With the Ford Escape gone, dealers worry about losing loyal customers
With the Ford Escape gone, dealers worry about losing loyal customers who never asked for change. It was the kind of vehicle that quietly filled driveways, always there, never dramatic about it. Now the lineup feels thinner, less approachable somehow. What comes next might be smarter, but not everyone wanted smarter.
Ford Escape
Familiar, simple, always fine. It didn’t try too hard, maybe that was its charm. The steering had that soft middle spot no one hated, no one loved. People just drove it and forgot about it, which was exactly right. Feels strange to think that’s gone now.
Ford Edge
Heavier, broader, feels like an older idea still holding on. Sits on lots longer but still moves, still sells to the same people who liked quiet comfort. Drives steady, distant maybe. It’s a little too serious to replace the Escape, but it tries.
Ford Bronco Sport
Louder, boxier, more personality than needed. Appeals to a different crowd that likes the image of adventure. Feels firmer, faster, a bit narrow for families used to calmness. Maybe it’s the Escape’s shadow dressed in hiking boots. It does fine, though.
Ford Maverick
Feels clever in all the ways the Escape never did. Truck shape, small heart. The practicality makes sense but doesn’t carry the same quiet reliability. Some say it replaced the Escape without meaning to, but it’s a different personality completely. You can sense that.
Toyota RAV4
Still the steady one everyone remembers. Feels grounded, gentle, patient. People who used to buy Escapes probably wander here now. It’s the kind of vehicle that never apologizes for being obvious. You can’t blame anyone for choosing it.
Honda CR-V
Feels like the safe answer on a form you didn’t want to fill out. Efficient, smooth, maybe too familiar. It’s good in a way that almost erases memory. The Escape and CR-V used to attract the same kind of thinking—simple, careful, unflashy. That hasn’t changed.
Hyundai Tucson
Looks more interesting than it feels. Drives briskly enough, though you forget the trip after parking. There’s an effort to seem modern, and it mostly works. You can imagine ex-Ford owners trying it once and shrugging, unsure but fine with it.
Kia Sportage
Feels like it’s trying to please everyone, which sometimes feels exhausting. The design keeps changing but the personality doesn’t much. Reliable, smooth, better on price. Maybe it catches some of the crowd left wandering. Maybe not all.
Chevrolet Equinox
Still steady in the middle, never chasing trends. Drives decent, rides soft, feels unbothered. That quiet little American SUV space still exists here. It’s not as remembered as the Escape was, but maybe fills a similar silence. Maybe that’s enough.
Nissan Rogue
Sometimes sharp, sometimes underwhelming. The new versions feel more polished than you expect. It’s fine in traffic, fine everywhere really. For people who just need something dependable, this might feel familiar enough. It carries that same unexciting comfort.
Subaru Forester
Soft and grounded, like a calm reply in a loud conversation. The type of car that works without shouting about it. A little slower, a little steadier, but never wrong. It holds the same kind of personality the Escape used to have. People might end up realizing that later.
