Ford Escape Titanium EcoBoost 2017 Review

Re-named, not reinvented
Ford Escape, the mid-size SUV once known as Kuga, arrived early this year with hopes it would ignite hitherto lethargic sales. Alas while it may still be too early to say, there’s little sign so far, with combined Escape and Kuga sales recorded to May this year only just over one-third of the CX-5’s.

The Ford deserves better. As well as swapping badges, the Escape gained fresh looks (including more definitive front-end styling which complements a slightly re-worked rear), introduced Ford’s latest SYNC3 communications and entertainment system, and added a front-wheel drive mid-spec Trend variant to the range.

Following the previous Kuga’s lead, Escape offers an extensive range of new-gen safety technology, including low-speed autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist and auto high-beam headlights. Unfortunately, even in the top-spec EcoBoost Titanium model ($44,900 plus on-road costs) tested here, it’s all at an extra cost.

The items are included in a $1300 Technology Pack only available from the Trend model upwards. Even without that technology, the seven-airbag Ford Escape still comes with a five-star ANCAP rating.

The 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine, at 178kW/345Nm, is comfortably the most powerful here, and drives through a conventional six-speed automatic transmission and Ford’s on-demand all-wheel drive system.

Manufactured in Spain, the Escape comes with a three-year/100,000km warranty including roadside assistance and lifetime capped-price servicing; and according to redbook.com.au should retain 59.6 per cent of its purchase value after three years.

Eminently roadworthy
With so much power and torque, not surprisingly the Escape is endowed with eager performance.

Couple that engine with smart ratios in the crisp-shifting transmission and you have a great package for the Ford to readily tackle highway passing manoeuvres, and enough grunt to require assistance from the AWD system to prevent wheel-spin when getting quickly off the mark.

Ride and handling are commensurate with this. The suspension has a reassuring tautness about it (while managing to avoid firmness) and the Escape settles quickly both into and out of bends.

Steering feel is linear and the minimisation of fore-aft pitch shows this is a mature chassis which is easy for both driver and passengers to live with.

By today’s standards, road noise, while not disturbingly intrusive, is noticeable, and our test car allowed some wind rustle into the cabin from the C-pillar area.

At a claimed 8.6L/100km the Escape is noticeably thirsty in this company. Although we have done better in the past, it was the least economical on test at 10.1L/100km. The others on test ranged between 8.0 and 9.1L/100km in real-world conditions.

The space race
As expected, the Escape inherits the Kuga’s already accommodating cabin, along with a total load space of 1603 litres, ranking it second behind the Volkswagen Tiguan as a luggage-carrier. The maximising of space is augmented by the easy, one-motion rear-seat folding system.

In contrast, the 406-litre boot (rear seat in-place) is nominally the smallest of the lot. In the real world the tape measure shows there is precious little difference between any of the cars tested and the Escape offers similar luggage volumes to its competitors.

Ford’s 'Open Sesame' hands-free tailgate function (a soccer kick activates sensors under the rear bumper) seems a good idea, but isn’t always reliable.

Escape passengers get a pretty good deal for leg, shoulder and headroom, particularly in the back where the stadium-style seat arrangement plus the panoramic sunroof included in our Titanium grade test car help alleviate any feelings of confinement.

While the front seats feel grippy, with relatively long, supportive cushions, in the Ford way they are set too high, which might not be universally praised (even in this segment).

Despite some updates in the swap to Escape, we still think the dashboard is still too-fussy. There’s a conglomeration of protuberances, dials and buttons. At least, aided by the SYNC3 system, it’s relatively easy to use.

We’re listing the thumb-press controls on the steering wheel for regulating the active cruise control as a work in progress too… They’re simply much too closely grouped for easy, eyes-free operation.

The need to exceed
Especially in range-topping Titanium model form, the Ford Escape is a strong brew of most elements which make for a top-scoring mid-size SUV. It has the (available) safety, the packaging, the comfort, the technology, the on-road abilities and the price structure to go toe-to-toe with the best in the segment.

In fact, there was little about the Escape (apart from its thirst for fuel and the gawky, skinny and vertical looks) to extract any real criticism from our test team. For instance, while some of us were not in favour of the over-fussy dash and its reliance on clumsy touch-screen functions when SYNC3 wasn’t playing ball, others thought it was intuitive to use.

Impressive the Ford Escape may be, but the fact it is sharing market space with such an exceptional group of either updated, or all-new competitors plays against it.

It’s okay to be good; it’s okay to be outstanding even. But to make a big mark in this sort of company it’s necessary to dish out a little something extra.

2017 Ford Escape Titanium EcoBoost pricing and specifications:
Price: $44,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 178kW/345Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.6L/100km (ADR Combined) / 10.1L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 197g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP