2012 Ford Escape Charlotte NC

The 2012 Ford Escape is one of the best vehicles in Ford's lineup, and competitive in a crowded field of small sport-utilities, regardless of price. The Escape offers front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, competitive four- or six-cylinder engines and the Hybrid package, which works essentially as the conventional models do. For all-purpose, reasonably efficient daily transport on the road, the Escape rates among the best smaller SUVs. The five-passenger Ford Escape is offered with front-wheel drive or fulltime all-wheel drive, and either a four-cylinder, V6, or gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain. The four trim levels are distinguished by engine and standard features. The Escape's ride height and seating position are a bit higher than competitors such as the Honda CR-V, and it can tow up to 3,500 pounds, which is substantially more than most other vehicles in the class.

Handling of  the '12 Escape

The standard four-cylinder engine is adequate for all-purpose driving while the V6 offers quicker acceleration performance. All models are offered with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. For the most part, the Hybrid drives just like a conventional gas-only Escape. It's a well-executed package. It offers better fuel economy and lower emissions but demands little additional effort or knowledge from the driver. The Escape is quite pleasant to drive. It handles well and has a firm, comfortable ride, without the jarring suspension clanks that can characterize conventional truck-based SUVs with tall, off-road tires. An electric power steering system and careful suspension tuning give a level of refinement in ride and handling.  The base 2.5-liter four-cylinder delivers good power at high revs for those who like to wind it up and decent torque for acceleration when you need it at any speed. The 3.0-liter V6 engine offers 240 horsepower for stronger acceleration. It has about as much torque as any small SUV is likely to need. It's available only with the six-speed automatic, but its power band is broad. Both the four-cylinder and the V6 engines are matched with a very smooth, electronically controlled six-speed automatic, which offers ideal ratios for all vehicle speeds and contributes to the Escape’s exceptional fuel economy. The Escape Hybrid is a full hybrid, meaning it can run on 100 percent electric power up to about 25 mph.

2012 Ford Escape Exterior

The 2012 Escape has the air of a conventional, truck-based SUV, with a more rugged look than many other small, sedan-platform sport-utilities. The grille looks like it was designed for a truck. The headlights are essentially connected to the grille, and shaped to create a family resemblance with Ford's Edge crossover SUV. The Escape's beltline is high, too, and its roof pillars are blacked out. The taillights have a clear band that wraps around the rear corners. The lower bumpers and rocker panels are now painted to match the body on all models, rather than molded in a matte finish. In total, the effect is cleaner and more polished than previous models, and it's all quite handsome.

New Ford Escape Cabin

The Escape provides comfortable seating for four, or five in a pinch. Folding the rear seats opens a good sized cargo area with a flat floor, and space behind the seat surpasses that in the trunk of a typical sedan. There are lots of interior storage spaces, the finish is upscale and pleasing, and feature function and switches are among the best.  The Escape features upholstery cloth made from 100-percent recycled material, but you'd never know by its look or feel. The gauges are clustered in a shaded binnacle that can be absorbed in a glance: Tachometer left, speedometer right, with fuel and coolant temperature in the middle, along with an easy-to-read trip- and systems-info display. The gauges and switches feature Ford's new signature backlighting style, which the company calls Ice Blue. The dashboard is tall and squarish, but it's attractive and fits the Escape's little-truck theme nicely. The big vents at the ends move lots of air, and there are two more in the middle near the top of the center stack. Storage space is aplenty in the Escape, at least in terms of cubbies within reach of the front passengers. Cargo capacity is 66.3 cubic feet, with 29.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat, and the cargo space is easy to access. The rear seat folds quickly, 60/40, and the bottom can be removed to make a perfectly flat load floor.

Lineup of the 2012 Escape

The Escape XLS is powered by a 171-hp 2.5-liter inline four that generates 171 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed manual transmission is standard, and a six-speed automatic is optional. The XLS comes with cloth upholstery, air conditioning, power windows, mirrors and locks, an AM/FM stereo with CD and auxiliary jack, rear window defroster and 16-inch steel wheels.

The Escape XLT adds more standard features, including upgraded cloth upholstery, a power driver's seat, cruise control, privacy glass and 16-inch alloy wheels. A 240-hp, dual overhead cam 3.0-liter V6 is optional on the XLT, and includes the six-speed automatic.

The Escape Limited comes standard with the V6 and automatic, plus leather seating, a six-CD changer and automatic headlights.

The Escape Hybrid is available in two trim levels, the base version and the base with 4WD; and the Hybrid Limited and Hybrid Limited 4WD. The Hybrid Limited versions are equipped similarly to the Limited models, but add the hybrid powertrain. This so-called full hybrid features a more fuel efficient, 153-hp Atkinson Cycle version of the four-cylinder engine and a 70 kilowatt electric motor.

Conclusions

Safety features include front- and side-impact airbags for front occupants and curtain-type head protection airbags for all outboard seats. The side curtains can remain inflated for several seconds in the event of a rollover, and are designed to slide between the side glass and occupants if the people are oddly seated or resting heads against a window. Active safety systems include four-channel antilock brakes, and AdvanceTrac electronic stability control with Roll Stability Control, which adds a second gyroscopic roll-rate sensor to the typical stability control package, measuring the Escape's roll angle and roll rate and applying countermeasures (such as braking one of the wheels or reducing power) to increase rollover resistance. For more on this vehicle, visit the official Ford Escape website!

Some information for this review was obtained from NewCarTestDrive.com