2016 Ford Escape Titanium 2.0 AWD Review by Carey Russ

The 2016 Ford Escape is still a benchmark in its class

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS

      • SEE ALSO: Ford Research and Buyers Guide

2016 Ford Escape

To say that Ford's third-generation Escape compact crossover has been a success is understatement. And no surprise, as the Focus-based machine wraps a roomy, convenient interior in a stylish body that has an easy-to-park footprint. It's been largely unchanged except for minor trim and equipment details and infotainment technology updates since its debut for 2013, a tribute to Ford getting it right for its market. That will change for 2017, with a refresh featuring new styling, a new and more efficient 1.5-liter EcoBoost turbo engine replacing the current 1.6, and changes to the 2.0 EcoBoost powerplant as well.

But that's in the future, and the 2016 Escape is what's available now. The end of a model year or the end of a version can be a good time to buy a car. It's a known quantity and often deals can be made. There are people who absolutely must be the first with anything, and camp out in front of the store, theater, or wherever. And then there are the rest of us…

As has been the case since 2013, the 2016 Escape is offered in S, SE, and Titanium trim levels. Power is all four-cylinder, 2.5-liter, 168 horsepower naturally-aspirated for the S, and 178-hp 1.6- and 240-hp 2.0-liter "EcoBoost" turbocharged, direct fuel-injected in the SE and Titanium. All are matched to the six-speed SelectShift® automatic transmission. The 2.5 is front-wheel drive only; EcoBoost models may be outfitted with an all-wheel drive system that analyzes inputs from multiple sensors to determine road conditions and driver demands to distribute torque to the wheels that can best use it. The biggest changes for 2016 is the new SYNC3 audio and information interface, designed to look and work more like a smartphone or tablet than previous SYNC interfaces.

The S is well-equipped for a reasonably-priced smallish crossover, and the SE improves on that. The Titanium shows the Escape's near-luxury side, with heated leather-trimmed seats, ambient lighting, all of the current audio choices, and options including navigation and more.

And an AWD Titanium was last week's test car. Yes, it is car, and not too far from its Focus underpinnings. Which is a Good Thing. It's taller, with a higher center of gravity, and a little heavier and more comfort-oriented, but there's more room inside, and the higher seating position helps visibility. With maxima of 240 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque -- at a useful 3000 rpm-- the 2.0 EcoBoost is not lacking. Passing and merging are no problem, nor are steep grades. Turbo engines are sensitive to driving style, so a heavy right foot will cost at the pump. But when there is no need for boost, fuel economy can be exemplary. In earlier Escapes with the same engine, I got a 22-mpg average with mostly city and backroad driving. This time a couple hundred miles of holiday highway travel were involved -- but the highway was neither straight nor level. And 25 mpg was the result. The foot-activated tailgate is much more than a silly gimmick if you are in the habit of coming up to your car with two hands full of groceries or kids or some combination thereof. 2.0-liter towing capacity is a useful 3500 pounds, more than enough for a small camping trailer, motorcycle or ATV or personal watercraft trailer, or small boat. Versatility is the word with crossovers, and the Escape does that well.

APPEARANCE: No change here, while other Fords, including the Focus, have had restyling since the current Escape's debut. At the front, there is much similarity to the double-decker grille look of the pre-2014 Focus, but in the crossover fashion, the Escape's body is chunkier and higher, for a higher seating position. It makes the original Escape look like the box it came in. It looks aerodynamic, and is. Strong winds, a daily fact of life in my part of the world, bother it not at all. The plastic "skidplate" in front is less that and more underbody air management, with rubber deflectors at its trailing edge (and one air scoop) and a mostly-flat underbody to ensure clean air management for reduced noise and fuel consumption. Strong wheel arches and rubberized protective cladding surrounding the lower perimeter are as close as the new Escape comes to traditional SUV styling.

2016 Ford Escape

COMFORT: Add space to a comfort-oriented seating position, good visibility to the front and sides, enhanced to the rear by the rearview camera, and plenty of headroom, and there is no surprise at the Escape's popularity. Even the center rear position is useful -- if dependent on the size of the outboard passengers -- thanks to a near-flat floor.

Titanium means stitched leather seating and steering wheel rim, five-level front seat heat, and soft-touch textured door and dash panels. It's all very stylish, and more than a little reminiscent of a Focus, but function is not compromised. The electroluminescent main instruments are well-shaded from glare and easily visible, with a useful information display between the tach and speedometer. Controls for the information, cruise control, audio, and phone systems are found on the steering wheel. Those and the new SYNC touchscreen interface do have a learning curve, but are no more difficult to decipher than any other current such interface. Bonus points to Ford for also having good old-fashioned knobs and buttons for climate control. All current audio choices are available, including AM, FM, and Sirius/XM radio, CD, and USB and A/V jack inputs. The touchscreen is also interface for the navigation system, and displays the backup camera view in reverse. A space-saver spare is found under the rear cargo floor, and liftover is lower than in many comparably-sized crossovers. Ford's SecuriCode™ external keypad may be ancient technology, but it's still useful. Going swimming and need a place to store the car "key"? Keep it in the car and use the SecuriCode combination lock.

SAFETY: All Escapes have Ford's Personal Safety System™ of airbags and sensors, the Safety Canopy® System of full-length side curtain airbags, AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control™) electronic stability control, integrated blind spot mirrors and more as standard safety equipment. The BLIS blind spot monitoring system, which displays warning lights in the outside rear-view mirror if a vehicle is in the blind spot, is optional.

RIDE AND HANDLING: The Escape's long-travel, fully-independent suspension is tuned moderately softly for a smooth, comfortable ride, even on poor road surfaces. A high center of gravity and the softish suspension mitigate any sport driving, but for that there's always the Focus ST. An Escape is quieter and carries more stuff, and people. With 7.9 inches of clearance, it should work well on forest and fire roads, even if they are slightly rutted. The all-wheel drive system can help there -- or anywhere, wet or dry. It automatically apportions torque to the wheels that can use it, varying from pure front-wheel drive in most conditions to all four wheels. This also eliminates torque steer, which with 270 lb-ft of torque going through the front wheels could be more than noticeable.

PERFORMANCE: Ford didn't invent the concept and combination of a small-capacity engine with turbocharging, variable cam phasing, and direct fuel injection as a replacement for a larger naturally-aspirated one, but has developed it well. The result here is a lighter and more compact power unit, compared to the original Escape's 3.0-liter V6, that makes the same horsepower -- 240 -- and much more torque, 270 lb-ft vs. 223. As the old saying goes, horsepower is what you brag about but torque is what you feel. The 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine's strong, broad torque curve, with the peak at a useful 3000 rpm, means that gear selection is rarely an issue, and the six speed automatic shifts smoothly and quickly in D. It is programmed to maximize fuel economy, so can hunt sometimes on grades. A shift to "S" ("Sport") mode cures that by holding gears, with minimal effect on fuel use. Manual shifting, by means of a rocker switch on the shift lever, can be done in S mode, but I found it to rarely be necessary. As mentioned previously, fuel economy is good, especially considering the available power. But more so with a turbo than naturally-aspirated engine, driving style will influence mileage. Quick acceleration is fun, but will make for a thirsty engine.

CONCLUSIONS: It's not the newest entry in the compact crossover class, but the 2016 Ford Escape is still a benchmark.

SPECIFICATIONS 2016 Ford Escape Titanium

Base Price $ 32,450

Price As Tested $ 34,280

Engine Type turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve aluminum alloy inline 4-cylinder with direct fuel injection and variable cam phasing

Engine Size 2.0 liters / 122 cu. in.

Horsepower 240 @ 5500 rpm (on premium fuel)

Torque (lb-ft) 270 @ 3000 rpm

Transmission 6-speed automatic with manual-shift mode

Wheelbase / Length 105.9 in. / 178.1 in.

Curb Weight 3732 lbs.

Pounds Per Horsepower 15.6

Fuel Capacity 15.4 gal.

Fuel Requirement 87 octane unleaded regular gasoline

Tires P235/45R19 97H Continental Conti Pro Contact

Brakes, front/rear vented disc / solid disc, ABS and ESC standard

Suspension, front/rear independent MacPherson strut / indepedent Control Blade™ multilink

Ground Clearance 7.9 inches

Drivetrain transverse front engine, full-time automatic all-wheel drive

PERFORMANCE

EPA Fuel Economy - miles per gallon city / highway / observed 22 / 30 / 25

Towing Capacity 3500 lbs.

OPTIONS AND CHARGES

Ruby Red clearcoat paint $ 395

2.0 EcoBoost engine $ 1,195*

All-Wheel Drive $ 1,750*

Equipment Group 301A -- includes: Titanium Technology Package, HID automatic headlights, Blind-Spot Detection System, Active Park Assist $ 1,735

Navigation System $ 795

Destination Charge $ 895

* there was an incomplete Monroney (price sheet) with this car. I "created" prices using the Ford customer website "Build And Price" feature. The 2.0-liter engine and AWD system cost were reflected in the base price during the build, not the base price with the 1.6 and front-wheel drive. Note that discounts and special promotions may apply depending on where you are and when you look. And press-fleet vehicles may have feature combinations "not available in stores"… cr