Buying a used Ford Escape (2016-2020)

In common with many Ford models sold in Australia during the past 40 years, the Ford Escape began life as a Mazda.

Popular in the US and UK (where it was called Maverick), the Mazda Tribute derivative offered petrol-fed 2.0 or 2.3-litre four-cylinder engines or a Duratec 3.0-litre V6 that gave the mid-size SUV enough performance to seriously upstage similar designs.

Australian guides from 2001 list a BA model, followed during 2002-07 by almost unchanged ZA-ZC versions which came in three levels of trim.

By 2009, the local Ford Escape range had dwindled to a single model and the V6 was gone. That remained the case until 2012 when the Euro-spec Ford Kuga arrived as a replacement.

The Kuga lasted until late 2016, when Ford dropped the nameplate in conjunction with a major facelift and switched to the global Escape moniker instead.

It was billed as the third-generation Escape, although essentially the car launched in Australia early in 2017 was the mid-life update for the Kuga.

A manufacturing plant was established in Louisville, Kentucky, and US models were sold only with petrol engines. Australia’s Gen 3 Ford Escape came from Spain, where 1.5 and 2.0-litre turbo-diesels were produced for sale to Europe and other markets.

Launching in Australia as an MY17 model, the revised Escape featured more aggressive front-end styling that echoed the design of Ford’s top-selling F-150 pick-up. It also had as optional a package of driver-assist safety features that would become inclusions from 2019.

The fourth-generation Ford Escape was launched in November 2020, but Ford Australia announced early in 2023 that it would drop the SUV from its line-up by the end of this year.

• Automatic transmission issues resulting in delayed engagement.
• Exhaust and emission system issues stemming from the oxygen sensor, leading to poor fuel economy.
• Coolant leaks which can result in the engine overheating.
• Air-conditioning cooling, heating and ventilation issues.
• Infotainment system issues due to electrical problems.

First there was the Escape, then Kuga, then Escape again. Hardly surprising that the market was confused and resale values of earlier versions collapsed.

Come 2017 and Kuga briefly sold alongside the almost identical Escape, not that anyone apart from Ford’s marketing team seemed to care.

During 2018, the Escape’s first full year in our market under its new name, sales of 4764 units delivered a mere 2.7 per cent share of the mid-size SUV market segment dominated by the Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5 and Nissan X-TRAIL. During 2016, the Kuga’s final full year of local sales, 4395 of them had found owners for 3.1 per cent of the popular segment.

That said, the ZG Escape was by no means a bad vehicle, just underappreciated by a market where Japanese and Korean brands were dominant and Volkswagen was fighting back.

The ZG Escape models came in three trim levels, all with turbo-petrol four-cylinder engines. A turbo-diesel 2.0-litre was available to all but the basic Ambiente version.

Ambiente SUVs with the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol were the only ZG Escape models to offer a six-speed manual transmission. We say ‘offer’ because despite media reports spruiking the fun to be had behind the wheel of a six-speed, front-wheel drive Escape at base price of just $28,490 plus on-road costs, hardly any were sold.

Most Ambiente Escape SUVs in the used market are 2WD with the optional six-speed automatic transmission. These when new cost only $1500 more than the manual and gave Ford an advantage over rival brands that were typically charging $2000-$2500 more for their automatics.

Equipment levels were high for a car selling below $30,000 and headlined by Ford’s highly regarded SYNC 3 multimedia system. It would interact with Apple or Android devices and displayed choices via a heavily shrouded dash display.

Base models came with a reversing camera, park distance warning and Telematics vehicle monitoring, plus sufficient airbags and other safety systems to deliver a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating and overall score of 36.33 out of 37 – but only on those high-series cars that had autonomous emergency braking fitted standard.

Other features included dual-zone air-conditioning, remote starting, sat-nav, heated mirrors and a leather-bound steering wheel. The wheels were steel and came with 55-profile, 235-section tyres but only a temporary spare.

Step up to a front-wheel drive Escape in Trend specification and the price (auto only) increased to $32,990 plus on-road costs. For your outlay there was some extra leather splashed around the cabin but seats were still covered in cloth.

The wheels were alloy in 18-inch diameter, auto-sensor headlights and wipers were fitted plus some additional external embellishments.

Although front-wheel drive was still available in Trend versions, most buyers preferred an all-wheel drive with the punchy 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine or a turbo-diesel.

Beginning at $35,990 plus on-road costs when new, the 2.0-litre Trend unleashed 178kW of power and 345Nm of torque. The only transmission available with this engine was six-speed automatic and tyres were the same 235/50 18s as fitted to less powerful 1.5-litre versions.

Top of the ZG Escape range was the Titanium, which as a turbo-petrol cost $44,990 plus ORCs and with the turbo-diesel was priced from $47,990. Diesel Escapes were the only ones in the range to use a six-speed dual-clutch semi-automatic transmission.

Safety and driver assistance features included parking sensors, lane and forward collision alerts and automated parking assistance.

Other inclusions were leather seat trim, a powered tailgate and sunroof, side windows made from laminated glass, bi-Xenon lights for high and low beam and headlight washers. Titanium wheel size increased to 19-inch, with a stylish new rim design and 235/45 tyres.

Late in 2018, as part of an update designated MY18.75, an additional model joined the local Escape range at an attractive $41,390 plus ORCs. Distinguished by black 19-inch rims and part-leather seats with red stitching, the ST-Line brought sporty presentation that complemented the 2.0-litre engine’s performance.

Turbo-diesel versions didn’t sell here at the same rate as in Europe and in the used market will typically sell for less than 2.0-litre petrol versions that have travelled similar distance.

If you intend towing with an Escape, the turbo-diesel has a braked capacity of 1800kg. It is also the best choice for off-road use, however Escapes can’t be considered a serious performer in rugged terrain.

Around town with the popular 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and automatic transmission, the Ford Escape feels similar to other contenders in the top-selling mid-size SUV category.

Slot into one with the 2.0-litre petrol, however, and the Escape’s capacity for fun becomes apparent.

No one in Australia seems to have run performance figures for an Escape in this configuration, but overseas versions manage 0-100km/h in under eight seconds. The fun then becomes extreme once you slot the transmission into Sport mode or engage Power Shift in a diesel.

This activates column-mounted paddle shifters which let drivers keep both hands on the wheel while reacting to impending changes to road conditions. Flexing a finger will have the engine on boost and ready to overtake or apply some engine braking for an approaching downhill gradient.

The steering wheel is a nice size and with plenty of buttons to provide convenient communication with the car’s various systems. Learning them will take time.

Original-equipment Continental tyres were quiet and reportedly offered plenty of grip so you can only hope owners have fitted rubber of equivalent quality as replacements.

The cabin is spacious, even in the rear, with well-shaped seats and a dash which, although weird to look at, offers clear views of the instruments. The big central screen provides plenty of information but owners report slow responses and difficulty switching between menus.

They might look ready for off-road use but AWD Escapes aren’t suited to anything more confronting than well-graded gravel or snow with bitumen beneath.

Climbing even a gentle slope where the ground is uneven or rutted can cause the front wheels to spin and, while drive to the rear then electronically engages, not much in the absence of a proper diff locking mechanism is going to be of much use.

Out on the highway the Escape keeps occupants well insulated from road noise, and while the fuel gauge does move, its progress is slow, especially in the diesel which can return 5.2L/100km.

Combined-cycle consumption (urban/highway) from the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol is around 8.5L/100km, while a turbo-diesel will deliver 7.0L/100km under the same conditions.

In terms of practicality and features for the price, the ZG-series Ford Escape is among the best choices out there for a family-friendly mid-size SUV.

With all seats in use there remains 410 litres of luggage space, and even pushing the front seats to the rear of their runners won’t crush the legs of those in the back.

Visibility from all seating positions is good and the rear hatch lifts up far enough for people of average height to load or use the luggage platform as a child’s change table without belting their skull when fully upright.

• Check the underside and front air dam for dents and scrapes due to ill-advised off-roading.
• Surging or vibration from the dual-clutch transmission used in diesels is a danger signal.
• Isolated incidences of electrical problems have been reported, so be wary of flickering dash displays or misbehaviour from the automatic stop/start system (which is easy to disengage).
• Not even the earliest ZG Escape models should be suffering paint deterioration. Ignore any that are.

RedBook Inspect mobile inspectors can take the guesswork out of buying a car with a comprehensive vehicle inspection.

Used vehicle grading for Ford Escape ZG (2016-20)
Design & Function: 15/20
Safety: 17/20
Practicality: 15/20
Value for Money: 13/20
Wow Factor: 12/20
Score: 72/100

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