Ford Escape – What you need to know

The Ford Escape might not be one of the top-selling models in the super-competitive mid-size SUV segment, but it’s a solid contender and comes highly rated, snaring the runner-up spot in carsales’ Best Mid-Size SUV mega-test recently.

Launched towards the end of 2020, the fourth-generation Ford Escape covers all the key bases in terms of interior layout and the latest tech and safety, with a sporting edge to its performance that will please keen drivers.

From launch, the Escape has offered three model grades – base Escape, mid-series ST-Line and top-spec Vignale – all powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and driving either the front or all four wheels.

These were joined in mid-2022 by an Escape plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) – in ST-Line trim – that employs a 2.5-litre petrol-electric powertrain with continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive.

Prices for the Ford Escape start from $37,490 plus on-road costs and top out at $54,440 plus ORCs.

That’s a broad spread of prices across both petrol and petrol-electric powertrains, so let’s dive into the six-variant range to find the right one for you.

Heading the features and standard equipment of the entry-level front-wheel drive turbo-petrol Escape – starting at $37,490 plus ORCs – are:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• 8.0-inch infotainment touch-screen
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring
• Air-conditioning
• Rear-view camera
• Adaptive cruise control
• Cloth trim

The Ford Escape is backed by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, capped-price servicing program, free service loan cars, sat-nav map updates and a motoring club membership that includes roadside assistance.

Up to eight colours are available on the Ford Escape, with five of them attracting a $650 premium.

A powered tailgate can be optioned on the Escape and ST-Line models at $495.

A tech pack comprising LED glare-free headlights and a head-up display is offered on the base Escape for $1000.

And if you want a powered tailgate, heated front seats, head-up display and LED glare-free headlights on your ST-line Escape, then add $1950 to the bottom line.

Exclusive to the Escape PHEV is a $1500 parking pack that provides self-parking, a front camera and door edge guards.

All Ford Escape models have six airbags, electronic traction and stability control, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, anti-lock brakes with brake assist and emergency brake display that activates the hazard and stop lights in an emergency.

Low-speed crash and pedestrian avoidance with braking and rear cross traffic alert with braking also come standard, as does adaptive cruise control with speed alert warning, stop-and-go function and a speed limiter.

Other technology to assist the driver include a hill holder, lane departure warning and lane keeping, plus traffic jam assist, road sign recognition, driver attention detection and fatigue warning.

Also standard are blind spot sensors, front and rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera, tyre pressure monitoring, rain-sensing wipers and automatic headlights with auto high beam.

Exclusive to the Vignale is an auto-parking function and a front camera.

Every Ford Escape has selectable drive modes including Eco, Normal, Sport, Slippery, Snow/Sand and Trail.

All models carry a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating handed down in 2020.

An 8.0-inch colour touch-screen is standard across the Ford Escape range. It accesses Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth music and smartphone streaming, sat-nav with traffic message channel, and AM/FM/DAB+ radio.

Four USB ports are included, plus the FordPass Connect embedded modem, with the SYNC 3 system providing voice activation operating Siri or Google Assistant. Wireless smartphone charging is also standard.

The base model and ST-Line make do with six speakers while the Vignale gets a premium B&O sound system with a subwoofer and 10 speakers.

All models have a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

Other key standard features across the Ford Escape range include LED ambient lighting, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, a pair of 12-volt power outlets, a flexible cargo cover, dual-zone air-conditioning, illuminated vanity mirrors on the sun visors and privacy glass from the rear doors back.

Would you like alloy sports pedals? They come standard on the ST-Line models, as do dedicated cloth trim with red stitching on the seats and artificial-leather sports steering wheel.

What about a firmer and sportier ride? Stick with the ST-Line and its sports-tuned suspension, lower ride height, large rear spoiler, black roof rails and the lower side panels in the body colour.

Is a sunroof a deal-maker? Then slap your name on a Vignale as it’s only available on this model.

How about a powered tailgate? It’s standard on the Vignale or a $495 option on the Escape and ST-Line.

Head up display? Once again, it’s standard on the Vignale. But it’s also part of a $1000 option pack on the entry Escape and included within the ST-Line pack that’ll cost you $1950.

What about heated front seats? The Vignale is the only model to have this feature standard and the only variant with a 10-way powered driver seat including memory function. Front passengers in all other variants sit on eight-way manually adjustable front seats.

Puddle lamps are very handy when getting in and out of the vehicle and all Escape models come with this handy feature.

Rear seat passengers will welcome the ability to slide the seat back and forth and recline it for added comfort. Sliding it forward also extends the cargo area.

The Escape caters for young families in all models with ISOFIX points at the rear window seat positions and three upper child seat anchorage points.

Fitted on all Escape models are LED headlights, tail-lights and daytime running lights, but a step up to the Vignale rewards you with quad-projector, auto-levelling, glare-free dynamic bending headlights that light the road as you turn and don’t dazzle oncoming vehicles.

Roof rails? Very handy and found on all models, with the base and Vignale having silver rails and the ST-Line black.

Silver trim around the honeycomb grille and driving lights help the Vignale stand out from the other variants, which have body-colour surrounds.

Alloy wheels are on all Escape models. They are 18-inch rims on the entry Escape and ST-Line; 19-inch on the Vignale. All cars have a 17-inch temporary spare wheel.

Powering the Ford Escape, ST-Line and Vignale is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine producing 183kW and 387Nm of torque. Tied to it is an eight-speed auto transmission.

The base variant is offered only as a front-wheel drive, with the ST-Line and Vignale sold as either a front-wheel drive or on-demand all-wheel drive.

The Escape PHEV has a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a combined 167kW and drives the front wheels via a CVT. It draws from a 14.4kWh lithium-ion battery that offers a 56km all-electric driving range. Fuel economy is a low as 1.5L/100km on the official combined cycle.

This compares to the turbo-petrol models that return 8.6L/100km.

Anyone who likes driving will enjoy the Ford Escape as its dynamic capabilities are more akin to a hot hatch than an SUV.

It’s roomy in both rows, with a big cargo area that offers 556 litres of luggage space with the rear seats upright, extending to 1470L when them folded. Maximum braked towing capacity is 1800kg.

If the budget was a prime consideration I would line up for a front-wheel drive ST-Line turbo-petrol. The two grand premium over the base model nets you a lot more standard features.

However, regardless of budget, I’d go for the all-wheel drive ST-Line and add the ST-Line option pack.

To me it delivers excellent value and is still cheaper than the Vignale, while providing the same levels of safety, performance and comfort with only a small compromise in specification.

As good as the PHEV is, the price is simply too high to consider.

How much does the Ford Escape cost?
Escape FWD – $37,490
ST-Line FWD – $39,490
ST-Line AWD – $42,490
ST-Line PHEV FWD – $54,440
Vignale FWD – $48,090
Vignale AWD – $51,09
*Prices exclude on-road costs