Well you kinda comparing apples & oranges here. The original Escort was a basically a radio tuned to listen for X-band radar. When the radar signal broke the squelch it sounded the alarm.

The V-1 uses a Texas Instruments digital signal processor (DSP) which means that aside from being able to determine whether or not the radar is there/not there, it can determine how many there are, where they are, what frequency they're on, and which one is the greatest threat to you. All others just go "beep". The "upgrades" to the V-1 are just software updates to the DSP's program. Police radar operates on three distinct bands (X, K, and Ka) so there's no need to upgrade the hardware if the radio section of the box can already receive them. What's really important is what the box does with them once they are received!

BTW, The reason that the original Escort is such a good detector is because it was designed by Mike Valentine when he worked for Cincinnati Microwave back in 1976. I'm not sure I'd use one on the road today (it only receives X-band) but its a nice collector's piece.