Ford Escape

With two comparatively new medium SUVS entering the market in recent months, we thought some of you would like to know the skinny on each as they stand shoulder line to shoulder line.

Of the two combatants, one is more likely to align better with the fleet buyer requirements according to the manufacturer, while the other sidles more towards the user chooser.

We’ll let you work out which is which, but it’s kind of important as one of these mid-liners makes a good case for itself as a leased vehicle, the other – apparently – not so much.

You won’t be proving us wrong if you disagree, and lease companies, your opinion is valid here too. We’d love to hear any feedback on the points of, who’d be interested in what and would they lease or buy? We have our opinion, but we’d appreciate yours.

In the meantime, let’s see who squares off in the ring:

Over in the blue corner – naturally – we have the 2021 Ford Escape while over in the hot orange highlight corner, we have the Subaru Forester X Sport (is that X Sport Gold?).

As the Escape got away from the gate first launching in the final quarter of 2020, its fair to start with Father Ford’s finest, so here’s our take on the new(ish) Escape.

FORD Escape St-line X

This is such a far cry from the previous generations of Escapes, it beggars belief.

Ford has moved away from the

American boxy-styled mid-sized SUV to a contemporary organic design, giving the impression this SUV has been grown rather than built.

The new Escape has grown progressively longer over its four generation, it’s also become a little wider, but it has dropped significantly in height.

Escape’s wheelbase has also grown considerably, all of which contributes to a much roomier interior, allowing for greater passenger comfort and greater cargo carrying capability.

Engines across the range have now been rationalised to the two-litre GDTI turbo petrol with Ecoboost tech to maximise efficiency and reduce emission levels.

The engine is strong and smooth and while most would opt for the surety and security of All-wheel-drive, the engine works much more enthusiastically – in terms of its response – with the Front-wheel-drive only model.

OK, so how does it stack up in terms of the drive overall? Well, having that lowered height has done wonders for the Escape’s handling. Its a very sure-footed ride, which is reminiscent of the Ford Focus.

This shouldn’t really come as a surprise as they share the same platform and therefore – despite the larger body size of the Escape – the handling will be comparable and your rear seat passengers are going to have a very pleasant ride, thanks to the extended space back there which has come about through the larger dimensions Ford has found.

But its up the front where comfort really counts, and Ford has contrived a beautiful split-suede/leather seat covering for the heated front seats. They look good, feel great and you can drive on them all day long.

In fact, Ford, my couch is getting tired, think you could spare a few Escape seats for the living room? Ta.

Infotainment wise, the Escape St-line

X is pretty loaded. It gets SYNC3 for the tunes; you have satellite navigation for directions, voice interaction with the vehicle or the eight-inch colour touchscreen if you’d rather.

Naturally, there’s Apple Carplay and Android Auto to go with the Bluetooth bits and Ford’s new shiny toy, Fordpass connectivity which allows you to use your phone to talk to the Escape’s on-board modem as well as being able to turn the SUV on for pre-conditioning the cabin and being able to tell the Escape to go lock itself if you forgot.

And if Fordconnect makes your phone go flat, you have inductive charging backing up Escape’s twin front USB charge ports, the USB charger in the rear cabin and the two 12-volt round sockets because no one ever seems to have enough charging ports.

Safety is a big thing with Ford, and unfortunately, there’s never enough room to mention everything, but given the five-star ANCAP safety rating and that the St-line

X is the top-of-the-line model, yep, it’s got everything – 34 listings in the safety suite in fact, including adaptive cruise control with