2017 Ford Escape SE: Owner Guide
The 2017 Ford Escape SE is the middle trim in the 2017 lineup, sitting between the basic S and the more heavily equipped Titanium. It is also the trim I know best because our family Escape, Alice, is a 2017 SE with the 1.5L EcoBoost.
2017 Escape SE engine choices
| Engine | SE availability | Owner perspective |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5L EcoBoost | Standard SE engine | Good everyday balance of torque and fuel use. This is the engine in Alice. |
| 2.0L EcoBoost | Available upgrade | More power and the better choice if performance or higher tow capability matters. |
The 2.5L naturally aspirated engine belongs to the S in the North American 2017 lineup, so I would be cautious if an ad describes a 2017 SE as a 2.5L. Used-vehicle listings are often written quickly and mistakes happen.
What makes the SE different from the S?
The SE is where the 2017 Escape starts to feel less like a basic fleet-style crossover and more like the version many families would choose for daily use. Exact equipment varies with options and region, but the SE opens the door to the EcoBoost engines, AWD and more comfort/convenience equipment.
When shopping used, I would focus less on what an old brochure says was "available" and more on what the individual vehicle actually has. Two 2017 Escape SEs parked beside each other can have noticeably different equipment.
Our 2017 Escape SE: Alice
Alice is the reason this site exists. Owning an SE gives me a useful reference point for everyday questions such as how the controls are laid out, what maintenance items are easy to overlook, which specifications I keep needing to look up, and what owners actually care about after the novelty of buying a vehicle wears off.
One useful example is the driver power seat. Ours stopped moving forward and backward while the other seat movements still worked. Cleaning the switch contacts restored it, and it has stayed working for more than a year. I describe that experience, along with Ford's seat fuse references and other possible causes, in the Power Seat Not Working guide.
I also try not to overstate that experience. One SE cannot tell us how every 2017 Escape ages. That is why the more serious reliability and recall information on this site is checked against Ford and government sources.
2017 Ford Escape SE reliability
The SE itself is not automatically more or less reliable than another trim. The engine, drivetrain, maintenance history and options matter more.
1.5L EcoBoost SE
Ford published technical service information for some 2017-2019 Escapes with the 1.5L EcoBoost describing symptoms that can include low coolant, white exhaust smoke, rough running and specific diagnostic trouble codes. Ford says the condition may be caused by coolant entering a cylinder. I would therefore pay close attention to coolant and engine-repair history when shopping for a 1.5L SE.
2.0L EcoBoost SE
The 2.0L gives the SE a substantial performance upgrade. Ford also published service information for some 2017-2019 2.0L EcoBoost Escapes related to coolant in the cylinders, so the same documentation-first approach applies.
For a deeper look at both engines and other ownership issues, see my 2017 Ford Escape reliability guide and common problems guide.
FWD or AWD?
Both can make sense. FWD has fewer driveline components and can be perfectly suitable for normal paved-road use with the right tires. AWD can be useful in poor weather and on loose surfaces, but I would inspect tire matching and driveline condition carefully on an older example.
If I were comparing two otherwise similar SEs, I would not automatically pay more for AWD unless I actually needed it. Condition beats specification.
What I would test on a used SE
- Cold start and idle quality.
- Coolant level and documented cooling-system history on either EcoBoost engine.
- Transmission operation and any warning messages.
- Air conditioning, heat and all fan speeds.
- SYNC screen, Bluetooth/USB functions and backup camera if equipped.
- Power windows, locks, mirrors and seat functions.
- Heated seats and other cold-weather equipment if fitted.
- AWD warning messages and tire matching on AWD models.
- Recall completion using the VIN.
SE vs Titanium
The Titanium adds more premium equipment, but I would not assume it is automatically the better used buy. More features mean more things to enjoy when they work, but also more things to test on a vehicle that is now several years old.
If you value leather, premium audio, additional convenience equipment and higher-end options, look at my 2017 Ford Escape Titanium guide. If you mainly want a comfortable everyday Escape, a well-kept SE can be the sweet spot.
SE wheel, tire and maintenance information
Wheel and tire sizes vary with options, so use the tire placard on the actual vehicle as your first reference. For wheel hardware, Ford specifies M12 x 1.5 wheel studs/nuts and a lug-nut torque specification of 100 lb-ft (135 Nm) in the 2017 Escape owner information.
For maintenance, I would build the schedule around the actual engine and driving conditions rather than relying on a generic "2017 Escape" checklist. The 1.5L and 2.0L share many ownership basics but differ in capacities and some service parts.
Would I choose the SE again?
For the way we use Alice, yes. The SE has the features that matter to us without needing to chase the most heavily optioned version. If I were shopping for another one today, though, my first questions would be about service history, engine history, recalls and overall condition. The trim badge would come after that.