ESCAPE TO THE CITY
The name evokes adventure, but Ford’s new SUV works best in the suburbs
Is there a better name for a high-riding family wagon than the Ford Escape? Blue oval executives thought “Kuga” might be more attractive to buyers for a few years, but the Escape name is here to stay as Ford fights with the likes of Toyota’s RAV4 and the Mazda CX-5.
Bigger than the previous model, the new Escape introduces a digital dashboard, comprehensive driver aids and new plug-in hybrid option.
Priced from a sharp $36,490 drive-away in entry-level trim, the Escape has plenty of thrust and impressive tech. The cheapest model has a turbocharged engine and eight-speed automatic transmission, smart keys, an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple Carplay and Android Auto, satnav and wireless smartphone charging. You also get a full suite of driver aids including auto emergency braking, lane keeping assistance, active cruise control with stop-andgo traffic jam assistance, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. You won’t find much more in a sub-$40,000 SUV.
Better still, the Escape’s standard engine is a cracker. The turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol motor is tuned to produce 183kw of power and 387Nm of torque — impressive wallop for a car this size, let alone an entry-level model. Consider that Mazda or Toyota customers make do with 115kw/200nm or 127kw/203nm in equivalent models.
Effortless compared to most cars in the class, the Escape feels genuinely punchy around town or on the highway. The engine is quieter than most — chiefly because it doesn’t have to work hard — and Ford’s eight-speed auto feels smoother than in the cheaper Focus. Frontdrive variants struggle to contain the power in slippery conditions, leading to wheel spin and a squirming steering wheel before the car’s traction and stability control kicks in.
The other trade-off is thirst: Ford’s contender uses an official 8.6L/100km, a number likely to rise in the real world.
Customers with cash to spare can upgrade to the St-line with a digital dash, firmer suspension, dark design elements inside and out for $38,990 drive-away in two-wheel-drive or $41,990 drive-away with all-wheel-drive.
Official drive-away deals aren’t available for the new range-topping Escape Vingale. It costs about $51,000 or $54,000 on the road in twowheel-drive or all-wheel-drive form, adding leather trim, a powered tailgate, 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo and other niceties.
But the standard car is all you really need. Ford didn’t skimp on handy features such as USB points (there are three), a sliding rear bench (offering impressive leg room) and cabin presentation in the cheapest model.
Roomy enough in the front and rear, the Escape’s interior is let down by high-set seats that felt too short under-thigh.
We split our time in the Escape between the base model and St-line, finding the latter’s sports suspension fidgety in urban and country environments — the standard model will be a better bet for most customers. Both versions steer and stop sweetly, with measured responses to driver input and fine composure in the bends.
VERDICT
Well-equipped and surprisingly powerful, the Escape has plenty going for it. Take an extended test drive to make sure the seats work for you, and be ready to pay for its fuel habit.