The new Escape has a sporty twin-pod instrument panel. The new version is more than an inch wider, nearly four inches longer and rides on a wheelbase that is nearly three inches longer. That has a lot to do with the overall proportions. Ford brags that the Escape has more cargo space than the outgoing model. On a long-distance cruise consisting of about two-thirds freeway, we managed close to 26, although, admittedly, were driving in excess of the speed limit. The Ford Escape has thoughtful features such as an umbrella holder.īut we averaged just over 23 overall in a mix of rural two lanes and freeways. The 2.5 is rated to tow 1,500 pounds and the 1.6 can tow 2,000 pounds. With 240 horses, the 2.0 maintains the same 3,500-pound tow rating as the old V-6. The top engine is the turbocharged 2.0-liter, which is meant to replace the old V-6. The 2.5 is available only with front-wheel drive. The base engine remains the 2.5, but now it makes 168 horses. The front-wheel drive test vehicle was rated at 26 city and 33 highway. With 178 horsepower, this willing little engine made surprisingly quick work of passing situations on two-lane roads, eagerly revving past its 5,700-rpm power peak. The test vehicle had the new 1.6, the Escape’s fuel economy leader. While the rear seat is cramped, the cargo area in the new Escape actually grows by nearly five cubic feet. The Escape is offered with three engines – all four-cylinders – a normally aspirated 2.5-liter and turbocharged 1.6-liter and 2.0-liter EcoBoosts. On top of that, the fuel mileage isn’t all that great in real-world driving. Here’s the bottom line: This new Escape feels cramped, the transmission’s tuning is abrupt and while the styling is an obvious step ahead of the old, it’s derivative and looks like a lot of other cute utes on the market, particularly the Hyundai Tucson. Despite receiving critical acclaim from many journalists, it won’t here. The SE tested here did not have the feature. One of the most talked-about features of the new Escape is its hands-free liftgate, which is operated by waving a foot under the rear bumper. The question is whether this new Escape can live up to or improve on one of the most useful vehicles of its size ever made. It may have been a box, but it just worked.īut now Ford has built a new Escape, with swoopier styling, new powertrain options and a modern interior. There’s a good reason buyers have made it the best-selling small SUV on the market. Tough grey plastic cladding on the bottom gave that original Escape a rough and read, youthful look and it brushed off road debris without trouble. With its optional V-6, it was powerful, it was as maneuverable as a go-kart and it had an interior that simply could not possibly have fit inside what looked like a smallish sport utility on the outside. Our 2002 model was simply the best car we’ve ever owned. Ford says the 2013 Ford Escape is as useful as the original, but now in a sleek and stylish package.įor me, a new Ford Escape is personal.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |