The compact crossover segment is undoubtedly one of the most-popular new-vehicle segments out there, with a plethora of options available to customers. However, according to GM’s crosstown rival, Ford Motor Company, the refreshed 2023 Ford Escape and the Ford Bronco Sport stand out in what the automaker refers to as a “sea of sameness.”
2023 Ford Escape
Per a report from our sister publication, Ford Authority, executives at the Blue Oval recently commented on the state of the compact crossover segment during a presentation of the 2023 Ford Escape, providing insight into why it made sense for Ford to offer two compact crossover vehicles, namely the Ford Escape and the Ford Bronco Sport.
“Customers have said ‘it feels like a sea of sameness’ in the small utility segment,” said Ford Escape Brand Manager, Adrienne Zaski, during the presentation. “They all look the same and all do the same things. Well now, with Bronco Sport and the new Escape, we feel like we can provide a new point of view for those customers. For Escape, those customers want a getaway vehicle. And I mean that as a night on the town with their friends or you’re pulling into your driveway after a long day at work, turn off the vehicle, and you just take a deep breath because you have to escape for just a minute.”
Ford Bronco Sport
“As for the Bronco customers, they want their vehicle to take them on an adventure and go off road,” Zaski added. “We have two options in our portfolios to speak to those customers so they feel like they’re breaking out of that sea of sameness.”
Of course, that “sea of sameness” would include competing products from the GM camp, namely the Chevy Equinox and GMC Terrain. To note, GM does not offer a more-rugged, off-road-focused crossover to directly rival the Bronco Sport.
There’s also an issue with powertrains – the Ford Escape, for example, offers four powertrain options, including a turbocharged 1.5L, turbocharged 2.0L, hybrid electric, and a plug-in hybrid electric powertrain.
GMC Terrain
Meanwhile, the 2023 Chevy Equinox and GMC Terrain offer the same turbocharged 1.5L I4 LSD gasoline engine, rated at 175 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 203 pound-feet of torque at 2,000 rpm. Both GM models also ride on the GM D2 platform. That said, it bears mentioning that the Ford Escape and Ford Bronco Sport also ride on the same architecture, namely the Ford C2 platform.
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Comments
How funny that, of all companies, FORD would say such a thing! Coming from the company with zero sedans and only one pony car that is more of a niche market vehicle, this seems to be quite a stupid statement. If Ford thinks that their SUV/CUV and truck only lineup doesn’t blend into the “sea-of-sameness”, then they need to see an eye doctor.
Maverick and Bronco puts them ahead of GM.
Carl: How?
This article is about Ford making a stupid comment about how the SUV/CUV segment is a sea of sameness. Yet Ford has exactly ZERO sedans, with nothing but boring/bland/ SUV/CUV’s and trucks. You don’t see the contradiction in their statement?
I’d agree with them on the Bronco Sport.
The Escape is one of the blandest, most boring offerings in the segment.
The entire segment is bland and boring. They are all just clones of each other and have very ugly lines.
Isn’t the Bronco Sport replacing the escape soon?
Basically, it’s the same vehicle. Same platform, powertrain and similar suspension.
They are right. This is the worst segment in the industry at the moment IMHO. Boring blobs usually driven by old women doing 10-15 mph under the speed limit and oblivious to what’s happening outside their CR-V or clone of it.
John: Not sure where you live, but out here in Los Angeles area, people drive their boxes on wheels like they just car-jacked someone! I see morons in Rav4’s and CRV’s and Kia/Hyundai suv’s racing each other down the freeway or from light to light. All just to get to the next traffic jam or light where they are all sitting in front of me blocking any view forward. And then it all starts again.
But I get it. They need all that room to haul a couple bats or soccer balls or 3 bags of groceries. You know, because that stuff won’t fit in the trunk or hatch of a car.
Your point is well taken, it does give you more room to haul in the exact same footprint as a sedan. In addition SUV”s & CUV’s give you greater ground clearance which is becoming more important in the face of changing climate. My question is why anyone would purchase a sedan vs a SUV.
GlenU: I think you missed my point entirely. The last part of my comment was pure sarcasm! The real question is why SUV/CUV’s have taken over the market when they can get a lower priced, better riding, better MPG and much better looking sedan or hatch. I’ve had many SUV’s in the past and I’m one who has gone back to the sedan and much prefer them. I have two kids and still never one time where I haven’t been able to get anything I need in my trunk. There’s only one true valid point to driving an SUV: You do sit up higher with more visibility. The negative to that? Anyone else not in a box is now forced to stare at the back of their box.
Do you think so????? Thanks Mary.
Well you missed my point also as I meant my opening remark to be sarcastic as well. I just didn’t think it needed explaining.
This week I have placed two chairs, a tall wide box containing cycling exercise equipment, & a long rolled carpet in my Chevrolet Equinox “trunk” to assist in a friend’s move (not all in one trip mind you but none of the haul go have been accomplished by a sedan). As for looks, that’s in the eye of the beholder. And as for hatch &/or station wagon- love them too!
Got it. But after reading it three more times, I certainly don’t get the sarcasm in the statement. But ok. So you haul a few things in helping a friend move when they easily could have rented a Uhaul van for $30 bucks plus gas. Now I see the true value in driving a box all year. (more sarcasm).
The sarcasm ( well I guess I do need to explain it) was that your final remark in your initial post gave the exact reasons why a SUV is a better purchase than a sedan (at least in my opinion). In other words you proved my point! Perhaps ironic would have been the better word but nevertheless I was being sarcastic.
The difference in our views seems to be – looks. Certainly no one wants to invest in what they deem an ugly vehicle. You got to get in it every day & thinking oh my god it’s so ugly. Sort of the way I think of all the Tesla vehicles.
But I buy a vehicle for what it can do for me – & in an apples to apples comparison (ie same footprint, gas mileage, accessories etc) the design of the SUV is superior to sedan. And then I repeat why would anyone buy a sedan vs a SUV?
I have a Malibu LT 2021. I love it. It was way cheaper than buying an SUV/CUV. I get better MPG, an no I will never believe you if you try to tell me that you average 31 MPG with your Equinox. Never going to happen. My last CUV was a 2018 Buick Encore Preferred with a 1.4 L turbo and 6 speed auto. Even though it was smaller and could carry less than my Malibu, my average MPG was 24 and the ride, although good, couldn’t compare to my Malibu. That Encore was one of the best vehicles I’ve ever owned. Yet so far, this Malibu is besting that.
So yes, looks is a very personal thing and I’ll take a sedan over an SUV any day. But it’s more than just looks. But I’m not suggesting GM stop making SUV’s. No way. What I would suggest is that they keep the Malibu alive and give Buick a sedan based on it as well. Keep sedans because there is still a large market out there for them. As for Ford, they were hard pressed to get my business before. Now that they have zero sedans, they will get exactly the same from me: Zero!
I think you were driving the Encore wrong. My wife’s 2014 averages 29.1 MPG in mixed driving, but skewed more towards city. Probably 65% city/35% highway. That’s recently fallen from 29.5 as the vehicle hits 100,000 miles.
So… drive better?
SingleMaltScotch: No matter what i drive, it’s always about extracting the best MPG that I can. I drove the Encore just like I drive my Malibu in exact same way and nearly exact same area. Also, I always keep the car’s trip computer MPG along with checking by hand some times. My 24 MPG was over the course of 18,000 miles and with one trip from California to IL and back. On that trip I got 34 MPG average. I haven’t driven my Malibu on a long trip like that yet, but from what I am seeing I feel like I would average closer to 37 MPG.
I really did like my Encore, but was just totally sick of looking like every other box on the road and I can’t stand the ugly black plastic around the wheels/bottom. It cheapens the entire car and I’m hopeful that goes away soon.
Most people with the Malibu sedan seemed to love it –
My 2018 Equinox averages about 27.5 mpg. Mostly city driving.
Well if we have to have crossovers I’ll take gm all day long. I think their lineup looks best across all brands. The blazer electric is sharp. I think the Cadillac lyriq is the most beautiful electric crossover out of all of them. Korean European all of them.
I had a 2019 equinox Premier with the 1.5l Turbo.
Here ic Canada the fuel economy is measures in liter per 100k , and my Nox routinely averaged in the 6’s with my bext 5.6l per 100k
The Nox was very comfortable , quiet and as we age the higher seating position versus a sedan was a bonus. Also the higher load floor in the back is way easier to load/ unload than the lower floor and small opening of trunks on most new cars today.
The current CUV’s like the Nox are just so practical as a family car.
Today I have a 2020 Nox AWD, 2.0l with the 9 speed , leather / sunroof etc Its a great car
I also had the opportunity to have a 2021 Terrain for a company car up until retirement . while some say they are the same , those comments are made as they did not live with either.
In The GMC favour , a nicer dash with better materials both on the dash and door panels.
Th seat materials are better
The heated seats also heat the back , while the Nox is only the cushion
The GMC has the 9 speed, versus the chevy 6 speed , it just helps the 1.5 off the line and in real word economy
Drive modes for the AWD in the Terrain
the Center consul and no Shifter is a big benefit in The Terrain,. The space under the consul is just so handy especially for a place for you wallet , glass case etc , and these items are at your fingertips.
My 2019 Nox is nearing 100,000 k and its now passed to another family member. The car has held up exceedingly well, no repairs other than routine maintenance as recommended by the manufacturer. I did change the oil and service very 8,000k plus at 160 etc.
My experience with the current nox is that its a perfectly reliable family car that is easy to live with .
The Terrain is often underrated , i prefer it and if i could have the AT$ with the 2.0l turbo , it would be in my driveway now.
They are not the sea of sameness today , no more so that sedan were 20 years ago.