Ford axes Kuga

Ford's upgraded Kuga will revert to the mid-size SUV's global nameplate – Escape – when it goes on sale in Australia in January.

The move was announced today, when Ford Australia also released full local pricing and specs for the 2017 Escape, including a sharper new $28,490 starting price (plus on-road costs).

Ford says the facelifted Kuga, which adopts the Escape nameplate not seen in Australia since the previous generation replaced the unloved Escape in February 2012, brings more choice, more standard equipment and, for 2.0-litre models, lower running costs thanks to the fitment of idle-stop tech.

As well as a fresh front-end design first revealed in Europe in February, the new name and these upgrades are aimed at making Ford's medium SUV more competitive alongside a host of new-generation rivals also due on sale Down Under next year, including the redesigned Mazda CX-5 and Honda CR-V.

To September this year Ford has sold just 3370 Kugas – down 2.5 per cent in a segment up 13.4 per cent in 2016, and well behind dominant players like the CX-5, Hyundai Tucson, Toyota RAV4, Nissan X-TRAIL, Subaru Forster, Mitsubishi Outlander, Kia Sportage and CR-V.

Replacing a Kuga line-up that started at $29,250 plus ORCs for the base 1.5-litre Ambient EcoBoost 2WD manual, the 2017 Escape range also opens with a front-wheel drive 1.5-litre Ambiente manual model, this time priced at $28,490 plus ORCs. A six-speed automatic adds $1500 and all-wheel drive a further $3000, bringing the Ford Escape Ambiente 1.5L AWD auto to $32,990 plus ORCs.

Ford says that as a variant that almost one-third of customers in this segment choose, the new 1.5-litre 2WD Trend auto model fills the gap in its line-up. It costs $32,990 plus ORCs, while the 2.0-litre EcoBoost petrol AWD auto Trend costs $35,990 and the 2.0-litre TDCi diesel AWD auto is $38,490.

Topping the line-up are the Titanium 2.0-litre EcoBoost AWD auto at $44,990, and the diesel version at $47,490 (both plus ORCs).

Standard on all models will be seven airbags, Dynamic Stability Control, Rollover Mitigation, reversing camera and rear sensors, plus Ford's latest SYNC3 infotainment system featuring faster performance, embedded sat-nav and intuitive smartphone-like full-colour 8.0-inch touch-screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

Also standard across the range is dual-zone climate-control with rear air-vents, digital radio, cruise control with speed-limiter, push-button starting, front and rear fog lights and SYNC Emergency Assist.

Trend variants add upgrades like 18-inch alloy wheels, silver roof rails, privacy glass and automatic headlights and wipers, while top-spec Titanium models gain a host of extras including 19-inch alloys, Smart Keyless Entry, bi-xenon HID headlights, leather upholstery, heated front seats, powered driver's seat, font parking sensors, Enhanced Active Park Assist, panoramic glass roof, front and rear velour floor mats. hands-free power tailgate, LED tail-lights and nine-speaker audio.

The 2017 Escape is distinguished by sleeker new daytime running light-equipped headlights flanking a new large upper trapezoidal two-bar grille and a smaller lower grille, a domed bonnet, revised tailgate, restyled tail-lights and a new range of 18- and 19-inch alloy wheel designs for Trend and Titanium models. Two new colours, White Platinum (tri-coat) and Copper Pulse, will be offered throughout the range.

Ford says the Escape interior has undergone "an upgrade in tactile quality, fit and finish, and has been refined to offer a more ergonomic, stylish and comfortable experience for occupants". Among the changes are more intuitive air-conditioning and multi-function steering wheel controls with fewer and more distinguishable buttons and switches, and a new electric parking brake.

Automatic models are now fitted with steering wheel paddle shifters, while accessing up to 1603 litres of cargo space is easier thanks to the option of a Hands-Free Power Tailgate with Smart Keyless Entry on Trend models.

A suite of advanced Driver Assist Technologies (DAT) will be available, including enhanced Active City Stop autonomous braking, which now operates at speeds of up to 50km/h (up from 30km/h), Active Park Assist now including Perpendicular Parking function and, for the first time, rear Cross Traffic Alert.

However, all of these safety systems are part of an optional tech pack, which also includes Lane Departure Warning (LDW) with Driver Alert, Lane Keeping Assist, Auto High Beam, Adaptive Cruise with Forward Alert and Enhanced Collision Mitigation, blind-spot monitoring and tyre pressure monitoring.

At $1300 ($300 less than on Kuga), the tech pack will be available only on Trend and Titanium models – not the entry-level Ambiente.

“The Escape will follow the formula set by the Ford Kuga as a family friendly, fuel-efficient and five-star safety rated SUV,” said Ford Australia President and CEO, Graeme Whickman.

“We’ve responded to calls for a broader line-up, with the front-wheel drive Trend giving consumers an even more compelling SUV offering, and with sharpened MLPs across the range.”

Positioned above the smaller EcoSport 2WD (from $20,790), the new-look, newly-named 2017 Escape will be joined in 2018 by the Edge, a belated replacement for the out-of-production, homegrown Territory. Before then, Ford will bolster its large seven-seat Everest off-road SUV line-up with cheaper rear-wheel drive and five-seat versions.

Powertrains:
1.5L manual: 110kW@ 6000rpm, 240Nm @ 1600-5000rpm, 6.3L/100km (FWD), Towing capacity 1500kg (FWD); 1600kg (AWD)
1.5L automatic: 134kW@ 6000rpm, 240Nm @ 1600-5000rpm, 7.2L/100km (FWD), 7.5L/100km (AWD), Towing capacity 1500kg (FWD), 1600kg (AWD)
2.0L petrol automatic: 178kW @ 5500rpm, 345Nm @ 2000-4500rpm, 8.6L/100km, Towing capacity 1600kg
2.0L diesel automatic: 132kW @ 3500rpm, 400Nm @ 2000-2500rpm, 5.5L/100km (Trend), Towing capacity 1800kg

Ambiente standard features:
SYNC3 with 8.0-inch capacitive touch-screen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Embedded satellite-navigation with Traffic Management Control (TMC)
Dual-zone climate-control with rear air-vents
AM/FM/DAB+ radio, six-speaker audio with USB input, Bluetooth streaming
Reversing camera and rear parking sensors
Cruise control with speed-limiter
Daytime running-lights
Push-button start
Front and rear fog lights
Electronic parking brake
SYNC Emergency Assist
Ford MyKey

Trend standard features (as per Ambiente, plus):
18-inch alloy wheels
Roof-rails in silver finish
Privacy glass
Automatic rain-sensing windscreen wipers
Automatic-dimming rear-vision mirror
Automatic on/off headlights
Follow-me home lighting
Leather-wrap gear lever

Titanium standard features (as per Trend, plus):
19-inch alloy wheels
Smart keyless entry
Power folding mirrors with approach light
Bi-xenon HID headlights with auto levelling
LED daytime-running lights
Adaptive Beam Shape and Dynamic bending headlights
Leather upholstery
Heated front-seating
10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat
Front parking sensors
Enhanced Active Park Assist
Panoramic glass roof
Front and rear velour floor mats
Hands-free power tailgate
Multi-colour ambient lighting
LED tail-lights
Nine-speaker audio

2017 Ford Escape pricing (plus ORCs):
Ambiente 1.5L FWD manual -- $28,490
Ambiente 1.5L FWD automatic -- $29,990
Ambiente 1.5L AWD automatic -- $32,990
Trend 1.5L FWD automatic -- $32,990
Trend 2.0L AWD automatic -- $35,990
Trend 2.0L TDCi AWD automatic -- $38,490
Titanium 2.0L AWD automatic -- $44,990
Titanium 2.0L TDCi AWD automatic -- $47,490