One other concern though is the climate control when on its automatic setting. The seats are comfy there too, plus the rear seats will slide back and forth a couple inches, meaning more legroom for back seat folks when you’re not hauling much in the cargo area.Ī reminder, that rear hatch is powered, and the giant panoramic sunroof overhead is a nice touch too. Escape’s redesign puts more emphasis on rear seat room too. The seats are supportive and would feel comfy on a long drive, plus are powered up front and also heated. The Escape uses energy storing technology to get a 44 mpg city and 37 mpg highway rating from the EPA.Įscape’s interior is roomy and comfortable. I liked how the info screen worked and all the buttons and dash controls here were easy to figure out, however, the push-start button is somewhat hidden behind the steering wheel, so a bit hard to see initially. Trim on the door inserts and door handles is a handsome satin chrome. All trims from this SE on up have that larger screen, the base S model just having a 7-incher. Escape’s console is textured matte black with a bit of gloss trim by the 8-inch infotainment screen. Seats were a perforated black leather and the overhead headliner was tan. Inside, the black ute had a black textured dash and doors with soft-touch material that made it feel a bit more upscale than past Escapes. On the convenience side the package adds a power liftgate, panoramic sunroof, and voice-activated touchscreen navigation system. That also includes stop/start to save fuel. The test ute added a premium package for $3,295 which added the larger 19-inch tires, plus fancier wheels and most importantly an adaptive cruise control system. Good news though, the Escape now comes with Ford’s Co-Pilot 360 safety group, which includes blind-spot warning with cross-traffic alert, pre- and post-collision assist with automatic braking and pedestrian warning along with front-collision warning. The Escape's interior features black leather seats and a 8-inch infotainment screen. But the steering effort is much heavier here than in the Subaru Legacy I just drove and even felt heavier than the earlier Lincoln Corsair, which is virtually the same size as its cousin the Escape. And this model bumps up from 17-inch to 19-inch tires and fancier aluminum wheels. Handling is good though, the SUV corners well and the AWD gives it plenty of grip even on wet roads. Our pot-hole laden Midwest roads vibrate the interior and shake passengers more than I’d like. The ride, despite the improved suspension, remains very trucklike, meaning firm and sometimes rough. That’s especially noticeable when you back up as the vehicle whines so much that people who rode in the Escape asked if the sound was normal. Unlike most hybrids, there is a noticeable electric motor and gearing sound to Escape’s hybrid. Power links to the wheels via an electronic CVT transmission. Thankfully there is a Sport mode that helps give the Escape more immediate power, but even at that it’s slower to respond than most small utes.įor the record, the test Escape had a 2.5-liter iVCT Atkinson cycle I4 engine with hybrid system. Some might call it pokey in Normal or Eco drive modes. While gas mileage is good, the acceleration from the hybrid is modest, as you may expect. The Escape's new nose mimics that of the Porsche Macan giving the Escape a sportier look. Heck, the EPA says you may do even better, rating Escape at 44 mpg city and 37 mpg highway. That’s why I got 40 miles per gallon, a laudable rating for any SUV. I was amazed that in a 212-mile week of driving, a full 95.8 miles were run on electric power. There’s a dash readout to clue you in and encourage you to tromp lighter on the accelerator. What it has is good seats, a nice interior and excellent fuel economy.įirst, this isn’t a plug-in hybrid (that’s coming soon), but this one stores energy via regenerative braking and when the SUV coasts. I’ve read that it handles better and rides better, but that’s not entirely my experience with the tested black SE Sport AWD hybrid model. And maybe it is in some ways because it offers four engine choices, has adjustable ride control and a revised suspension system with vibration absorbing rear subframe mounts. Its new nose looks a lot like a Porsche Macan, which one would think should help sales and at least mentally plant the seed that this is a sportier SUV than in the past. It is one of the most popular compact SUVs on the market and for 2020 it’s majorly restyled, making it slightly lower and wider. Let’s be clear, a lot of people have purchased Ford Escapes over the years.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |