The previous Escape's MyFord Touch multimedia system was a deal-breaker for many with its confounding menu structure, unresponsive screen and useless voice-recognition feature. The new Sync 3, though, might actually be a deal-maker for shoppers. The new system is clean-looking, intuitive to use and a breath of fresh air compared not just to the old one, but also to competitors' setups; it's easier than the CR-V's and RAV4's systems, and rivals the Mazda CX-5's for ease of use.
The screen sits high on the dash for convenient visibility, and the graphics are big and clear. Better still, buttons and knobs are back, replacing the old unit's capacitive touch buttons. Below the screen are much-missed tuning and seek buttons, as well as a volume knob. The clean look also translates to a clean user experience; there's no learning curve to master the audio and navigation menus, and the touch-screen is responsive.
The climate controls are separate knobs and buttons below the screen, and although they're pinky-sized, when you change the temp or fan speed, the action is displayed on the touch-screen for better visibility. Bonus: Using the touch-screen to control climate functions is also a snap.
Perhaps most surprising is that the voice recognition functionality was spot-on during my test — especially rewarding because its inaccuracy the last time I tested it was endlessly frustrating. With the push of a steering-wheel-mounted button, I was able to find a Starbucks and set it as my destination using voice commands. Yes, it took several voice-prompted steps to get me to that Starbucks, but there were no missteps along the way.
Similarly, once my Android phone was paired via Bluetooth, I was able to quickly launch the Pandora app and stream music within a few seconds. I did, however, encounter an odd limitation with Sync 3's Pandora interface: It's limited to displaying only eight stations on the screen. I have over 50 stations in my account, and the only way to access the full list is to use the voice command system and run through the station menu. It worked, but it's not as easy as punching a button on a screen.
Cargo & Storage
Small-items storage is lacking. The tiny center console is very deep but also unusably narrow. It contains two USB ports and one 12-volt outlet, but only room to hold one small device. A pair of console-area cupholders and a pair of bottleholders in the door are the only other storage spaces for the front seats.
Small-items storage is lacking. The tiny center console is very deep but also unusably narrow. It contains two USB ports and one 12-volt outlet, but only room to hold one small device. A pair of console-area cupholders and a pair of bottleholders in the door are the only other storage spaces for the front seats.
The cargo area is wide and has a low liftover height for easy package maneuverability, but many competitors offer much more room. With 34.3 cubic feet of space behind the rear seat, it trails the CR-V (37.2) and RAV4 (38.4), but ekes out a bit more room than the CX-5 (34.1).
The seats fold flat in a 60/40 split via a backseat-mounted lever, but here the CX-5 trumps the Escape. The Mazda's seats fold in a 40-20-40 split, making them more versatile for hauling different combinations of people and cargo.
Read more at http://www.cars.com/ford/escape/2016/expert-reviews#wq3JXlAxTcR7t0IJ.99
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