they are not classed as an suv anymore, they are a crossover. you can’t get then withg a v6. they are competing with rav-4, honda cr-v vehicles, not suv’s.
It is true that it's classified as a "crossover" now rather than an SUV, but it weighs about the same as the previous version, has the same (class II with the 2.0 Ecoboost engine) towing capacity, and has similar interior room and ground clearance. It isn't shaped as "SUV-ish" as the previous version, but it's really not that much different in practical terms. Other than the fact that the 2.0 turbo has about a 35 HP advantage and more torque than the old 3.0 V6.
I think that the previous Escape competed pretty directly with the Rav-4 & CR-V which have always been in a similar size class.
It's the Explorer that lost it's body-on-frame construction and higher towing capacity 2 or 3 years ago in an effort to improve fuel economy. I think that the Expedition is the only truck-based SUV-type vehicle in the Ford lineup now.