2013 Escape's new, more efficient powertrains, improved refinement and spiffy new technology. Where we can see a lot of eyebrow-raising, however, is in the Escape's design. Now, we'll go on record as saying that we like the looks of the new model, but part of the reason we suspect the Escape was selling so well in 2011 (aside from low prices, of course) was because there are plenty of shoppers who actually preferred the rugged, SUV-like design versus the new crop of sleeker, more car-like CUVs that have come to market.
But think about it: The current Escape wears one of the oldest designs in the entire Ford portfolio. And while the automaker understands that loyalists really valued and appreciated the SUV-ness of the outgoing model, the company is "confident that [the new] design resonates with target customers," according to Hau Thai-Tang, vice president of engineering for global product development. Versus the outgoing model, the 2013 Escape is 3.4 inches longer, half an inch wider and 3.8 inches shorter in height. The new car also rides half an inch closer to the ground, making ingress.
Interior is comfortable, pleasant and, more importantly, quiet. At highway speeds, there's a bit of wind and road noise nothing out of the ordinary, though but at lower speeds, it's librarian-approved silent in there. Visibility is good from all angles, but even so, Ford offers the Escape with a host of safety goodies like a rearview camera, cross traffic alert, blind spot monitoring and active park assist to keep you from dinging into cars, shopping carts, poles and people.
The majority of Escapes you'll see on the road will have EcoBoost power part of Ford's strategy to offer turbocharged engines on 90 percent of its models by 2013. The standard engine on the volume SE and SEL models is the all-new 1.6-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder, good for 178 hp and 184 lb-ft and also mated to a six-speed automatic (read: not the dual-clutch PowerShift that's been so poorly received in the Focus and Fiesta). We didn't have a chance to test the 1.6 while in San Francisco, but other journalists we talked to said that it was plenty powerful.
The big win for the 1.6 EcoBoost, though, is fuel economy. Ford is still awaiting official EPA ratings, but this smaller turbo-four is expected to achieve 24 miles per gallon in the city and 33 mpg on the highway class-leading stuff for automatic-equipped CUVs. Only the 2013 Mazda CX-5 with its six-speed manual 'box is more efficient.
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