7 February 2011
In between driving the new force fed Territory, we also got some wheel time in Ford's face-lifted Escape.
The smaller escape, said Ford's Managing Director, Richard Matheson, "Has a distinctive Ford DNA, and now closely resembles its best selling bigger brother, the multi-award winning Territory."
The resemblance is there, but not strikingly obvious, the two vehicle's really are more like cousins. The new three-bar chrome grill looks good, but in our opinion lacks the handsome appeal of its Aussie stablemate.
The interior has been modernized, the most welcomed change being the use of a central positioned T-shifter, dumping the column shift mechanism the out-going Escape offered. The more user-friendly interior also enjoys new colour and fabric treatments.
Depending on how quickly you wish to 'escape' the mid-size SUV is available with a 2.3 litre four cylinder developing 109kW, or a 3.0 litre, 154kW six cylinder power unit, both engines receive VVVT (variable valve timing) to aid fuel efficiency and power output. Neither engine option sets the tarmac on fire though, and we felt the potential of the engines were limited by the aging technology of a four-speed automatic transmission.
A new electro magnetic coupling activates 4WD, as wheel slip is detected. On a short gravel road section, where the Territory couldn't use all of its power, the Escape didn't embarrass itself, a credit to its 4WD system.
The entry-level 2.3 litre Escape starts at a price of $39,990, the 3.0 litre XLT, $42,490.
However, with even the inexpensive Korean marques already bringing diesel power and five speed autos to the table, Ford's reluctance to move with the times in this area could hurt the Escape's chances to dominate the sales charts.
A fate the Territory seems comfortably impervious to, never mind SUV sales, the hugely popular wagon was the forth most popular vehicle sold in New Zealand in 2005.