Ford Escape News

The new compact sports utility vehicle was among the FG Falcon and FPV models in four-cylinder-only guise. Whereas the Mazda side of this particular product-sharing arrangement had the V6 and the four-cylinder on offer from 2001, the Escape series only had the V6 for its first two years on sale, with the four-cylinder arriving in 2004.Now the only drivetrain on offer is a 109kW/199Nm 2.3-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with the four-speed automatic transmission, which leaves the Territory as the only six-cylinder SUV in the local Ford range.Marketing and sales vice-president Mark Winslow says the changes were made to better differentiate between the two SUV model lines.“There is now a clear-cut, discernible difference between what Escape and Territory represent and what they offer our customers,” he says. “The two models now complement each other in the showroom better than ever.”The Escape exterior has been given the once-over, as has the interior and safety equipment.But the best news for potential buyers of the smaller Ford SUV is the drop in price.The nose and tail get new lights, new 16-inch alloys fill the arches and there are some minor cosmetic changes to the trim inside and out.Safety features added to the new-look car include front side/head thorax airbags as standard. The refreshed Escape goes on sale this month at $31,990, which is nicely down from the $33,490 of the comparable 2.3-litre four-cylinder XLT that it replaces.“With on-demand all-wheel-drive, automatic transmission and front seat, side head/thorax airbags as standard, the changes announced today have further strengthened Escape's overall appeal,” says Winslow.“It makes it one of the best-value proposition SUV packages available.“The ZD Escape is the perfect introduction to the Ford Sport Utility Vehicle range, delivering on attributes expected of a recreational SUV in a compact yet extremely functional package.”Fuel economy for the four-cylinder model — perhaps a likely reason the V6 was dropped from the range — is 10.5 litres per 100km.But towing capacity is unchanged at 750kg unbraked and 1000kg for braked loads.

DarrenWe had a Mitsubishi Lancer and Daihatsu Terios when our first child was born (we chose these mainly due to low fuel consumption). We used the Terios as our family car & were so desperate for more room we went out and looked for a cheap second hand station wagon or compact 4wd to replace it. We got a great discount on a brand new Ford Escape (over $8500 off retail) and simply could not turn this down. We couldn't even find a second hand one at this price! We are extremely happy with our purchase and are so impressed with our new car that we now want to replace our Lancer as well for another brand new compact 4wd. We are hooked.KeithI Up sized from a lancer to an outlander both mitsubishi's an the extra room is fantastic and it is a lot quieter on the roadLeanneWe have recently gone from a vt commodore sedan to a v6 adventra. We are both really happy with the car, its a pleasure to drive. I didn't want a 4wd ( brick as i call them ). It has proven itself quite apt in all road conditions. Hubby took me bush bashing & it went to places i wouldn't dare take the sedan with no problems at all. This car is the best of both worlds. My husband is happy & so am i :)WillI have owned a SB barina, a TS astra, then a XC barina. One year ago I upgraded to a Honda Jazz VTi-S as we now have a baby. I enjoy not being stressed about petrol prices when I watch 4WD and large car owners screw up their faces in anger and look over at me as I drive off again whilst they are still filling up their thirsty cars. Large cars just don't make any sense anymore, people need to take another look at what they drive now.LeeYes. To a new Commodore Equip for $32,500 plus $2,000 free fuel and $4,000 off the price with my Holden Card from Westpac, I'm stoked, what a deal!PatrickJust traded my Ford Falcon on a new Holden Adventra V6 and couldn't be happier. The comfort, power, equipment and build quality are a big improvement, but what is really surprising for a vehicle this size is the fuel economy, very impressive.MichaelWe upsized our second car from a Hyundai Accent, to accommodate our two teenage children. We chose one of the most overlooked cars on the market, the amazing Suzuki Liana hatch. This car is like a compact people mover and yet is still nimble and economical. We are so pleased with the room, that we often use it in preference to our main car, our excellent roomy Toyota Avalon. The reason for this is the lighter steering and ease of parking the Liana, plus the extra seating height.BillNope. Downsized. We have 2 kids and traded a VT Commodore on a Mazda6 Hatch. It has more legroom than Commodore, but a bit less width which doesn't matter with 2 kids. More boot space even without taking into account the fold down seats. The Mazda is more fun to drive, has great fuel economy, is much better built. It meets our needs perfectly, and shows that a good family car doesn't have to be boring (Take note, Toyota) and doesn't need to be 2.5 tonnes of clumsy 4WD!Geoffmy wife has updated her hyundai elantra gls which was an excellent car to a hyundai tucson. tucson is perfect for us. she loves it and so do i. great vehicle and highly recommended.PeterWe upgraded from a Subaru Forester, to a Toyota Prado, and just recently to a Ford Territory. The best by a country mile-safer, most comfortable, best handling, most useable space etc etc.R Got a Land-Cruiser. 7 good seats with Head restraints, Lap-sash belts, Easy access. Best people mover on the market, and can go places on holiday

There is a clear-cut champion in the compact four-wheel-drive class.It is the Subaru Outback, which does easily the best job for the majority of shoppers who want the size, comfort and command driving position of a soft-roader but don't plan to do much of the rough-and-tough weekend work in the bush.The Outback is a high-riding and tougher-looking Subaru Liberty wagon, which means it is a new-age station wagon for people who are convinced that four-wheel-drives are the best bet for the 21st century.But it's not the only way to go in a class which is as varied as any in Australian motoring.The all-paw smalls are a split-personality line-up which ranges from serious bush buddies to suburban shopping trolleys, with everything in between.Some talk the talk, but don't go remotely close to walking the wilderness, and others are surprisingly capable despite their soft-form looks. And looks aren't always the best – or easiest – way to make a choice.The Daihatsu Terios has the high-rider style you expect to see in a serious four-wheel-drive, but it could have come just as easily from the world's best-selling carmaker – Matchbox.The Suzuki Jimny is much the same, though it can really romp in the rough and is priced from just $17,990.At the other end of the action, there are several contenders which push past $40,000, including the over-priced and under-done Land Rover Freelander.The compact class also opens the options between "all-wheel-drive" vehicles focused on blacktop work and "four-wheel-drive" vehicles with serious off-road grip and dual-range gears, in a battle which rages all the way to the $100,000-plus machines in the luxury four-wheel-drive world.The split between the soft-road and hard-rock vehicles means it's important to split the winners, with the Nissan X-Trail taking top honours for real off-road work and the Subaru Forester and best-selling Toyota RAV4 – now with a punchier 2.4-litre engine – scoring on the soft side. The Outback was completely updated last year and picks up the five-star safety and top quality from the latest Subaru Liberty.But it also gets a tougher look, extra ground clearance, rough-road tyres and all the other gear you need for weekend expeditions.The price is pretty rich in a class where most of the action is below $30,000 – the H6 engine can lift it from $31,180 to more than $50,000 – but it's the one to recommend to friends and family if they can afford it. The Nissan Patrol is a heavyweight four-wheel drive star and you can see and feel the family connection to the X-Trail.It has the stumpy looks of a serious off-roader and backs it with a 2.5-litre engine hooked to a grippy drivetrain and a tough body.Nissan has also created a funky cabin for the X-Trail, with all the right stuff for twentysomething owners.It's not cheap, with pricing from $31,990, but the price is right for the class and the competition. The Forester, like the Outback, was developed for rougher roads than the regular all-paw Subaru family wagons.So the Forester sprang from the Impreza, as the Outback did from the Liberty, but with a much bigger change to the body.The Forester looks like it will work off the bitumen and it does, provided you recognise its limits.It also comes with a punchier turbo engine, though it's not WRX, and Subaru Australia has just rejected a Forester STi which would have really rocked the compact four-wheel-drive scene.