The Ford Escape doesn’t win over too many buyers in the medium SUV segment – but it deserves to. Here’s why.
- Absolute powerhouse of an engine
- Spec sheet contains more kit than you’d expect
- Generous aftersales support
- Requires 95-octane as a minimum
- Dull cabin presentation
- Intrusive freeway road noise
Introduction
Once a brand at the forefront of Australian car buyers’ minds, Ford has endured somewhat of a fall from grace in the sales race. The local outfit’s fortunes have rested precariously on the Ranger ute, which has done the heavy lifting sales-wise even before local manufacturing ended.
But the manufacturer no doubt wishes more sales would go to other offerings within its line-up, such as the 2021 Ford Escape medium SUV. Currently suffering under the weight of supply issues, the brand sits way behind segment rivals such as the Hyundai Tucson, Mazda CX-5, Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V.
Within Ford’s own range, the Escape fills the mid-size SUV space above the light SUV Ford Puma, but below the Ford Everest off-road-focused seven-seat SUV. This current-generation Ford Escape was introduced to the Australian market in the second half of 2020 and is built in Spain.
Aussie buyers get the choice of three variants, from the simply named Escape FWD to the Escape ST-Line and the range-topping Vignale. A plug-in hybrid flagship variant is on its way, though has been continually delayed and is now expected in 2022.
On test we’re behind the wheel of the entry-level model that utilises a 2.0-litre turbocharged Ecoboost engine powering the front wheels. Interestingly, it’s the most powerful engine in its segment with sports car-like 183kW and 387Nm outputs.
For all the firepower under the bonnet, it looks pretty anonymous from the outside. Exterior highlights do include LED headlights, front and rear parking sensors, and 18-inch alloy wheels.
It’s priced at $35,990 before on-road costs, and the only options available are a $1300 hands-free power tailgate, $650 prestige paint, and a $1000 Technology Pack that brings a head-up display and matrix LED headlights.
Are local car buyers missing a trick as they bypass the base-spec Ford Escape for more alluring alternatives such as the Toyota RAV4 and Volkswagen Tiguan? For the second-most-popular vehicle segment, it’s a question worth delving into.
| Key details | 2021 Ford Escape |
| Price (MSRP) | $35,990 plus on-road costs |
| Colour of test car | Magnetic Grey ($650) |
| Rivals | Subaru Forester | Kia Sportage | Toyota RAV4 |
Inside
Jump into the Escape’s interior for the first time and it’s hard not to make comparisons to a rental car. It’s got that bland-type interface that pairs simple cloth seats with dark-coloured plastics and trim. While the presentation is a bit drab, the build materials and fit are up to par for the most part.
Though they don’t offer the ultimate in bolster support, the seats have a comfortable, firm feel to them that’ll make road trips a pleasant affair. As well, a good amount of adjustability between the seat and steering wheel allows both driver and passenger to work themselves into a commanding view over the road.
Storage space is well catered to, with ample space to contain items like phones, wallets and keys in the centre console. Water bottles and larger items find accommodating space in the door cards or centre console bin.
If nothing else, the base-spec Escape comes well-kitted as standard. The first row is highlighted by an 8.0-inch infotainment display, wireless phone charging, push-button start, keyless entry, digital radio, and satellite navigation. It’s not until you get to some of the top-spec variants in rivals’ ranges before you start to see some of these items.
The odd-design plastic door card feels a little average to the touch, but most high-traffic touchpoints are fitted with soft-touch materials. Though it functions without fault and is quick to react, I can’t be counted as a fan of the dial gear selector. When shifting between drive and reverse, you sometimes end up shifting one gear too far or short.
Passengers in the back seat are treated to a comfortable, commodious space that caters well to both head room and leg room. Second-row amenities and storage are minimal. The Escape can only seat five people, but with the second row flattened, Ford says the boot space measures 1478L. With the back seats in place, the boot capacity is 556L. The load floor is nice and high allowing easy load-in of big items and there are no major obstructions in the cavity.
| 2021 Ford Escape | |
| Seats | Five |
| Boot volume | 556L seats up / 1478L seats folded |
| Length | 4614mm |
| Width | 1883mm |
| Height | 1678mm |
| Wheelbase | 2710mm |
Infotainment and Connectivity
The Escape’s 8.0-inch infotainment display runs Ford’s ubiquitous Sync 3 software. It’s one of the simplest touchscreen units to use, and features a recognisable layout that is easy to learn and navigate through. Switching between menu screens and functions is quick thanks to key shortcuts along the bottom of the screen.
Those more familiar with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto can utilise that functionality through a wired set-up, but Bluetooth connection is also there for phone operations. The base-spec Ford Escape is fitted with a finicky wireless phone charger that wouldn’t continuously charge my smartphone, prompting an annoying message on the infotainment screen every time it stops charging.
A small multifunction display is found between the instrument gauges and shows information such as a digital speedo, song track information, navigation, and fuel data. Using the interface is simple thanks to intuitive steering-wheel-mounted buttons.
There’s also provision for FordPass Connect, which utilises a smartphone app to unlock/lock the doors, start the engine remotely, locate it when parked, and check fuel levels and tyre pressures.
Safety and Technology
The Ford Escape was awarded a five-star ANCAP rating in 2019. Particular praise was given for the car’s scores in adult occupant protection, child occupant protection, safety assists, and pedestrian protection, scoring 92 per cent, 89 per cent, 77 per cent, and 82 per cent respectively in those categories.
All variants are fitted with autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, traffic sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, a driver-impairment monitor, and adaptive cruise control. Six airbags are fitted as standard, along with two rear ISOFIX child seat mounts.
| 2021 Ford Escape | |
| ANCAP rating | Five stars (tested 2019) |
| Safety report | Link to ANCAP |
Value for Money
Ford products are backed by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty. Capped-price service intervals are every 12 months or every 15,000km, whichever is first, with the first three visits costing $970 collectively (five years costs $1860).
Until a Ford reaches seven years old, each visit at an official Ford service centre will award 12 months of roadside assistance anywhere in Australia.
Escape customers are also eligible for the Ford Service Benefits program, which adds a free loan car come time for a service, roadside assistance, satellite map updates, and low-price tyres (with a competitor price match guarantee).
One thing buyers should be aware of is the Escape’s need for a minimum of 95-octane fuel, which ends up costing more over an ownership period. Fuel use is claimed by Ford to be 8.6L/100km on a combined cycle, which matched our week of real-world combined driving exactly.
| At a glance | 2021 Ford Escape |
| Warranty | Five years / unlimited km |
| Service intervals | 12 months / 15,000km |
| Servicing costs | $970 (3 years) | $1860 (5 years) |
| Fuel cons. (claimed) | 8.6L/100km |
| Fuel cons. (on test) | 8.6L/100km |
| Fuel type | 95-octane petrol |
| Fuel tank size | 57L |
Driving
It doesn’t take long behind the wheel of the Ford Escape to discover the powerhouse of an engine. With 183kW of power and 387Nm of torque routed through the front wheels, you’d be forgiven for double-checking whether there was any ST or RS badging on the bum, such is the unexpected performance from the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine.
The powertrain is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission that can be shifted using paddles behind the steering wheel. It takes next to no time to slip into traffic and zip up to the speed limit, with overtakes also a swift and safe manoeuvre.
The Ecoboost engine is strong across the entire rev range, not overt peaks or troughs, and does well not to overload the front tyres that are Continental PremiumContact items. It’s undoubtedly a bit of a sleeper when it comes to the power stakes, and one that might have some light- or small-sized hot hatches frightened. At least as much performance as any Australian mid-sized SUV buyer will need, anyway.
Handling-wise, the Escape controls its weight well and displays no overt tendencies to body roll. Like all mid-size SUVs, Ford has gone for a light steering weight with minimal resistance that makes around-town manoeuvrability a breeze.
The eight-speed automatic transmission is intuitive and smooth. Switching between drive and reverse gears might feel a bit silly with the rotary shifter, though the car slips into gear pretty quickly to perform swift three-point turns.
The Escape comes with a full adaptive cruise-control system that gently steers you within a lane. It’s a great system that reacts quickly to changing traffic ahead, and one that you can put faith in to safely help you along on freeways.
Road and wind noise aren’t well-refined once you get up to freeway speeds, especially on coarse-chip surfaces. A fair amount of noise is reverberated around the cabin, which diminishes the Escape’s abilities when it comes to touring.
Ride control is fine for the most part, though it does exhibit a tendency to slap through potholes and broken bitumen, which relates to the above point about road noise. Speedhumps and bumps are nicely damped, though it does tend towards jitteriness over sustained poor-quality roads.
| Key details | 2021 Ford Escape |
| Engine | 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol |
| Power | 183kW @ 5700rpm |
| Torque | 387Nm @ 3100rpm |
| Drive type | Front-wheel drive |
| Transmission | Eight-speed torque convertor automatic |
| Power to weight ratio | 113.6kW/t |
| Weight (kerb) | 1611kg |
| Tow rating | 1800kg braked, 750kg unbraked |
| Turning circle | 11.4m |
Conclusion
Though it seems odd to describe a Ford as a left-field option, it does come across as such in the medium SUV stakes. It mightn’t stock the same showroom appeal as the Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage and Volkswagen Tiguan, but the Ford offers its own set of benefits that could sway some budget-savvy shoppers its way.
A strong set of baseline features, such as adaptive cruise control, keyless entry, smart 18-inch alloy wheels, and digital radio, make for a compelling reason to choose it over its base-spec rivals, while the best-in-class powertrain is a neat boast to have under its hat.
The base specification does present a bit ordinary on the inside, so it might be one to avoid if you care about how a car makes you feel. But the Ford Escape does enough with its own subset of positives to warrant a look-in the next time you’re in the market for an affordable mid-size SUV.
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