2013 Ford Escape Titanium Review

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MPG-o-Matic 2013 Ford Escape Review Summary: The 2013 Ford Escape battles it out with a host of worthy competitors in the highly popular small crossover segment, from the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, to the Hyundai Tuscon and Chevy Equinox. While some may lament the exit of the traditional Escape SUV, the new crossover design is a more pleasant vehicle overall and is sold worldwide as the Ford Kuga. The Escape’s torquey EcoBoost engine and tightly designed cabin set it apart from the competition.

The 2013 Ford Escape is available in four trim levels, S SE, SEL, and Titanium. The base S model is equipped with a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter Duratec inline four cylinder engine. The SE and SEL can be ordered with either a 1.6-liter or 2.0-liter EcoBoost inline four. The top-of-the-line Titanium model is only fitted with the 2.0-liter EcoBoost. All 2013 Escapes use a six-speed SelectShift automatic transmission and are available in front-wheel (FWD) and all-wheel-drive (AWD). The 2.0-liter turbo produces 231 horsepower (HP) and 270 foot-pounds of torque on regular unleaded and 240 HP on premium.

The official fuel economy estimates for the 2.0-liter EcoBoost Escape are 22 City / 30 Highway for FWD and 21 City / 28 Highway for AWD.

We covered more than five hundred miles in our Ingot Silver AWD Titanium review unit and scored an average of 30.6 MPG on the Interstate highway and 23.2 MPG combined with temperatures ranging from the thirties through the sixties.

Interstate Mileage Testing:

  • Cruise control set to 68 MPH, A/C off, windows up: 29.2 MPG
  • Cruise control off, target speed 60-72 MPH, A/C off, windows up: 31.5 MPG

Interstate highway testing temperatures were in the mid-sixties.

Our test vehicle was equipped with 19-inch alloy wheels, clad with optional Continental ContiProContact P235/45R19 all season tires tires, and was delivered with slightly under 10000 miles on the odometer. The 2013 Escape is equipped with an 15.1 gallon fuel tank and is designed to run on regular unleaded gasoline (although the EcoBoost engine is tuned to produce more HP with premium fuel). Highway driving range is good.

The Escape Titanium AWD is fitted with four-wheel-disc brakes. 12.6-inch vented discs are used on the front and 11.0-inch solid discs on the rear. The AWD Escape Titanium tips the scales at 3,732 pounds.

The 2013 Escape is ten percent more aerodynamic than the 2012 model. Active grille shutters are used in the 2.5 liter (naturally aspirated) and 1.6-liter EcoBoost models further reduce wind resistance.

The turbocharged and direct injected EcoBoost 2.0-liter provides a solid combination of performance and efficiency.

The 2013 Escape marks the debut of Ford’s crisply designed global seat architecture. The Titanium interior features leather and cloth-trimmed upholstery, with five-level heated front bucket seats. The driver’s seat has ten-way power adjustment with two-way power lumbar support. Ambient lighting, dual-zone temperature control, and a remote start system are standard.

The ten-speaker Sony audio system includes a subwoofer. Hands-free Bluetooth, Microsoft Sync, and MyFordTouch are standard. There’s a 115-volt outlet at the back of the center console and two twelve volt outlets – one at the base of the dash, and one inside the center console, along with two USB ports, RCA inputs and a SD card slot

The Parking technology option package includes a rear view camera (with red/yellow/green zones and ghost lines), Active Park Assist, Blindspot mirrors with cross-traffic alert, forward and reverse sensing systems, and rain-sensing wipers.

The Escape’s second row seat is quite accommodating, with 39.0 inches of headroom, 36.8 inches of legroom, a recline feature, and a fold-down center armrest. There’s plenty of cargo area, with a low lift-over height (27 inches) and an extremely well-engineered fold-flat split rear seat. You’ll find 34.3 cubic feet of storage behind the 60/40 rear seat, and 68.1 cubic feet when the seat is folded down. The Titanium model includes the foot-activate liftgate and the tonneau cover.

All-in-all, the 2013 Ford Escape jockeys for the lead in this year’s pack of small crossovers.
There’s no question that it’s leaps and bounds better than it’s predecessor … if you’re looking for car, rather than a truck. Alas, the Escape Hybrid is no more. If you’re looking for the same style and comfort but with a significantly higher level of fuel efficiency, you’ll want to check out the Ford C-MAX.

Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price: $32,120
Destination Charges: $895


Competitors:


2013 Ford Escape Titanium Review
4.3
Daniel Gray
2013-4-21

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