Since I normally over-research the available products long before any major purchase, it was way out of character to purchase my 2013 Escape on the same day that I first became aware of them.
I had spent 6 months sporadically, and the last 3 months intensely doing the research to decide on what would replace my 2010 Fusion SEL. In addition to that abnormality, I should also disclaim that I’m not your “average” driver. I think the best term to describe my driving style would be “aggressive”. If there’s a vehicle in front of you, pass it. If there’s a vehicle beside you, (like at a traffic light) don’t let him get ahead of you. Buy the best radar detector that you can’t afford (after researching to find the best). While living in Houston for the past 13 years, I’d had 3 Accords before switching to the non-bailout-taking, American car company. All were 36 month, 36,000 mi. leases. I never went over 8,000 miles/yr.
My Fusion had the 3.0, 24 Valve, V6 with the 6-speed SportShift transmission. It would smoke the front tires off the line and chirp them going into 2nd. It had remote start, NAV, rear camera, and just about all the bells & whistles. I really wanted to replace it with the 2013 Fusion. The problem was that to get all the tech toys and AWD, I would need the “Titanium” trim level, and as of this writing, that trim level comes with only the “Charcoal Black” leather interior. I’ve had black and my wife doesn’t like black interiors, so it was a show-stopper. I’d have to find another vehicle and wait for Ford to come to its senses.
I liked the Sonata but it didn’t come with AWD, and now that we’ve moved to New England and 5 grandkids, I’ll feel safer with AWD. A little more research and I found one and only one 2012 Fusion within 150 miles that was colored and optioned the way I wanted. Sixty days before my lease was to terminate, I went to a local Ford dealer with the intention of committing to lease that particular 2012 Fusion if the local dealer could get the car, and if we could negotiate the right terms. My salesman said he could get the car, and would present my terms to his manager. While he was off doing his thing, I looked out at a line of SUVs that were backed-up along the showroom window. They looked pretty cool! They were Escapes – but I’d looked at Escapes and thought they were boxes. Turns out I’d looked at 2012 Escapes that were/are boxes. I’d also looks at the Edge and Explorer lines and found them too big for me to not worry when my wife would be carting the grandkids to Target during a New England snowstorm.
I went outside to look them over. My salesman came out and threw me the keys (fob) to a Titanium – so I went for a drive – alone. I loved it. I can’t describe it in just one word – it takes three; Easy, Quick, and Fun!
So I went back in to my salesman and spec’d one out. With the way Ford packages the Escapes, I ended up with an SEL 2.0 AWD with all options except Towing (Technology and Parking Assist packages, plus NAV and the Panoramic Sunroof) – in White Platinum Tri-Coat paint and Medium Stone leather interior. The MSRP came up to $37,190. We got close to what I was willing to pay so I called a timeout to go and get my wife.
We arrived back at the dealership and I led my wife toward the front to the lineup of Escapes. When our salesman came out my wife exclaimed, “Timmy!” Then they hugged and as Timmy said, “Auntie Lynne”, I came to the realization that the cost of my new Escape had just gone DOWN!
I signed up for a 24 month, 18,000 mi/yr lease, and Tim input the order. We went home and I started the research. The Dealer “eSource” website was open (it’s now locked out) and I downloaded copies of all promotional and technical materials. From the Ford Owners website I got copies of the Owner’s manual (Tip: Make sure you have the latest printing, currently 2nd.) I set up a Google Alert for anything “2013 Escape”, and I searched YouTube and the car magazines websites. And I read it all. I viewed lots of YouTube videos. I joined online Escape Forums. I drove my wife, family, and even my friends crazy.
If I had to put a number on it, I’d say that at least 95% of everything I read, saw, or heard was positive, even superlative, and continually reassured me that I’d made a good choice. The technology is nothing short of awesome!
It took 8 weeks from order to delivery. Two Ford employees, on different websites, kept me informed as to where mine was in the process. When I learned it was to be built on a Saturday, I was a tad apprehensive. I’d read Arthur Hailey’s “Wheels” and learned that the best day of the week to have your car built is Wednesday – because that day has the most employees on the line at their normal position, and the least number of fill-in’s or substitutes. Yeah, Saturday had me worried. (Needlessly)
From the forums, I also learned that some of the early Escapes had problems with water leakage around the front window and some had door/hatch alignment and fit issues. (Mine has neither.)
We took delivery a month ago. We now have 1,400 miles on it; I’ve washed it twice and waxed it once. And we’ve been on one 350 mile road trip to where we grew up in Vermont. Yesterday, my wife said, “I like driving this car better than any other car I’ve driven!” Except for a 1973 Citroën SM with a Maserati drivetrain, I agree.
We live in Hudson, MA, and to get almost anywhere we drive interstate highways at 75 mph or rural roads at 40. The trip to Vt. was mostly 2-lane rural country roads with speed limits of 50 mph. I used the Cruise Control whenever possible and had it set to 5 mph above the limits.
Some of the technology:
MapQuest, “Send to SYNC” – Or you can use the smartphone app, “SYNC Destinations” to find destination addresses and “send” them to your car. Then you start it up and give the voice command, “Services”, after which a nice lady’s voice asks if you want to navigate to whatever destination you sent.
Tip #1: If you want a different route than what the system maps out for you, include some waypoints from along the route that YOU want to go.
Tip #2: Use the “Auto” zoom level – it automatically zooms the map in and out based on your speed, and when you are nearing turns.
Real-Life: This works. Finding destinations via MapQuest or SYNC Destinations and then sending them to the car before your trip is sometimes easier than searching for destinations via Voice Commands or the touchscreen. You can save sent destinations to your address book (now called Favorites).
Hands-Free Power LiftGate - A gentle kicking motion under the center of the rear bumper activates, unlocks and raises the LiftGate when the driver has the Escape key fob in pocket or purse and it’s within 3 feet of the hatch. This allows quick and easy access to the cargo area without needing to set down packages or dig out keys. The same process closes the hatch.
Real-Life: This is really appreciated the first time you have your arms/hands full and you don’t have to put stuff on the ground/snow/mud to open the hatch. Plus, onlookers go, “Wow!”
SYNC® with MyFord Touch® - Offers multiple ways for customers to manage and control information through voice commands, menus accessed through controls on the steering wheel, touch screens, buttons or knobs. Upgraded system includes new look, making phone, navigation, entertainment and climate controls even easier to use.
Real-Life: Yeah, it needs a little refinement…but it ain’t bad! Using the phone is a lot easier and sounds (on both sides) much better than previous versions.
Active Park Assist - Parallel parking the Escape is virtually stress-free with active park assist. With the press of a button, the system detects an available parallel parking space and automatically steers the vehicle into the space. Drivers control only the gas and brake pedals. The rear camera, coupled with the front & rear proximity sensors provide visual, graphical, and auditory guidance & warnings as you get close to objects behind, in-front, and off the corners of the vehicle.
Real-Life: - This really does work. But it takes a bit of practice. It puts you right next to, but not touching the curb. The proximity sensor system quiets the radio/sound system as you approach objects and the warning beeps get louder and more intense as you get closer. An undocumented benefit is when you approach a drive-through window or toll booth – it beeps and turns down the sound volume automatically!
BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System) with Cross-Traffic Alert - Maneuvering parking lots and traveling open roadways becomes even safer and less stressful with Escape’s sensor-based BLIS sounds an alert when a vehicle is detected entering a blind spot. The outside mirrors have an indicator light that lets you know when there’s another vehicle alongside of you and when you’re clear to change lanes. Cross-traffic alert warns if traffic is detected approaching from the sides, such as when Escape is leaving a parking space in reverse.
Real-Life: - I’ve had this on previous vehicles and it’s one of the things that I’ll insist be on all of my future cars. More than once have I found the next lane was NOT clear even though I couldn’t see anyone there. Plus it does let you know if anyone is coming down the row behind you BEFORE you back up.
Curve Control – Torque Vectoring Control – Intelligent 4WD - The all-new Ford Escape is the first Ford SUV to combine class-exclusive technology to automatically slow the vehicle when it’s cornering too fast (Curve Control) or help accelerate through a turn (Torque Vectoring Control); a new Intelligent 4WD System helps deliver outstanding handling on pristine pavement and in adverse conditions as well, along with excellent traction off-road.
Real-Life: - I’ve entered some On and Off-Ramps at pretty good speeds, but have yet to activate the Curve Control. I have read quite a bit about it and I’m glad to know it’s there. I can feel the result of the Torque Vectoring Control – going around corners just seems so much more effortless than in previous vehicles. We’ve had only one snowfall so far this year and it was 4 inches of very wet white stuff on surfaces that were too warm for any ice to form. I couldn’t get it to break traction – so it wasn’t much fun. The Escape just went where I steered it with no wheel spin at all L.
Electric Power-Assisted Steering (EPAS) with Pull-Drift Compensation - Ford’s electric power-assisted steering with Pull-Drift Compensation technology constantly measures the driver’s steering input, adapts to changing road conditions and helps compensate for slight directional shifts caused by factors such as crowned road surfaces or steady crosswinds.
Real-Life: - I was driving back from Vermont Saturday morning while a cold front was moving through. It was very windy; leaves were blowing all over. At first, I thought the driver of the Chevy Tahoe ahead of me might have had a hangover – he was sporadically swerving in and out of his lane. It was then that I realized there was one heck of a crosswind that was blowing him around. Him – not me! I was relaxed and steering with 2 fingers. I had read about EPAS, but I had no idea how good it really is! I honestly could not feel the wind, nor could I feel EPAS – the ride was rock-solid!
So, “What’s wrong with it?”– Not much. For my Escape, fit & finish, both inside and out is flawless. Some folks complain about the space between your right leg and the center stack covering – there isn’t any room, your leg will be against it. Aside from having to adjust my pants leg now and then (the seam of my jeans), I wasn’t bothered. The seats are comfortable, with plenty of room, and I’m 6’ 1”, 245 lbs.
There needs to be some kind of tray in the center console for coins, pens, and other junk. And I’d feel better if the SD card and the USB/RCA connectors had a protective cover.
The dash HVAC vents have bright, almost chrome trim that reflects on the windows and is visible in the side mirrors. No big deal, but it’s annoying at times.
Performance – The new engines combine EcoBoost’s core technologies of direct fuel injection and turbocharging and add twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT) to deliver even better miles per gallon and save customers money on fuel. The 2.0-liter offers 240 horsepower and 270 lb.-ft. of torque. My window sticker says 21/28/24 for City/Highway/Combined.
Real-Life: - For my 365 mile trip to Vermont and back, most of it highway driving at 60 mph or less, I got 25.1 mpg. That included 3 or 4 full-throttle starts in “Sport” mode, and yes I whipped the CR-V’s, and three V6’s – a Pathfinder, a RAV 4, and a Tacoma. Plus, there were several 40-to-80-and back to 60 passing runs on two-lane roads.
Over the 1336 total miles on the car, checking each time I fill the tank, I’m getting 18.3 avg., with 25.1 high and 14.6 low. I’m happy with it, and I realize we do a lot of 75-80 or-get-run-over driving on the interstates.
Bottom Line – If I could go back and change anything about the vehicle I ordered and am driving now, I’d change nothing. I love this car!
