The top-spec Ford Escape Vignale is a sporty and premium take on the medium SUV segment. But it’s also a little bit forgettable.
- Eager, sporty driving experience for those who want some pepper from behind the wheel
- Good space in the second row and boot for everyday usage
- The best performance you’ll get this side of a Kona N
- Vignale specification gets expensive
- Infotainment offering outdone by new competition
- Keenly tuned driver inputs reduce refinement around town
Introduction
The 2021 Ford Escape Vignale could be the perfect SUV for somebody looking to avoid automotive boredom – something associated with mid-sized SUVs quite regularly. However, it does come with a compromise.
It’s a car more commonly known as the Kuga in other markets, and this generation model dates back only to 2019. However, it has largely failed to make a splash so far in Australia. Over the last two years, the Escape hasn’t managed to do much better than one per cent of this potentially lucrative segment.
Low sales figures don’t mean it’s a bad car. There are plenty of wonderful cars available in Australia that are outsold by more mediocre offerings.
So, how does the Escape stack up? The Vignale represents the pinnacle of the range costing $46,590 before on-road costs. This compares to $35,990 (also before on-road costs) for the entry-level model, and $37,990 for the ST-Line. Both ST-Line and Vignale are also available with all-wheel drive for an extra $3000.
That’s quite a jump up for this top specification, and thankfully it has quite a comprehensive list of equipment to help make up for it.
Unique gear for the most expensive Vignale specification includes a power tailgate, a more advanced version of keyless entry, head-up display, panoramic sunroof, heated front and outboard rear seats, 10-way power adjustment for the front seats, advanced parking assistance, and a smattering of leather inside.
That’s on top of a unique look for the Vignale coming from a chrome front fascia, 19-inch alloy wheels and rear ‘diffuser’. Our tester ups the ante slightly with the optional 20-inch wheels.
We should also mention some more gear this Escape shares with others, like modern advanced safety technology, tyre pressure monitoring, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 8.0-inch infotainment display, adaptive cruise control, LED headlights, push-button start, wireless charging, front and rear parking sensors, and LED headlights.
| Key details | 2021 Ford Escape Vignale |
| Price (MSRP) | $46,590 plus on-road costs |
| Colour of test car | Solar Silver |
| Options | Metallic paint – $650 20-inch wheels – $500 |
| Price as tested | $47,740 plus on-road costs, $52,355 drive-away (Syd.) |
| Rivals | Mazda CX-5 | Toyota RAV4 | Kia Sportage |
Inside
There’s no doubt that the Escape Vignale feels like a premium offering befitting the high asking price that Ford has set. There are plenty of nice touches and materials about the place.
However, at the same time, the introduction of new models like the Kia Sportage and Mitsubishi Outlander has quickly removed the sheen from this nice – but relatively plain – Escape interior.
Power outlets are in good supply, with a USB-A, USB-C and 12-volt outlet to choose from below the centre stack. There’s actually another 12V outlet in the centre console, so you’re well-served for power overall.
High-end pretensions of the Escape Vignale are blighted perhaps by the smaller infotainment display and some of the materials. The chintzy-feeling piece of textured plastic across the dashboard isn’t doing it any favours, I reckon. However, the clean layout and design work well from a functionality point of view.
The digital driver’s display helps bolster the upmarket feeling, as do the leather-accented seats. These seats have 10 directions of power adjustment (including lumbar control), and memory. There’s also a head-up display hiding in the dashboard that’s toggled by a button near the driver’s knee.
The digital driver’s display – 12.3 inches in size – looks nice, with plenty of information one can dig through.
Storage is decent, with an average-sized centre console bolstered by a couple of extra spots around the cupholders and rotary dial for gear selection.
Comfort and space in the second row of the Escape are good, and mostly on par with others in the segment. There are air vents back here, as well as a couple of power outlets. Vignale ups the ante as well with heated outboard seats in the back.
Moving further back, a 556L boot grows to 1478L when you lower the second row. This can be handily done via levers in the boot, and there is a 12V power outlet in here as well. Underneath the floor you’ll find a temporary spare tyre on a steel wheel.
| 2021 Ford Escape Vignale | |
| Seats | Five |
| Boot volume | 556L seats up / 1478L seats folded |
| Length | 4629mm |
| Width | 1883mm |
| Height | 1680mm |
| Wheelbase | 2710mm |
Infotainment and Connectivity
Infotainment comes via a system familiar to other Ford vehicles, including its best-selling Ranger ute. It’s the Sync 3 operating system, which has an 8.0-inch display.
It’s a good system that is easy to use and navigate through the various functions. That includes native navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, digital radio and FordPass connectivity.
That last feature includes the ability to remotely lock and unlock the car via an app, and keep an eye on the car’s location. It also helps you manage things like servicing and what Ford calls ‘Vehicle Health Alerts’.
Worth noting: while this FordPass service is free for the first three years, it then becomes a subscription you’ll need to pay for.
The addition of volume and tuning dials for the infotainment display does help with easy adjustment on the move. However, there are no buttons for navigating through the infotainment display. This isn’t a big deal, especially when you’re going to spend the majority of your time on smartphone mirroring. However, flicking between something like Google Maps and the AM radio takes a few extra steps.
While the Escape’s infotainment system feels well-appointed and up-to-date, it doesn’t take long these days to be outdone by something newer, slicker and bigger. In particular, Kia’s new Sportage offers a system that is all of those things at a similar price to this Escape Vignale.
Safety and Technology
Safety is a strong element for the Ford Escape right across the range.
Because it’s a relatively new model that launched in late 2019 to global markets (most know it as the Kuga), there is a solid list of inclusions: autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, evasive steering assist, forward collision warning, dynamic braking support, traffic sign recognition, blind-spot detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist with a lane-centring function, tyre pressure monitoring, emergency assistance and adaptive cruise control (with stop-and-go functionality).
This also comes with a five-star ANCAP safety score from late 2019, which outlined particularly good performance for adult occupants (92 per cent) and child occupants (89 per cent).
Lane centring only works when you’ve got adaptive cruise-control running (some systems can do this without cruise control active), and the more advanced driver aids are good at not getting in the way of normal everyday driving. It’s appreciated.
| 2021 Ford Escape Vignale | |
| ANCAP rating | Five stars (tested 2019) |
| Safety report | Link to ANCAP |
Value for Money
Servicing the Escape weighs in at $970 over three years, or $1860 over five years, if you use Ford’s capped-price servicing program. This is decent, but not as good as some others in the segment. In particular, the Mitsubishi Outlander and Toyota RAV4 both stick out as some of the cheapest to service.
Fuel economy, where I managed to match the claimed combined figure of 8.6 litres per 100 kilometres (albeit with plenty of highway driving), requires 95-octane fuel that will increase running costs slightly. However, you are getting a nice combination of performance and economy for the asking price.
Considering other specifications of Escape also come with the same infotainment display, digital instrument cluster and gutsy power plant, those who are happy to go without some of the more high-end appointments could do well looking at a lower specification grade.
In terms of value in the broader field, the Escape Vignale lines up mostly on par with other top-spec offerings like Mitsubishi’s new Outlander Exceed AWD ($47,990), Hyundai Tucson Highlander N-Lin 2WD ($47,000), Toyota RAV4 Edge AWD ($48,915), and Mazda CX-5 Akera AWD ($49,580) – all before on-road costs.
Truth be told, buyers have no shortage of options at this pricepoint. Lower-specification large SUVs can be looked at, as well as entry-level four-wheel drives like the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GLX and Toyota Fortuner GXL.
And as good as the Escape might be in many regards, one big problem it seems to have is the sheer quantity and quality of alternative options.
| At a glance | 2021 Ford Escape Vignale |
| 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
The main appeal of the Ford Escape – in my mind at least – is to someone who wants a peppy, alive-feeling and responsive medium-sized SUV. Something that can handle the daily drudgery well, but does it with a taste of poke and performance.
Much of that feeling comes from the engine. This 2.0-litre EcoBoost motor feels quite grunty, even warmed-up in the way that it climbs the tacho. It’s especially responsive anywhere above 2000rpm, giving you plenty of punch for daily duties. Plus, a little bit of fun from time to time.
It’s well-matched by a smooth eight-speed automatic gearbox that didn’t put a foot wrong during our time with the car.
While many naturally aspirated and less powerful SUVs of a similar size often feel a little lethargic and boring to drive, this Escape feels like a nice antidote.
The 2.0-litre, four-cylinder EcoBoost engine with 183kW and 387Nm is the same as you’d find in an earlier Focus ST. Albeit in this case it’s got an extra 40Nm available at much lower RPM. However, the throttle response is quite aggressively tuned. It leaves the Escape feeling tightly strung and a bit of a handful at times.
At one stage, literally resting my toe on the skinny pedal was enough to hold 110km/h as I sat behind a Harley-Davidson on the highway. Any more pressure and I would have whooshed past on my way to a speeding fine.
There is a variety of driving modes – accessible via a button – to help customise things like throttle, traction control and gearbox calibration: Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery, Deep Snow and Sand. And thankfully, Eco helps make the throttle feel more gentle – or even doughy at times – in comparison to Normal.
It’s a bit unfortunate that responsiveness is always there when you don’t necessarily want it. This leaves the Escape feeling a bit overzealous.
It is matched by a razor-sharp steering feel, which might feel more at home in a Focus ST (like the engine). Many will appreciate this I’m sure, but I couldn’t help but feel like it was a fish out of water in this application.
The steering feels like you need to constantly adjust and work on it, which can be frustrating when you’re not connecting up apexes through the twisties. And for a family-focussed SUV that is directly targeted at the daily grind of traffic, suburban streets and intersections, that’s an important consideration.
If you want something peppy to drive, but also need something that looks grown-up and responsible, then this Escape could be a nice compromise. It’s got a nicely dialled ride that balances the needs of comfort and roadholding well, and feels rewarding to punt through the odd corner (when the opportunity arises).
Once again, there is a bit of sporting flair to the way that the Escape rides and handles. However, unlike the throttle and steering tuning, this doesn’t throw the baby out with the bathwater, so to speak.
But compromise is an important word here, because that hair-trigger nature reduces the effectiveness of the Escape as a daily grinder.
| Key details | 2021 Ford Escape Vignale |
| 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 | 112.9kW/t |
| Weight (kerb) | 1621kg |
| Tow rating | 1800kg braked, 750kg unbraked |
| Turning circle | 11.4m |
Conclusion
There is plenty to like about Ford’s mid-sized SUV. It’s a sharp-looking car that offers plenty of performance and rewards for the driving enthusiast. However, that does come with a compromise around town. This gives it a unique position amongst a plethora of competition, and you’ll need to look at the smaller and decidedly brattish Kona N, Or the similarly sized but more expensive Volkswagen Tiguan R, if you want more performance chops from an SUV.
Consideration needs to be given to alternative options, of which there is no shortage. And when you think about the most important criteria of easy driving characteristics around town, you can’t help but feel this Escape misses the mark a little.
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