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Are we now at the point in the automotive
world where features such as lane-keep-
ing assist and adaptive cruise control are
included before a simple luxury like a
leather-wrapped steering wheel? Have priorities shifted
that much? Granted, I haven’t driven a low-spec model
in quite a while and it’s possible that I’ve remained
blissfully unaware of this development, but this naked,
plastic steering wheel makes the Escape’s otherwise
stylish interior just seem unfinished. —Drew DorianBasic and cheap can be charming. But at
more than $30K, this Escape isn’t very
cheap and it’s certainly not charming.
Aside from the massive rear seat, there’s
not much here that makes this feel like a smart buy.
But, if you’re committed to the Escape route and are
willing to fork over another $2285, you can get the
vastly more powerful and refined 250-hp 2.0-liter turbo
four. It transforms the Escape from a buzzy meh-mobile
to a compellingly quick sport-ute. —To ny Q u i rogaCounterpoints
technolog y took the engine from three cylinders to
two, a low boom reverberated through the cabin and
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The chassis tuning is dialed in to the right side of
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The all-wheel-drive system comes with sev-
eral available modes, including one for sand—an
uncommon setting in a car designed more for com-
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