Escort is one of the most popular radar detector brands and has a loyal following of users stretching from coast to coast. The Escort Max 360c MKII was introduced in 2022 to improve the award-winning performance of the previous flagship model, the Max 360c. We will show you the important upgrades that Escort has made to the MKII design and why it is a better purchase decision than the older Max 360c model (>>> Find on Amazon).
Escort Max 360c MKII vs Max 360c Side by Side:
- Design and Display
- Detection Range and Notification Speed
- False Alert Filtering and Autolearn Technology
- Database and App
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Escort MAX 360c MKII | Escort Max 360c | |
| Range | 50% improved range | Extreme Long Range |
| Built-in GPS | Yes | Yes |
| Display | OLED | OLED |
| False Alert Filtering | Yes | Yes |
| Red Light & Speed Camera Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth connectivity | Yes | Yes |
| Price | Find on Amazon Find on EscortRadar | Find on Amazon Find on EscortRadar |
Design and Display
It is difficult to tell the Max 360c and Max 360c MKII apart at a glance. The top surface and face of the detectors have a slightly different shade of gray but otherwise have identical displays, buttons, and attachment points. Both models have a brightly-lit multi-function display that shows the detected radar band and the intensity of the signal. They can also display GPS data such as current and posted speeds and the location of red light cameras. Blue indicator arrows show the direction of the detected radar signal for added safety.
We have always liked the display on the Max 360c and were quite happy to see that Escort didn’t make a mistake and fiddle with what already is one of the best displays on the market. The display offers custom colors to make identifying the radar band fast. We had no trouble reading the display in bright sunlight, and the brightness can be turned down when driving at night as it can be distracting at full brightness.
One of the coolest features these two devices offer is the ability to connect to an iDataLink Maestro MRR2 adapter routed to an aftermarket-compatible head unit. The adapter lets the display on your head unit show the radar information in big, bold colors for safer driving. Only a handful of car stereos are compatible.
Winner: Tie
Detection Range and Notification Speed
One key upgrade that Escort made with the MKII was including the latest detector antenna that is also used in the MaxCam 360. The antenna offers a superior advantage over the Max 360c and significantly increases the distance the detector can capture radar. While the range of the 360c is better than most detectors on the market, the increase offered by the Max 360c MKII is one of the biggest reasons you should choose it over the older model.
Not only does the 360c MKII provides a big boost in detection range, its new Blackfin Digital Signal Processor translates the signal into an alert much faster than the 360c, giving you precious moments to slow down. The DSP is one of the fastest on the market and is also shared with the company’s dual-purpose MaxCam 360 detector/ dash cam hybrid.
Winner: Escort Max 360c MKII
False Alert Filtering and Autolearn Technology
Few things are more irritating about radar detectors than devices that constantly give false alerts. Signals from automatic doors and nearby vehicles with advanced driver safety systems often cause detectors to alert even when there is no threat. Escort detectors generally are very good at false alert filtering, but the new Max 360c MKII is the best we have seen. It includes an easily-updatable database of vehicle-specific signals that will not cause an alert and is one of the quietest radar detectors we have ever tested. It is so quiet that you almost forget it is there until you need it, which is exactly how a radar detector should work.
When the Max 360c was introduced, we were excited to try out the auto-learn function that will automatically learn not to alert on common false signals you pass during the normal route you drive. While it was cool tech, it also didn’t work all that well. The MKII model significantly improves the detector’s ability to lock out false signals automatically and greatly contributes to this device’s quiet operation. We had very few instances in which auto-learn should have worked but didn’t, and the ability to tag a false alert worked well when auto-learn was not accurate. The same cannot be said for the Max 360c, which would unlearn user input sometimes and alert for no reason.
Winner: Escort Max 360c MKII
Database and App
The Max 360 c and 360c MKII includes access to the Escort database that allows user defined points to be shared among the community of users. The database is particularly handy for drivers in areas they don’t know to help spot threats that might not be obvious. The biggest advantage we saw was the ability to know that a red light camera or speed camera was coming up miles ahead of time.
The Escort Drive Smarter app is one of the better driver-assist apps out there, but it is still somewhat clunky and hard to use. We tested it and didn’t find a lot of benefits, but that might have been largely a result of the areas we were driving, which were more rural. City dwellers will appreciate the added features and functions of the app no matter which model they use.
Winner: Tie
Escort Max 360c MKII
Pros
- Offers the longest range and fastest response of any Escort detector
- Quiet operation due to robust false alert filtering
Cons
- Drive Smart app is not the best
The newest radar and laser detector from Escort picks up where the previous model left off. It offers all-new technology and components while retaining the same look and feel of the familiar 360c. The 360c MKII is a top pick and is highly recommended by nearly every user we talked with.
The detector features the longest range of any detector from Escort since the MaxCam 360. A new Blackfin DSP gets alerts out faster than the old model and reliably than nearly any other detector we have tested. This new model is vastly superior to the old range detection and speed model.
The ability to connect to an aftermarket car stereo through an iDataLink Maestro MRR2 adapter means this device can integrate with all the other tech you rely on, making it one of our all-time favorites. Only select Escort detectors work with the adapter.
In addition to the advanced range, the Max 360c MKII boasts a robust false alert filtering system that practically eliminates false alerts. Updates to the auto-learn function make it even more reliable than the Max 360c this model replaces.
Escort Max 360c
Pros
- Better range and detection speed than most devices
- Excellent display and notification arrows
Cons
- Outdated detection range and speed compared with current Escort models
- Buggy auto-learn feature
Several years ago, the Max 360c was a flagship, top-of-the-line device, but newer and better detectors, including the MKII have surpassed it. Even still, the Max 360c is a reliable and robust detector that will suit the needs of many drivers.
The range of the 360c is better than most detectors, though significantly less than the range of the MKII. The Max 360c has a decent DSP that outpaces lower-priced models but isn’t as fast as the newer Escort detectors.
False alert filtering is good, but the auto-learn function is unreliable. Access to the Escort driver community offers loads of benefits for drivers that can get the app to work. Check our more in-depth Escort Max 360c review.
Conclusion
Choosing between the Escort Max 360c MKII vs Max 360c is a no-brainer. The newly updated MKII is superior in every way to the previous generation and brings the kind of tech you can count on to be aware of threats in time to respond. The upgraded range and the use of a brand-new DSP give the Escort 360c MKII a clear advantage over the 360c and nearly all other radar detectors on the market. For drivers who demand the most reliable equipment, the Escort 360c MKII is a perfect choice (>>> Check on Escortradar.com).
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