removal of physical controls in the 23, a trend I hope reverses.  Overall, they’ve been good for us, and my daughter has liked them.

 

7 hours ago, morgan20 said:

 

Escape and CX-5 have less stowage space than the others in the compact unibody anonymous blob category, see below:

 

In the real world, I think this is a negligible. I’ve driven and ridden in my mother-in-law’s RAV4 a number of times, and I did not think it felt any different than our Escape, nor does the cargo area appear to be noticeably bigger.  I too would argue Ford’s interior materials were nicer than the RAV4, which felt like it had more hard plastic.  Ultimately, I didn’t think our Escapes were any better or worse than the RAV4.  

[AM222]

On 6/28/2025 at 2:49 AM, rmc523 said:

I'd agree that it's odd that Maverick, and to a lesser extent Bronco Sport have seemingly worse materials than Escape, yet reviewers have raved about Maverick's interior.....

The Maverick's interior has a more modern 2020s squarish truck/SUV look than the more generic Escape interior. It's interior door panel design looks unique too. 


About the supposed worse interior materials, the Maverick used to cost as much as an EcoSport.

[rmc523]

1 hour ago, AM222 said:

The Maverick's interior has a more modern 2020s squarish truck/SUV look than the more generic Escape interior. It's interior door panel design looks unique too. 


About the supposed worse interior materials, the Maverick used to cost as much as an EcoSport.

 

Right, so clearly Ford can do an interior that's liked when they want to - I think they took more time to design it more in line with the product's target market.

[Sherminator98]

3 hours ago, rmc523 said:

 

Right, so clearly Ford can do an interior that's liked when they want to - I think they took more time to design it more in line with the product's target market.

IMO it’s picking pepper from fly shit-the 2020+ Escape and the 2022 Bronco Sport interiors aren’t all that different-the vast majority of the “hard points” and details are virtually identical to one another. The dashes are slightly different and I’d say the BS materials aren’t as nice as the Escape. The BS does have some nicer touches to it (like the texture pattern in the floor mats matching the cargo area mats and far better location of the start button) then the Escape. 
 

It seems like automotive reporters have a madlibs they use when writing about Ford interiors. 
 

I’ll venture to guess that the Maverick, Escape and Bronco Sport use the same plastics for their interiors with minor color and slight texture differences. 

[rmc523]

18 hours ago, Sherminator98 said:

IMO it’s picking pepper from fly shit-the 2020+ Escape and the 2022 Bronco Sport interiors aren’t all that different-the vast majority of the “hard points” and details are virtually identical to one another. The dashes are slightly different and I’d say the BS materials aren’t as nice as the Escape. The BS does have some nicer touches to it (like the texture pattern in the floor mats matching the cargo area mats and far better location of the start button) then the Escape. 
 

It seems like automotive reporters have a madlibs they use when writing about Ford interiors. 
 

I’ll venture to guess that the Maverick, Escape and Bronco Sport use the same plastics for their interiors with minor color and slight texture differences. 

 

It's been a bit since I've been in all 3, but I recall Maverick being almost all hard plastics, while Escape and BS had some soft touch plastics on the dash area.

[Sherminator98]

What If The Next Generation Ford Escape Came From Spain?

[bzcat]

1 hour ago, Sherminator98 said:

What If The Next Generation Ford Escape Came From Spain?

 

There is no next gen Kuga. Farley already made up his mind to kill it. I would be really surprised if Kuga is still around in 2 years. In order for there to be a next gen Kuga, design would need to be locked in by now but  we know with Ford China and Ford US out of the program, there is not enough volume to support a new gen. Ford Taiwan is already preparing to replace its Kuga with Territory. There is no going back.

[Sherminator98]

15 minutes ago, bzcat said:

There is no next gen Kuga. Farley already made up his mind to kill it. I would be really surprised if Kuga is still around in 2 years. In order for there to be a next gen Kuga, design would need to be locked in by now but  we know with Ford China and Ford US out of the program, there is not enough volume to support a new gen. Ford Taiwan is already preparing to replace its Kuga with Territory. There is no going back.

 

Yeah that is what I thought also, just makes you wonder what product they are planning on building in the EU, apparently the Capri and Explorer aren't doing too hot sales wise and they have a ton of extra production space with no new product to fill it, from what we know. 

[bzcat]

4 hours ago, Sherminator98 said:

 

Yeah that is what I thought also, just makes you wonder what product they are planning on building in the EU, apparently the Capri and Explorer aren't doing too hot sales wise and they have a ton of extra production space with no new product to fill it, from what we know. 

 

Nothing...?

My opinion which is not exactly popular around here but all the moves Farley is making points in one direction - that he is planning to exit passenger car business in Europe.

 

1. Get rid of all the volume products

2. Move the biggest remaining selling model (Puma) under Ford Otosan which has robust business with Transit franchise

3. JV with VW on EV with easy exit if the business does not catch on

4. Boost export capacity outside EU (e.g. South Africa, Thailand, India, China - although India is cancelled again)

5. ???

6. Profit

 

I think Farley saw what Ford Australia did and is feeling pretty confident that he can duplicate it in Europe relying primarily on imported products:

• Puma (Ford Otosan Romania)
• Territory (China)
• Next gen Bronco Sport (Mexico?)
• Compact EV to replace Explorer and Capri (Louisville?)
• Next gen Mach E (Mexico?)
• Mustang (Flat Rock)
• Bronco (Detroit)
• Ranger (Thailand/South Africa)
• Transit Courier (Ford Otosan Romania)
• Transit Connect (VW)
• Transit Custom (Ford Otosan Turkey)
• Transit (Ford Otosan Turkey)

[mackinaw]

1 hour ago, bzcat said:

 

Nothing...?

My opinion which is not exactly popular around here but all the moves Farley is making points in one direction - that he is planning to exit passenger car business in Europe......

 

You may want to rethink your position.  From today's Autoline Daily.  Go to the 1:30 mark.

 

https://www.autoline.tv/daily/ad-4094-stellantis-throws-in-the-towel-with-fuel-cells-volvo-to-shift-suv-production-to-u-s-mercedes-reveals-1st-all-electric-wagon/

[rmc523]

 

15 hours ago, bzcat said:

 

Nothing...?

My opinion which is not exactly popular around here but all the moves Farley is making points in one direction - that he is planning to exit passenger car business in Europe.

 

Obviously nothing is official yet, but...

 

 

Ford Will Launch New Cars in Europe to Combat Dwindling Sales

 

But Ford has a plan to bounce back: launch new cars. German business newspaper Automobilwoche reports dealers have been told new metal is on the way.

We’ve reached out to Ford for confirmation but haven’t heard back yet. However, the report claims dealers were predictably happy to hear the promise made in a video conference by Christoph Herr, the newly appointed Managing Director of Ford Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. CEO Jim Farley has allegedly green-lit the development of new models to fill some of the void left by the discontinuation of several nameplates, some of which had been around for decades.

[rmc523]

Disregard - accidentally replied to an older page left open on this thread.

Edited July 17, 2025 by rmc523

[DeluxeStang]

50 minutes ago, rmc523 said:

 

 

Obviously nothing is official yet, but...

 

 

Ford Will Launch New Cars in Europe to Combat Dwindling Sales

 

But Ford has a plan to bounce back: launch new cars. German business newspaper Automobilwoche reports dealers have been told new metal is on the way.

We’ve reached out to Ford for confirmation but haven’t heard back yet. However, the report claims dealers were predictably happy to hear the promise made in a video conference by Christoph Herr, the newly appointed Managing Director of Ford Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. CEO Jim Farley has allegedly green-lit the development of new models to fill some of the void left by the discontinuation of several nameplates, some of which had been around for decades.

So basically confirmation Fords getting back into the car game. This is fantastic news. Ford as talking about how they could see low slung non crossover models making a return to Ford's lineup as EVs after the puma, and vw twins were launched. Seems like that's moving forward. 

[bzcat]

3 hours ago, rmc523 said:

 

 

Obviously nothing is official yet, but...

 

 

Ford Will Launch New Cars in Europe to Combat Dwindling Sales

 

But Ford has a plan to bounce back: launch new cars. German business newspaper Automobilwoche reports dealers have been told new metal is on the way.

We’ve reached out to Ford for confirmation but haven’t heard back yet. However, the report claims dealers were predictably happy to hear the promise made in a video conference by Christoph Herr, the newly appointed Managing Director of Ford Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. CEO Jim Farley has allegedly green-lit the development of new models to fill some of the void left by the discontinuation of several nameplates, some of which had been around for decades.

 

You can't revive the car business with the tiny volume Ford is doing in Europe now. Ford Europe is on an island now without the benefit of sharing anything with China or North America. Farley crippled the business so badly I don't know how he can build it back up.

 

Anyway, just another case of Ford changing strategy every 5 minutes... They would have been so far ahead if Europe didn't split off from the GE and CE programs to use VW MEB. And it's a real folly to not continue with new gen Focus and Kuga on C2 which would be relatively cheap investment since it will just be new tophats - there is absolutely no reason to get rid of C2 after only 1 generation. 

[rmc523]

2 hours ago, bzcat said:

 

You can't revive the car business with the tiny volume Ford is doing in Europe now. Ford Europe is on an island now without the benefit of sharing anything with China or North America. Farley crippled the business so badly I don't know how he can build it back up.

 

Anyway, just another case of Ford changing strategy every 5 minutes... They would have been so far ahead if Europe didn't split off from the GE and CE programs to use VW MEB. And it's a real folly to not continue with new gen Focus and Kuga on C2 which would be relatively cheap investment since it will just be new tophats - there is absolutely no reason to get rid of C2 after only 1 generation. 

 

For all we know, they ARE just taking C2 and rebodying it - I'd think this would be the fastest and cheapest approach they could take (and all they need to do really since C2 has gotten mostly good feedback aside from them being cheap on Escape).

No need to reinvent the wheel - the platform is fine, just give them desirable looks/bodies and it'll be fine.

[twintornados]

1 hour ago, rmc523 said:

 

For all we know, they ARE just taking C2 and rebodying it - I'd think this would be the fastest and cheapest approach they could take (and all they need to do really since C2 has gotten mostly good feedback aside from them being cheap on Escape).

No need to reinvent the wheel - the platform is fine, just give them desirable looks/bodies and it'll be fine.

 

You mean like Hyundai did with Santa Fe? it went from "also ran" SUV to a sharply styled box on wheels and surprise...it's a hit. 

[tbone]

8 hours ago, twintornados said:

 

You mean like Hyundai did with Santa Fe? it went from "also ran" SUV to a sharply styled box on wheels and surprise...it's a hit. 

Well, a hit with a crappy transmission. They’re changing over to a new transmission for the 2026 model year. Maybe they wisely learned a lesson from Ford’s dual clutch Focus debacle.  

[Sherminator98]

7 hours ago, tbone said:

Well, a hit with a crappy transmission. They’re changing over to a new transmission for the 2026 model year. Maybe they wisely learned a lesson from Ford’s dual clutch Focus debacle.  

 

What was the deal with the transmission? I haven't heard about that

 

[Sherminator98]

17 hours ago, rmc523 said:

For all we know, they ARE just taking C2 and rebodying it - I'd think this would be the fastest and cheapest approach they could take (and all they need to do really since C2 has gotten mostly good feedback aside from them being cheap on Escape).

No need to reinvent the wheel - the platform is fine, just give them desirable looks/bodies and it'll be fine.

 

I think the big issue is figuring out to make these profitable vs the issues they've been having with the Kuga and Escape with that. 

[akirby]

1 hour ago, Sherminator98 said:

 

I think the big issue is figuring out to make these profitable vs the issues they've been having with the Kuga and Escape with that. 

This is a chance at a clean sheet to create a low priced platform probably starting with C2.  The question is how much of the infrastructure can be clean sheet vs having to reuse the old stuff that was highly inefficient.  

[morgan20]

1 hour ago, Sherminator98 said:

What was the deal with the transmission? I haven't heard about that

 

The Hyundai 8-speed Dual Clutch Transmission was recalled in December 2022 for the following:

 

Certain Hyundai vehicles equipped with 8-speed dual clutch transmissions (DCT) may encounter drivability symptoms, such
as rough upshifts, hesitations, or lack of motive power, and/or certain Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC) such as P1C2D03

 

And again in 2024 for their propensity to self-destruct:

 

The Dual Clutch Transmission (“DCT”) in the subject vehicles could become damaged during normal operation due to Transmission Control Unit (“TCU”) software logic that could inadvertently engage the clutches and damage the transmission case and/or parking pawl.

Edited July 18, 2025 by morgan20

[rmc523]

3 hours ago, Sherminator98 said:

 

I think the big issue is figuring out to make these profitable vs the issues they've been having with the Kuga and Escape with that. 

 

Ideally, they could (hopefully) take some learnings from the skunkworks program and apply it to C2?

[bzcat]

21 hours ago, rmc523 said:

 

For all we know, they ARE just taking C2 and rebodying it - I'd think this would be the fastest and cheapest approach they could take (and all they need to do really since C2 has gotten mostly good feedback aside from them being cheap on Escape).

No need to reinvent the wheel - the platform is fine, just give them desirable looks/bodies and it'll be fine.

 

It still takes minimum 3 years to do a new body on top of C2. By that time, Fiesta would have left the market for 6 years, Focus for 4 years, and Kuga for 2 years. Sales momentum will be non-existent and Ford has to basically relaunched as a new brand to buyers who have never considered it before. 

 

If Ford really wants to save its European business, they have to keep the Kuga in production and new products in the next 12 months. Waiting 3 years to bring back Fiesta or Focus is just as nutty as cancelling them in the first place. 

[tbone]

4 hours ago, Sherminator98 said:

 

What was the deal with the transmission? I haven't heard about that

 

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a65436635/2026-hyundai-santa-fe-transmission-change/

[jpd80]

Chinese Mondeo is right there begging to be called Fusion…maybe an MKZ too.

 

Perhaps simple, easy to do is coming back into Ford’s vocabulary 

Edited July 18, 2025 by jpd80