The snow was piling up Sunday morning when we backed the 2013 Ford Escape out of the garage, made a drive-through at Starbucks, then maneuvered our way across town to the First United Methodist Church of Greeley.
The Escape’s performance in the snow was very good and the slick streets had little effect on its tracking and braking.
It was no surprise, due to the cold and blowing snow, that few showed up for church. For those who did, an added reward was that the service was moved to a smaller room in the basement, where we enjoyed rolls and coffee in addition to the message.
Afterward, to better test the Escape, we drove it out onto some country roads and got offroad for a bit. The snow was deeper and intense wind created some hazardous conditions. Again, the 4-by-4 did minimal slipping around, handling was excellent as Ford’s Intelligent “torque on demand” spread the power to whatever corner needed it.
The Escape was equipped with 19-inch wheels and the Continental ContiProContact all-season tires seemed to be suited for the winter duty. On the other hand, the 19-inchers on dry pavement earlier in the week might have contributed to occasional harsh ride results. With its stiff suspension, the Escape’s ride didn’t measure up to those of three larger Fords I’ve driven – Explorer, Edge and Flex. Perhaps Escape’s standard 17s would have ridden more comfortably.
The Escape is the fifth SUV/crossover delivered to me in recent weeks, all red in color. Previously have been the Chevy Traverse, Mazda CX-5, Ford Explorer and Kia Sportage. The Escape’s exterior is ruby red tinted metallic finish, with charcoal interior.
The review model is the fully loaded Titanium version, powered by an EcoBoost 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine and 6-speed automatic transmission. With 240 horsepower, it is of quick low-end response and strong acceleration (torque is 270 lbs.-ft.). Other engine options are a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder and a 1.6-liter turbo 4. Last year’s V-6 has been dropped, as has the Escape hybrid model.
The EcoBoost 2-liter carries an EPA estimate of 21/28 miles per gallon. My average, cut somewhat by the snowy and icy roads, was 22.3 mpg.
The new Escape with flowing curves is much more sleekly styled than the former boxy structure. Its wheelbase has grown to 105.9 inches from 103.1, and it is 3.5 inches longer in overall length, an inch and half wider and weighs in about 150 pounds heavier. Cargo space has been increased by 3.5 cubic feet to a spacious 34.3.
Speaking of the rear of the SUV, its liftgate is motion-activated and automatically opens when the operator, with key pod in his pocket and both arms full of groceries, kicks a foot under the bumper. Sideways won’t work; the swinging foot has to be straight ahead.
The interior is finished in premium style. MyFord Touch voice-activated navigation and premium sound are fairly easily accommodated and other niceties aboard the Titanium edition, sticker-priced at $35,130, are push-button start and remote start, rearview camera, blind-spot detection, automatic headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, leather seats (front heated) and leather-wrapped steering wheel.
Another feature, Active Park Assist, will self-park the Escape into a parallel parking spot. Press a button on the dash, drive slowly and the information screen lights up for a suitable adjacent space. With hands removed from the steering wheel, the system moves the Escape backward, turning the steering wheel back and forth into the space. The driver controls the brake. For expediency, I imagine I would do the parking on my own; the self-parking feature, though, draws lots of interest.
Lesser-equipped and cheaper models of the Escape are the S, SE and SEL.
Notes from e-mail
Q: Bud, your revisit of the 1978 Volkswagen Rabbit Diesel review last Saturday prompts this message. My cousin and wife, both well into retirement age, drove their ’79 VW Diesel sedan from their home in California here to visit me in the summer of 2011. They had a trouble-free (warm with no A/C) trip, but had slow going up Vail pass in the loaded Rabbit. Overall mileage after returning to California was 52 mpg. Not bad for a 32-year-old car. An engineer, he does all his own maintenance and light repair and replaced U-joints before the trip. The VW is daily transportation. I enjoyed the review, also, of the BMW 335i xDrive. Couldn’t help but compare it to the 1972 BMW 2002 model I bought new. Equally fun to drive, I suspect. You have an insight to many automotive things that a younger reviewer might miss, and many of us in your age range appreciate that. – R.H.
A: Thanks, Roy, we’ve been at this auto business quite some time, eh?
Saturday Drive can also be viewed online at DenverPost.com/budwells. Bud Wells can be reached via e-mail at bwells@denverpost.com.
