2017 Ford Escape Dimensions, Cargo Space & Trunk Size
The old dimensions page talked about parking and packing without actually giving many dimensions. This rewrite starts with the numbers. Ford's same-generation 2017 Escape/Kuga body specifications list a length of 4,524 mm, a wheelbase of 2,690 mm, and a body width of 1,838 mm excluding the mirrors.
2017 Escape exterior dimensions
| Measurement | Ford metric figure | Approx. imperial conversion |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum length | 4,524 mm | 178.1 in |
| Width including exterior mirrors | 2,086 mm | 82.1 in |
| Width excluding exterior mirrors | 1,838 mm | 72.4 in |
| Overall height | 1,680-1,702 mm | 66.1-67.0 in |
| Wheelbase | 2,690 mm | 105.9 in |
Ford published these body dimensions in its 2017 Escape/Kuga owner information for this generation. Equipment, tires, roof hardware and measurement method can affect the real height of an individual vehicle, so measure your own Escape before relying on a tight garage or clearance.
What the width number means in a garage
The difference between body width and mirror-to-mirror width matters. A garage opening that looks generous compared with the 72.4-in body can feel much tighter once the mirrors are included. If you are checking a narrow door or carport, use the mirror-to-mirror figure and leave additional clearance rather than planning around the body width alone.
Cargo space: use volume for comparison, measurements for fit
The Escape's rear seats use a 60/40 split-folding layout, which works well when you need to carry one rear passenger and a longer item at the same time. Published cargo-volume figures help when comparing vehicles, but they do not tell you whether a particular dresser, dog crate, cooler or box will pass through the hatch.
For a real object, I would measure these four things on the actual vehicle:
- the narrowest width of the hatch opening;
- the height of the hatch opening;
- the floor length with the rear seats up;
- the usable floor length with the relevant rear seatbacks folded.
That is more reliable than treating a cubic-foot rating as if the cargo area were a perfect rectangular box.
Why trim and equipment can change usable space
The basic body is shared across S, SE and Titanium, but the way you use the space can still vary with equipment. A cargo cover, subwoofer, floor liner, rear-seat position, roof accessories and the items you keep under the cargo floor all affect usable capacity.
If you are comparing trims, see S vs SE vs Titanium. If you are shopping for a used vehicle, the used Escape buyer's checklist includes a cargo-area inspection for moisture, damage and missing pieces.
Parking and maneuvering
A 105.9-in wheelbase and roughly 178-in overall length put the 2017 Escape firmly in compact-SUV territory. Those numbers make it easier to compare the Escape with a garage, ferry space, parking stall or another vehicle you already own.
If the vehicle has a backup camera or parking-related equipment, remember that those systems help with visibility but do not change the physical dimensions. For camera problems, see backup camera troubleshooting.
Roof cargo does not change the footprint, but it changes the trip
Crossbars, bike racks and roof boxes add height and aerodynamic drag. Before entering a low parkade, ferry deck or garage after adding roof cargo, measure the vehicle again. For towing and load calculations, roof cargo also counts as vehicle cargo and can affect available payload.
My packing rule with Alice
With Alice, I find it better to plan around access than maximum volume. Heavy items stay low, soft bags go around odd shapes, and things I may need during the trip stay near the hatch rather than buried under everything else. For an unusually large item, I measure it first and compare those measurements with the actual hatch opening before loading day.