Ford has enjoyed mass sales in trucks and SUVs, and that will remain their main source of sales for some time to come, but things are slowly changing, especially in the family passenger car class where crossovers are seeing a surge in popularity. See, people are starting to realize that you don’t have to compromise what you drive. You don’t have to buy an SUV for loading lots of cargo, or buy a sedan for its comfortable and more dynamic road manners. Instead, you can turn to a crossover for the best of both worlds – and it turns out that Ford cars are pretty adept at offering both practicality and dynamic ability in a well-sorted package.
Why Are Ford Crossovers So Popular?
The humble crossover SUV has enjoyed massive popularity in the USA over the past decade and is only gaining momentum in a market usually dominated by regular SUVs and small pickup trucks. One of the main reasons why Americans love the Ford crossover is because it offers SUV-levels of interior space, most important in terms of headroom, as well as an increase in the amount of cargo space on offer. Another major factor is that most modern crossover SUVs come close to offering the same type of handling dynamics and road comfort as their traditional sedan counterparts. The result is a type of car that offers the benefits of a practical SUV with the road behavior of an ordinary sedan or hatchback. With the culling of smaller cars in the US market in order to focus on this segment, the Ford crossover SUV is set to continue taking over larger portions of the market share.
Ford Crossovers to look out for
Ford EcoSport – The Ford EcoSport is the smallest crossover SUV built by Ford, and is aimed at buyers who want a hatchback, but with the advantages of an SUV. The EcoSport is also the cheapest crossover from the manufacturer, which makes it more accessible to young families on a budget. Going up against the likes of the Hyundai Kona and Kia Soul means it faces stiff competition. With an MSRP starting from $19,995, this little Ford offers features such as manual single-zone air conditioning and a push-button starter. Power is provided by either a turbocharged 1.0-liter engine churning out 123 hp and 125 lb-ft of torque or a 2.0-liter four-cylinder producing 166 hp and 149 lb-ft. A six-speed automatic channels power to the front wheels. At it’s most frugal, the EcoSport delivers a best of 27/29/28 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycle.
Ford Escape – Slipping in between the EcoSport and Edge in the crossover range, 2020 sees this vehicle go through a complete overhaul, which means new configurations, and altered performance thanks to a few tweaks to the force-fed four-pot engine. The Ford Escape goes up against the Honda CR-V amongst others. This Ford starts with an MSRP of $24,885 and costs go up to $36,435 for the top of the range Titanium which features a turbocharged engine. Features include air conditioning, a remote key and air conditioning, with higher-end trims adding two-zone climate control, leather upholstery, and a powered passenger seat that adjusts six ways. Performance is adequate thanks to a 1.5-liter turbocharged unit producing 181 hp and 190 lb-ft. You could also opt for a 2.0-liter turbocharged unit that’s good for 250 hp and 280 lb-ft. The Escape scores a best fuel mileage figure of 27/33/30 miles per gallon in the city, out on the highway, and on the combined cycle in base form.
Ford Edge – The midsize SUV market is booming, and it all makes sense when you look at a car such as the Edge, which combines great size with all the creature comforts of a premium sedan. The 2020 Escape remains relatively unchanged for 2020 and faces competition from the Honda Passport, Mazda CX-9, and Toyota Highlander. The entry-level price of a new Ford Edge is $31,100 and that price goes up to $38,100 for Titanium models. It is easy to pack mileage on vehicles such as this one. The base model offers features such as easy access with push-button start, a ten-way adjustable driver’s seat and dual-zone automatic climate control. Pulling the Edge down the road is a 2.0-liter turbo four-pot engine developing 250 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque which it channels through an eight-speed box. The Edge might be the largest model in this feature, but it still manages to get respectable gas mileage: the base model will do 21/29/24 mpg city/highway/combined
The Future Of Ford Crossovers
Ford cars have a solid footing in the traditional crossover SUV market, but the future holds a few tantalizing treats that will rewrite what we think a crossover should be. The first sign of things to come is Ford’s introduction of its first-ever electric vehicle that will also be a crossover. The Ford Mach-E will ride on Ford’s famous Mustang brand, which comes as a major surprise to loyal performance fans with blue blood flowing through their veins. The Mustang Mach-E takes on a hybrid design that incorporates sleek sports car looks with the space and practicality of a small crossover SUV. The Mach-E is set to offer blistering recharge times, and over the air updates that trump even the class-leading Tesla Model S. One thing that prospective owners can be assured of is that the Mach-E is not only going to be a pleasurable daily driver, but it will offer excellent performance from its electric motor setup while offering all the features we love so much about the crossover platform.
This content is brought to you by the FingerLakes1.com Team. Support our mission by visiting www.patreon.com/fl1 or learn how you send us your local content here.