https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/2025/01/21/rip-mustang-minivan-pioneer-hal-sperlich-1929-2025/77859040007/    

F150 is already pursuit rated.  Local cops don’t do much pursuit anyway.

The HR-V and Corolla Cross are actually longer then the Bronco Sport by 6 and 1 inch respectively and they aren't as off road capable as it     Maybe they'll make the Escape replacement look like a Range Rover Evoque, more sporty boxy looking vehicle that doesn't look like the Bronco Sport.  I'm guessing the Explorer in its current form/platform will stick around for another 10 years or so. There is major refresh stated for 2027/28. I can see maybe an EREV being used on that platform also.  Given that EVs in the US have been up-ended and I'd expect the EU to give car makers a reprieve (short of them screwing their manufacturing base by allowing Chinese EVs in) for five years or so, I see EV not being majority of the market till late next decade.    

Old Escape was heavy on fleet sales with big discounts.  There is a reason there are so many white SEs on the road.   Boring only sells at volume if pricing is super competitive.  I think an edge sized replacement with hybrid powertrain and explorer styling would work far better.

At least now it doesn't have a goofy front end.     Escape was one of if not the top seller in the segment for a long time until more recently Rav-4 and CR-V have run away with it.  Sure Ford has split the segment with BS/Escape, but Honda and Toyota also have the HR-V and Corolla Cross now, and Rav4/CR-V sales have still skyrocketed past Escape.   Ford hasn't matched their improvements, unfortunately.

There is nothing majorly wrong with Escape styling. It is not very exciting but boring sells in this segment... compact CUV is the equivalent of midsize sedan from before times - people want reliable transport that are good value.    The thing with Escape is that basically the competitors got better, and some of them can just sell based on reputation for reliability and value along... Escape nameplate doesn't have that kind of equity, which is why Farley is going to kill it.   I'm not saying I agree with the decision BTW, I'm just offering my observation and explain what might be going on at Ford. Farley seemed to have concluded he can get more mileage from next gen Bronco Sport than trying to revive Escape.     Wouldn't surprise me if the CE1 replacement is call Explorer Sport instead of Escape - assuming Farley actually has a plan to replace the big Explorer (he doesn't right now). Remember, the MEB Explorer EV sold in Europe was originally going to be a worldwide model with the US version going to Oakville under Hackett... so Explorer Sport name likely was going to be used for the US market for that car. Farley pulled the plug on MEB in the US once he became CEO.    

Again we are talking primarily Expy-or so I thought.  Plus my eyes tell me as I watch news clips.  Is the Expy pursuit rated?  I didn't think so. Also I  think while the Explorer is for sure the "new" Crown Vic, instead of turning the Expy into something it wasn't designed for, I would see more gains if more attention was paid to 150, with a 6.8.  KISS applies IMO. And when I say that, it is not a negative on the Coyote- I'm a happy owner.  I just think that the simplicity  of  a push rod V-8 gives fleets a comfort level over 32 valves😎

Part of less interest in having a car is the cost. Sure, the purchase cost is high, but the other costs are rising faster, and include insurance, taxes, registration, maintenance, and fuel.

Part of that was better hybrid availability.  That was a problem in 21 and 22.

Oh I was under the impression that the refreshed Escape just came with the larger screen, but that was just the 2025 Bronco Sport that does.