GM’s cross-town rival, the Ford Motor Company, debuted its fourth-generation 2020 Ford Escape earlier in 2019. The new compact crossover features a new design, fresh gasoline and hybrid engine options, less weight, and new dimensions as well. Slated to take on rivals like GM’s 2020 Chevrolet Equinox and 2020 GMC Terrain, we’re putting all the important sizing figures side-by-side in the following GM Authority Dimensional Brief.
2020 Ford Escape
2020 Chevrolet Equinox
2020 GMC Terrain
Exterior Dimensions
Outside, the new 2020 Ford Escape is wider, longer, and lower than the preceding third-generation model. However, compared to the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain, the latest Escape is shorter, wider, and taller. Let’s break down the specs by each GM model.
The Chevrolet Equinox offers an extra 0.6 inches of wheelbase and an extra 2.6 inches of overall length. The ‘Nox is also 1.5 inches narrower in terms of overall width, and 0.7 inches lower in terms of overall height. The front track is 0.2 inches narrower, while the rear track is 0.4 inches wider.
Meanwhile, the GMC Terrain offers 0.6 inches more wheelbase and an extra 1.8 inches in overall length, while the overall width is 1.7 inches narrower and the overall height is 0.7 inches shorter compared to the 2020 Ford Escape. The front track is 0.1 inches narrower, and the rear track is 0.7 inches wider.
| Dimension | Ford Escape | Chevrolet Equinox | GMC Terrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase (in.) | 106.7 | 107.3 | 107.3 |
| Overall Length (in.) | 180.5 | 183.1 | 182.3 |
| Overall Width (in.) | 74.1 | 72.6 | 72.4 |
| Overall Height (in.) | 66.1 | 65.4 | 65.4 |
| Front Track (in.) | 62.4 | 62.2 | 62.3 |
| Rear Track (in.) | 61.8 | 62.2 | 62.5 |
| Dimension | Ford Escape | Chevrolet Equinox | GMC Terrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2710 | 2725 | 2725 |
| Overall Length (mm) | 4585 | 4652 | 4630 |
| Overall Width (mm) | 1882 | 1843 | 1839 |
| Overall Height (mm) | 1679 | 1661 | 1661 |
| Front Track (mm) | 1585 | 1580 | 1582 |
| Rear Track (mm) | 1570 | 1581 | 1587 |
2020 Ford Escape
Chevrolet Equinox
GMC Terrain
Interior Dimensions
Moving inside the cabin, the 2020 Ford Escape offers a healthy good amount of room to accommodate passengers, both up front, and on the rear bench.
Comparatively speaking, the Chevrolet Equinox offers less space nearly across the board. Up front, there’s 1.5 inches less legroom, 0.4 inches less shoulder room, and an inch less hip room. Front headroom matches the Escape at 40 inches. In back, the Equinox offers 0.8 inches less headroom, 0.8 inches less legroom, half an inch less shoulder room, and 1.6 inches less hip room.
It’s the same story with the GMC Terrain. While front headroom matches the other two vehicles at 40 inches, the Terrain is also down 1.5 inches in terms of front legroom, 0.4 inches for front shoulder room, and 0.8 inches for front hip room. The second row is down 0.8 inches in terms of headroom, an inch on legroom, 0.4 inches for shoulder room, and 1.5 inches for hip room.
As we previously reported, the new Escape is equipped with a sliding rear seat, while the current-generation Equinox and Terrain are not. That marks a significant about-turn, since the last-gen models of the GM crossovers had the sliding seat.
| Dimension | Ford Escape | Chevrolet Equinox | GMC Terrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Row Headroom (in.) | 40 | 40 | 40 |
| First Row Legroom (in.) | 42.4 | 40.9 | 40.9 |
| First Row Shoulder Room (in.) | 57.6 | 57.2 | 57.2 |
| First Row Hip Room (in.) | 55.2 | 54.2 | 54.4 |
| Second Row Headroom (in.) | 39.3 | 38.5 | 38.5 |
| Second Row Legroom (in.) | 40.7 | 39.9 | 39.7 |
| Second Row Shoulder Room (in.) | 56 | 55.5 | 55.6 |
| Second Row Hip Room (in.) | 53.3 | 51.7 | 51.8 |
| Dimension | Ford Escape | Chevrolet Equinox | GMC Terrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Row Headroom (mm) | 1016 | 1016 | 1016 |
| First Row Legroom (mm) | 1077 | 1040 | 1040 |
| First Row Shoulder Room (mm) | 1463 | 1453 | 1453 |
| First Row Hip Room (mm) | 1402 | 1377 | 1382 |
| Second Row Headroom (mm) | 998 | 977 | 970 |
| Second Row Legroom (mm) | 1034 | 1013 | 1008 |
| Second Row Shoulder Room (mm) | 1422 | 1410 | 1412 |
| Second Row Hip Room (mm) | 1354 | 1313 | 1316 |
2020 Ford Escape
Chevrolet Equinox
GMC Terrain
Cargo Dimensions
Looking over the cargo specs, we find the Ford Escape once again besting the two General Motors products, offering up more space behind the first row, and more space behind the second row.
Compared to the new Escape, the Equinox is down 1.5 cubic feet behind the first row and 7.6 cubic feet behind the second row. Meanwhile, the Terrain is down 2.1 cubic feet behind the first row and nearly 8 cubic feet behind the second row.
| Dimension | Ford Escape | Chevrolet Equinox | GMC Terrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo Volume Behind First Row (cu. ft.) | 65.4 | 63.9 | 63.3 |
| Cargo Volume Behind Second Row (cu. ft.) | 37.5 | 29.9 | 29.6 |
| Dimension | Ford Escape | Chevrolet Equinox | GMC Terrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo Volume Behind First Row (L) | 1852 | 1809 | 1792 |
| Cargo Volume Behind Second Row (L) | 1062 | 846 | 838 |
By the look of it, the 2020 Ford Escape does a better job at maximizing its interior space compared to the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain, given its smaller exterior dimensions compared to the two GM products.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and don’t forget to subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevrolet Equinox news, GMC Terrain news, Chevrolet news, GMC news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
The internal dimensions are the most important numbers for many, since we all drive or ride inside, and most drivers don’t care about external dimensions, unless they have parking difficulty and really need a smaller sized vehicle. As for the former details the new Escape really shines. I have a 2009 Chevy Equinox, which is bigger than all the vehicles posted here, but I need something less tall and with enough internal space as the 2009 model. Only the 2020 Escape meets all these needs. I will wait for the plug-in version to appear on the market. The next value I wish to see posted here are seat heights and floor heights because many, including myself, are seniors and climbing into a taller vehicle is a new problem.
Your really going to buy a completely different vehicle over a few inches?
I am also waiting for the plug-in version and it’s safety features. The Kia Nero is coming out with a revised plug-in. I am hoping the Ford has a transmission / engine similar to the Volt. We have a hybrid Kia and it is great except for the transmission and engine noise. I will stay with the Volt until something better in a plug-in hybrid comes along.
Seems like many of the small to medium size GM cars and SUV’s are a little too narrow and small on the inside. My knees are always hitting the front door or inside console. GM should focus on comfort and give us more room and width inside instead of cutting costs by making their vehicles so narrow. Sounds like Ford put a little more interior space on their new Escape which is good.
A little off topic, but does anyone else think the new Edge looks a lot like a Terrain Denali?
On the same token though, the rear end of the new Suburban looks like it came almost exactly from an Expedition.
Where have you seen the new Edge at? I can’t find it anywhere online..
I owned generation 1, 2, and 3 of the Ford Escape. Each generation got worse and worse in reliability. The dealership staff got to know me personally as I was in there so often to repair those Escapes. After Gen 3, I jumped over to GMC with an Acadia and have not looked back. I would stay away from any new Ford for at lease 3 or 4 years after the first introductory year as they will always have issues with them.