Ford hoping for great Escape

FORD’S NEXT STEP ON THE GLOBAL MODEL PATH HAS FINALLY ARRIVED, AND IT’S IN A MID- SIZE SUV PACKAGE

The Escape will be a familiar nameplate to many Kiwis because in a pre- Territory world ( if you can remember such a thing), this was Ford’s mid- size SUV. And so it shall rise again.

With the Ford Escape’s rebirth, two nameplates are consigned to the dustbin of history; the end of Ocker manufacturing means there’s no more Territory, and in adopting the Escape, we say byebye to Kuga. The Kuga name will continue to exist in Europe, where it holds sway over the mid- size SUV market. For the rest of the world though, it’s Escape all the way.

The grades will feel familiar, with entry- level Ambiente, mid- grade Trend and top- spec Titanium badges boasting a mix of 1.5- and 2.0- litre Ecoboost petrol and 2.0- litre TDCi turbo diesel engine technology, which runs through both front- wheel- drive and fourwheel- drive models. There is a mix of 18- and 19- inch alloys depending on your grade of choice, while six- speed automatics are to be found in every model. The Escape has been awarded a five- star NCAP safety rating and features a host of clever safety tech, from daytime running lights all the way to autonomous braking tech and radar cruise control.

For those who might need it, the front- driver Escape has a braked towing capacity of 2000kg; the AWD1500kg. The two petrol engines return combined fuel economy of between 7.0- and 8.6- litres/ 100km while, naturally, the oiler boasts a better return of 5.4- litres/ 100km.

The range is extensive; seven options in all, beginning with the $ 37,990 Escape Ambiente. Entrylevel buyers won’t feel too hard done by, as even at this end of the range, convenience tech such as a reversing camera, seven airbags and Ford’s newly updated SYNC 3 entertainment system ( with integrated satellite navigation and Apple CarPlay/ Android Auto mobile phone mirroring capability) is standard.

Escape Trend models step things up into the early- to- mid$ 40,000 range, adding privacy glass, Active City Safe autonomous braking, Blind Spot Information and other driver aids ( as well as shiny fare like 18- inch alloys and silver- finish roof rails).

You can pay up to $ 54,990 for an Escape in Titanium trim; for that you’ll get extra premium features such as 19- inch alloy wheels, a 10- way powered/ heated driver’s seat, a panoramic sunroof and hands- free boot opening where a waggle of the foot under the rear bumper will see your boot lid magically open. The self- parking system available in Titanium grade