Nobody is arguing that you have to like the appearance of the screens - that’s personal preference.  What is wrong is calling it haphazard and lazy and an “add-on”.  If you look at it closely or better yet drive one every day you’d see that it’s actually very well engineered from the dash design which is a lot lower and sleeker without having to encompass the screen.  And the screen itself is larger and more forward for easier access.  It allows the hvac vents to be centered and higher up.  It also allows the designers to change the size or move the screen without changing anything else.   Having gone from a 2016 MKX to a 2022 Nautilus the difference in ergonomics is night and day and I would hate to go back.  I like the overall appearance better as well but again that’s personal preference.

Not saying it’s the right decision necessarily just explaining why they made that decision.     One example is that the Chinese version may have a much higher price and profit margin in China so they can spend a little more.     But just because you can justify it doesn’t mean it’s the right decision overall.  Just like Ford of Europe could justify making a totally different Focus and Mondeo but it would have been far better for the company in the long run to have a single version. 

I really don’t think BS will pick up a lot of Escape buyers until they add a hybrid and increase the length.   I also think you’re wrong about BS not having the same appeal as big brother.  Owners refer to them as “my bronco” and it’s a unique vehicle that doesn’t directly compete with other compact crossovers.   That said they do need to keep it updated but it doesn’t need a full makeover like other compact crossovers.

Perhaps that’s the best solution but I still think a van that narrow will have limited appeal and market success in North America.  And if it looks like a pickup with a van body tacked on like the hideous Nissan full-size vans, Ford should probably cancel it and save the required investment.   Related to this, GM is rumored to be working with Hyundai on a new EV van smaller than BrightDrop for NA, and it would not surprise me at all if they (Chevy and or Hyundai) also offer ICE and or hybrid powertrain variants.  I have not seen any design details at all, but would expect a new van to be at least as large as the Hyundai Staria or previous Starex.  Those are much wider than Maverick, and closer to Transit Custom, which by the way are all in same width range as Honda, Toyota and Stellantis minivans.  I understand the hope for a Transit Connect direct replacement but personally don’t see enough demand because of its small interior size.  As long as Ford makes new van small and light enough to work with 4-cylinder hybrid powertrain I suppose it’s better than nothing. 👍    Possible future competition from GM/Hyundai collaboration?  Perhaps similar to this?  

I sense that Farley is over US based ICE engineers and their big book of doing things the old way. Eyes are being opened by other projects, so let’s hope this flows through to much better products.   akirby brought up good ergonomics, it takes a lot more  research and questioning of control placement, it shows that engineering team are learning and taking notice of  changes for the better.

this is an excuse.   So instead let’s have them diverge and put money to two different refreshes? The engineering is already done, bring the better updates here.

while Bronco gets more of a pass given its limited and loyal segment, Bronco Sport competes in a much more competitive segment, even if it’s put itself in a more specific slice of the segment.   It cannot go as long as the big Bronco can and expect sales momentum to stay the same, IMO.   The only way it might get lucky is because Ford is dropping its internal competitor - Escape, so if you want a small SUV from Ford, BS will be it for a while.

Escape is cheaper and BS has no hybrids.

That's exactly right.  Orion was a Canadian company but opened their NY plant to get the incentives.  Nova Bus opened a plant in Plattsburgh for the same reason. 

Bronco Sport demand hasn’t been that strong. Escape is outselling it.