Ford Escape 2021 review
Published 16 December 2020
As far as car names go ‘Escape’ is pretty darn good. Yep, the Ford Escape promises a quick exit from whatever it is you want to leave behind: velociraptors, collision course asteroids, zombies, but most likely the Monday-to-Friday grind for weekend adventures somewhere more scenic.
The Escape name has been glued to the back of mid-sized Ford SUVs for yonks, although there was a brief period where the company’s executives thought ‘Kuga’ was a better word, but then came to their senses and changed it back to Escape.
Talking of changes there have been some big ones with this new-generation Escape which arrived in 2020. There’s the completely new look, advanced safety tech and a mountain range of standard features, even on the entry level Escape, which is the one I’m reviewing here for you.
Yup, the entry grade in the Escape range is just called the Escape. So that makes it the least expensive, too, but it’s still a bit pricey, I reckon compared to its rivals.
What are the Escape’s rivals? Glad you asked… here they come, right on cue.
So, how much does it cost and what features does it have?
The entry grade Escape we’re testing here lists for $35,990, before on-road costs.
And while this is the most affordable of all the Escapes this SUV comes standard with many of the features that only come on the higher grades in the line-ups of its rivals.
That’s good news. The not so good news is that the Escape is priced a little bit higher than most of its competitors.
That sounds worse than it is, because the Escape is worth having to hand over a bit more moolah.
Complete guide to the Ford Escape
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Coming standard is:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Privacy glass
- Silver roof rails
- Eight-inch display
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Wireless phone charger
- Sat nav
- Dual-zone climate control
- Push-button start
- Six-speaker stereo
- Digital radio
- Reversing camera
- Proximity key
If there’s anything missing here it’s probably leather seats, which are saved for the top-of-the-range Escape. That reminds me, there are three grades in the line-up – the entry Escape, the sporty ST-Line and the posh Vignale.
Locate a dealerLet’s talk design
The new-generation Ford Escape is longer that the previous model at 4616mm end-to-end, wider at 2178mm across and shorter in height at 1680mm tall.
More importantly for Ford it looks nothing like the last one. Which is a good thing, because Ford says the previous model didn’t sell well because it didn’t look as modern as some of its rivals.
Well, there’s nothing old looking about this new-generation Escape… apart from the interior. Yes, I’m afraid, it seems as though the designers spent all their time and money on the exterior and not enough on the cabin.
Still, the materials feel high quality and even this entry grade Escape’s interior has a premium look. I also like the small touches such as the textures in the doors.
And the seats might not be upholstered leather or even an artificial version of it, but these cloth ones look and feel good while being supportive and comfortable over long journeys.
Download a brochureHow practical is the space inside?
The Ford Escape is a five-seater and despite its sleek exterior looks space inside is impressively good.
Rear leg- and headroom is excellent. Even at 191cm tall I can sit behind my driving position with plenty of room to move thanks to the ‘’scooped-out’ design of the front seat backs.
Cabin storage is great up front with super-sized door pockets, three cupholders and a big centre console box, while those in the rear have two cupholders, but tiny door pockets.
For phones, tablets and other devices all grades come with four USB ports (two type-A and two type-C). There’s the wireless phone charger up front and two 12V power outlets.
As a parent who fastens a child into their car seat at least twice a day, I found it frustrating that the Escape’s rear doors didn’t open as wide as a Mazda CX-5’s to give me more space. But the Escape made up for that with standard features such as directional air vents in the back and a proximity key which meant just touching the door handle locks or unlocks the car.
That second row rolls on rails and locks into place and this means boot space can be contracted or expanded between 412 litres and 526 litres.
The Escape’s boot has low load lip which means you don’t have to throw your bags high to get them over the top like you’re staging a prison breakout.
What are the Escape’s safety features?
The Escape was given the maximum five-star ANCAP rating in 2020 but this was under 2019 standards from the European testing that year. This is a reminder, too, that when a car maker says their vehicle has a five-star safety rating you should always check to see which year the score is for, because full marks in 2019 is different from a top score in 2020.
This shouldn’t put you off as all grades of the Escape come with an outstanding level of standard safety tech such as AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control, adaptive cruise control, blind spot warning with cross traffic alert and traffic sign recognition.
Front and rear parking sensors are also standard across the range, so is a reversing camera and auto headlights.
For child seats there are two ISOFIX points and three top tether mounts across the second row.
A space saver spare wheel is under the boot floor.
What’s under the bonnet?
The Escape has the most grunty engine in pretty much this entire segment. We’re talking 183kW of power and 387Nm of torque. How much is that? Well, V8s in the ’90s used to make this kind of mumbo and this is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol, with a turbo of course.
The transmission is an eight-speed automatic and the entry grade Escape is front-wheel drive. If you’re looking for an all-wheel drive version of the Escape you’ll need to step up to the ST-Line or Vignale.
Book a test driveRange and Specs
Vehicle | Specs | Price |
---|---|---|
Ambiente (fwd) | 1.5L, PULP, 6 SP MAN | $28,990 |
Titanium (awd) | 2.0L, PULP, 6 SP AUTO | $45,480 |
Pricing Guides
Starts From
$28,990
Based on Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP)
Verdict
The entry grade Ford Escape is the best of the Escapes for value and features, while coming with the same responsive engine and plenty of advanced great safety tech, too. Then there are the Escape’s gorgeous looks – an Aston Martin on a Ford budget.
What we like
- Ridiculously good looking
- Responsive, powerful engine
- Space and storage
What we don't
- Sharp steering
- Pricey
- Thirsty for fuel
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