Australian New Car Buyer – June 2019

52 | AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR & SUV BUYER’S GUIDE

F

ord’s Escape range opens
with the 110kW 1.5-litre
turbopetrol/six-speed manual/
front-wheel-drive Ambiente,
priced at $28,990. The six-speed
auto is $30,490.
All-wheel-drive models
begin with the 134kW 1.5-litre
turbopetrol Ambiente, with a six-
speed automatic, at $33,490.
Trend specifi cation opens
with the 110kW 1.5-litre/six-
speed auto/front-wheel-drive
variant at $33,490; the all-
wheel-drive variant is $36,490.
A 178kW 2.0-litre turbopetrol/
six-speed auto/all-wheel drive
ST-Line is $39,990, and a 132kW
2.0-litre turbodiesel/six-speed
dual-clutch automated manual
is $38,990.
Top-of-the-range Titanium is
available with the same 2.0-litre
drivetrains and is priced at
$45,480 and $48,340.
Escape brings a European
design and drive to a segment

dominated by Japanese and

Korean brands. It’s certainly

something different.

The fuel-effi cient 1.5-litre

turbopetrol engine, in both 110kW

and 134kW tunes, produces

the same 240Nm of torque. Its

performance is entirely adequate

and fuel effi ciency is excellent on

regular unleaded.

The base front-wheel-drive

model also has lightness on

its side, so at the entry-level

pricepoint it’s quite good value.

The 178kW 2.0-litre

turbopetrol engine has no

problems providing rapid,

responsive performance, albeit

with a serious thirst if you’re a

bit willing with your right foot.

With 400Nm available

from 2000rpm, the 2.0-litre

turbodiesel is a strong engine

across the lower end of the rev

range, smooth and quiet by four-

cylinder oiler standards.

The Escape is at the front end

of the class as far as dynamic

ability is concerned, especially

in tighter corners where balance

and body control are excellent.

The ride may be too fi rm and

sharp for some, especially on

Titanium’s 19-inch wheels and

low-profi le tyres. The smaller

wheels/taller rubber on Trend

and Ambiente absorb bumps

better, but occupants can still be

jostled around on a rough road.

All models in the range feature

Ford’s SYNC3 infotainment

system with an eight-inch

touchscreen, navigation, a rear

camera, Apple CarPlay and

Android Auto, voice control,

digital radio, in-car connectivity

with voice control and automatic

000 contact in a crash via a

compatible, paired smartphone.

A camera is also standard.

You sit low, tightly wrapped in

a twin cockpit-style cabin. Some

will love this pseudo-sporty

driving position, others will feel it

compromises vision around the

car. Supportive, well-bolstered

driver’s seats on all models are

the most comfortable you’ll fi nd

in a small SUV.

Automatic low-speed braking

is standard. An $800 option

pack adds adaptive cruise and

lane keeping to Trend, while ST

and Titanium also include blind

spot monitoring and rear cross

traffi c alert.

Titanium’s power tailgate

(also an option on Trend) can

be opened and closed by simply

fl icking your foot under the rear

bumper — handy when you’ve

got two-and-a-half armfuls of

kids and shopping.

The back seat is narrow and

shaped for two, with reasonable

legroom. The boot is small.

Escape is one of the more

engaging drives in this class. Its

safety credentials are excellent

and it’s also well priced.

As a drive, if not quite in space

or practicality, it’s now up there

with Mazda’s CX-5, VW’s Tiguan

and the Subaru Forester at the

front of this class.

THINGS WE LIKE

 One of the best-handling SUVs

 Comfortable, supportive driver’s seat

 Torquey, refi ned diesel

 2.0-litre turbopetrol goes hard

 Titanium is loaded

THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE

 Overly fi rm ride

 Dated, tizzy dash design

 Smallish boot and narrow back seat

SPEX (2.0-litre Trend)

 Made in Spain

 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbopetrol/

six-speed automatic/all-wheel drive

 178kW of power at 5500rpm/345Nm

of torque from 2000–4500rpm

 0–100km/h N/A

 7.1L/100km highway; 11.8L/100km

city: 95 octane premium; CO 2

emissions are 204g/km

 Warranty: Five years/unlimited km

 Standard: Seven airbags, stability

control, 18-inch alloys, SYNC3 in-

car connectivity with voice control,

Bluetooth, digital radio, navigation,

emergency 000 assistance, rear

camera, sports seats with leather

inserts, dual-zone air, automatic

headlights and wipers

 Redbook future values: (Trend)

3yr: 48%; 5yr: 32%

Safety

ANCAP

Green Vehicle Guide

Performance

Handling

Quality and reliability

Comfort and refi nement

Value for money



Overall



STARS

compare with ...

Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5, Subaru

Forester, Skoda Karoq, VW Tiguan

FORD ESCAPE FROM $28,990 S