Every year, titans of the automotive industry work to beat their competition with new advancements in technology and driver comfort. This is clearer than ever in 2019, where growing advancements in computing and design have made the newest models more impressive than any that came before.
Ford is no exception and their line of 2019 SUVs goes a long way towards illustrating the year’s advancements.
2019 Ford EcoSport
Trims
- S: $19,590
- SE: $23,150
- Titanium: $26,160
- SES: $27,275
The standard engine in the EcoSport puts out 123-horsepower, which is relatively low for the class. If you’re inclined towards performance, you’ll definitely see the appeal in the upgraded 166-horsepower powertrain, which comes standard in the SES trim and an available upgrade in the others.
The trade-off for the low standard engine power is that the EcoSport gets fairly good mileage. 27 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway make this a great choice for those who drive often and are interested in saving money over the commute.
The EcoSport comes standard with six speakers, two USB charging ports, and a 4.2-inch display with easy-to-use dials and buttons. Of course, if you’re truly interested in luxury, higher trims offer improved infotainment systems with such amenities as an eight-inch touchscreen and a mobile Wi-Fi hot spot.
There aren’t as many safety features carried on the EcoSport as some of the competitors. Despite that, you’ll benefit from a rear camera and MyKey driver control features. Available additional features include parking sensors and traffic alerts.
2019 Ford Edge
Trims
- SE: $29,995
- SEL: $33,300
- Titanium: $38,760
- ST: $42,355
A 2.0-liter four-cylinder that produces 250-horsepower comes standard in every Edge model except the premium ST trim. The ST — which is balanced more towards performance than the rest of the line — carries a more powerful 335-horsepower V6 engine that makes the Edge a competent traveler on any terrain. Both engines come equipped with a new eight-speed automatic transmission.
With 22 mpg in the city and 29 on the highway, the base engine gets above average numbers for the class. On the other hand, the beefier V6 lowers these numbers to 19 mpg in the city and 26 on the highway.
The standard set of infotainment features in the Edge cockpit are relatively limited compared to the wider available suite. The eight-inch touchscreen offered in the upgraded cabin comes with Amazon Alexa and Android Auto functionality, plus a wide variety of other amenities and convenience upgrades.
The standard Co-Pilot360 safety suite includes blind spot monitoring, automated headlights and other assets that make the Edge’s standard trim one of the safest such trims on the road. Additional available features include parallel parking assistance and evasive steering assistance that can prevent common accidents such as striking animals.
2019 Ford Escape
Trims
- S: $24,105
- SE: $26,500
- SEL: $28,445
- Titanium: $32,620
A trio of powertrain choices makes the 2019 Escape more versatile than much of the competition. A standard 168-horsepower engine sees upgrades in the form of a 245-horsepower performance engine and a 179-horsepower turbo-four that emphasizes economy over speed.
At 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway, the base trim of the Ford Escape is actually the least efficient trim. The two upgraded powertrains, however, only see a few extra miles of improvement in either category.
There aren’t many standard infotainment features in the 2019 Escape. The 4.2-inch display and a single USB port provide few advantages over more fully loaded standard cabins. That said, available upgrades like dual-zone temperature controls and in-built navigational systems make the Escape’s cabin a luxurious ride.
MyKey and a rearview camera come standard. Adaptive cruise control and the automatic emergency braking are just a couple of the additional choices you might be interested in.
2019 Ford Explorer
Trims
- Base: $32,365
- XLT: $34,400
- Limited: $42,765
- Sport: $46,625
- Platinum: $54,165
The Explorer comes standard with a 290-horsepower engine and a duo of additionally available powertrains. The turbocharged EcoBoost engine puts out 280-horsepower for superior economy, while the powerful EcoBoost V6 puts this SUV on the level of a performance vehicle with 365-horsepower and nearly instant key-to-engine response.
Fuel economy is around average for the class. 19 mpg in the city and 27 on the highway for the mid-tier EcoBoost leads the Explorer’s numbers, while the EcoBoost V6 gets 16 mpg and 22 mpg, respectively.
The 4.2-inch display that comes standard in the Explorer cabin doesn’t quite meet the exacting standards of the line, but as usual, you’ll see substantial upgrades if you ascend to a higher trim. The real standouts here are the big dials and easy-to-use buttons available with the eight-inch display.
Once again, MyKey and rearview cameras come standard. Additional safety features include parking sensors and lane departure warnings to make sure that your paint job remains flawless.
2019 Ford Expedition
Trims
- XLT: $52,130
- XLT MAX: $54,815
- Limited: $63,015
- Limited MAX: $65,705
- Platinum: $73,365
- Platinum MAX: $76,060
The single available engine in the 2019 Expedition is a formidable machine. Although competitors have made V8 engines a standard quality of large SUVs, Ford has chosen to limit their choices to a single V6 boasting 375-horsepower. It manages to feel like a V8, especially since it’s paired with the standard 10-speed automatic transmission.
17 mpg in the city and 24 on the highway give the Ford Expedition good ratings for the class.
The standard 4.2-inch display is paired with satellite radio and Bluetooth connectivity. A larger eight-inch touchscreen and wireless charging capabilities supplement the wide range of available features you’ll benefit from when you upgrade to trims like the Platinum.
The same standard safety features as the rest of the lineup are present here. Adaptive cruise control with brake-and-go functionality is just one of the stellar available features carried in higher trims.
2019 Ford Flex
Trims
- SE: $30,575
- SEL: $33,290
- Limited: $38,790
The Flex’s standard 287-horsepower V6 is capable of maneuvering the road with ease and poise. If you’ve got a big family, you’ll benefit from the available 365-horsepower V8.
Unlike the rest of Ford’s SUV lineup, the Flex’s gas mileage numbers are downright poor. The base engine yields 16 mpg in the city and 23 on the highway, with the V8 knocking it down even further.
The standard cabin doesn’t feature any displays, but it does have voice command capabilities and Bluetooth connectivity. Upgrading your Ford Flex will add features like a glass roof and 12-speaker audio systems.
Standard safety features include rear parking sensors and MyKey functionality. You’ll also have the option to add a variety of features like forward collision sensors and blind spot sensors.