![]() ![]() Levers on either side of the boot can be pulled to drop the rear seat and create an extended flat-floored luggage space with a 1478-litre capacity. The boot does not look especially large, and while Ford quotes a 556-litre capacity, that is achieved with the boot loaded to the roof, the rear seat positioned well forward and seat back quite upright. On the other hand, rear leg and headroom is class-leading, and the provision of rear USB and USB-C plug points and adjustable rear air vents are all positives. Mounted on adjustable rails and adjusting for back angle too, the rear seats are comfortable, but the absence of a fold-down rear centre arm rest is a striking omission. While that stands in the way of a sporty driving position, it ensures good visibility from the broad and reasonably supportive driver’s seat. The front seats are set quite high, even with the height adjustable seats as low as possible. ![]() However, with gloss-black trim inserts, minimal use of metallic highlighting to contrast, and dark upper trims, the cabin lacks visual impact. ![]() Soft-touch surfaces feature on key trims, and there are textured door inserts, patterned seat inserts and red contrast stitching. There’s also a decent-sized centre bin, large door bins and a generous glove box. A handy storage compartment at the base of the centre console provides a wireless phone charge pad along with USB, USB-C and 12V plug points. The ST-Line takes a fully digital main instrument cluster and paddle shift controls, along with a sports steering wheel, alloy pedals, and LED ambient lighting. All models feature an 8-inch colour touchscreen standing proud on the centre of the dash, and a large rotary knob on the centre console replaces a conventional gear lever. The front of the cabin draws heavily on the Focus, with the most striking likenesses being in the design of the dashboard and key elements of the centre console. Mind you, with its space-saver spare wheel and fully-automated all-wheel-drive system, the ST-Line AWD is in no way a serious off-roader. The ST-Line sits on a lowered sports suspension and 18-inch alloys with 225/60 tyres, whereas the standard EcoBoost runs 17-inch rims, and the flagship ST-Line X is fitted with 19-inch wheels.Īn oddity is that the basic front-drive Escape’s 191mm ground clearance is superior to the 178mm of the ST-Line AWD. LED exterior lights are provisioned across the range, while ST-Line variants take a special body kit that features various items, including a larger rear wing and black roof rails. Similarities, though less pronounced, are also apparent around the tail. The grille is similar to that of the current Focus and there are marked similarities in the treatment of the front light clusters and air intakes too. There’s significant sculpting of the side panels, a stylish and contemporary dropping roofline, and a pronounced upwards rake along the window line. This new Escape shrugs off the square-edged slab-sided look of previous generations to adopt a more curvaceous and car-like form. The four-wheel-drive options comprise the $50,990 ST-Line AWD (as tested) and $55,990 ST-Line X AWD. The opening two variants are front-drive only, with the standard EcoBoost FWD priced at $42,990, and the ST-Line FWD at $47,990. Later this year, the Escape will become the first model in Ford’s current SUV line to be offered with a hybrid powertrain.įor now, the Escape line-up is pure-petrol, comprising four variants, each powered by a 183kW/387Nm turbo-charged petrol engine mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. And like the Puma, it’s based on a conventional car platform, in this case that of the current Ford Focus. Offered in both front- and all-wheel-drive guise, and with a plug-in hybrid variant on the way, it’s a likely rival to vehicles such as the Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4.Ĭompletely different from the Escape of old, this latest model was launched late last year, about the same time as the latest Puma. Sitting between the Puma and Everest, the Escape is Ford’s current mid-sized SUV option. David Thomson takes Ford’s latest mid-sized SUV for an extended run on local roads. ![]()
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