![]() 2017 models are priced nearly the same.įor this outlay one gets a very satisfying all-rounder which does give up mpg to the class champ – the RAV4 Hybrid which is rated a few mpg ahead of the AWD 2011 Escape Hybrid – or 34 city, 31 highway, 33 combined – and starts at $28,370 and goes to $33,610 plus options and $900 destination. The one we drove stickers for $32,475 including $845 destination and delivery charge. The Escape's 2-liter engine, Sync 3 infotainment, and automated parallel parking all help distinguish it from the pack.Pricing for the 2016 Escape starts at $23,590 for the base S, runs to $25,490 for the SE, and the Titanium starts at $29,995. That makes for a lot of choices, especially as most of these vehicles offer versatile interior space and an easy driving character. The small SUV market is crowded, with stalwart competitors such as the Honda CR-V, Toyota Rav4, Kia Sportage and even the Jeep Cherokee. The Escape's responsive steering and comfortable suspension tuning will come standard across the lineup. Those features, and the Sony audio system, make a good argument for the Titanium trim. The Titanium trim model I drove also came with a blind-spot monitor and automated parallel parking, both of which worked very well. That model also comes with the 1.6-liter Ecoboost engine. To get Sync 3, which is definitely worth it, you will need to at least get the SE trim Escape. Losing those options will also bring fuel economy from a low-20s average to high-20s. Loaded up, the price gets high, but dropping all-wheel drive and the 2-liter Ecoboost engine will shave off a considerable amount, putting the Escape more on par with the small SUV competition as to power. It's hard to find fault with the 2016 Ford Escape, especially in Titanium trim. Wayne Cunningham/CNET More power, more tech The Escape does about everything very well, and Sync 3 promises future capabilities when new apps come available. Still, I would like to see the even more comprehensive traffic coverage you get from Google Maps. Traffic data, which comes from a satellite radio feed, showed good coverage, with flow information for some city streets as well as freeways. Sync 3's route guidance worked well, and I noticed the voice prompts seemed to be a carryover from the previous system. I would really like to see Yelp or a general online business search, like Google or Bing, made available here. While only a handful of apps are currently supported, more should be coming rapidly. Running Spotify and Glympse on my phone, I was able to interact with those apps on Sync 3's touchscreen. What could mitigate that issue in the future is Sync 3's AppLink system, supporting third-party apps. However, Sync 3 doesn't do online search, so I ran into an instance where it did not have a listing for a newer local business that I was able to find on my phone's app. I haven't seen that level of responsiveness from any other car-based navigation system and, as the maps are stored locally, I didn't have to wait for a data connection to fill in the screen, like I would with a smartphone app.įord streamlines destination input with a single box for entering addresses, cities, or searching for points of interest, similar to using a maps app. More impressive, I could drag the map screens around, even when they were full of complex 3D-rendered buildings. Running on a Texas Instruments dual-core processor, onscreen buttons reacted instantly to my touchscreen inputs. Touch responseĪdding to what has been a well-mannered, practical small SUV, Sync 3 gives it a dashboard electronics platform equal in responsiveness to any tablet or smartphone on the market. That corner braking system may help, but I can't say I felt it come into play. Ford equips the Escape with a vehicle stability program, of course, and also a corner braking system, which applies light braking to the inside wheels in a turn to help the car rotate. Not surprising for a small SUV, the cabin sway kept me from pushing it hard through sharp turns. Wayne Cunningham/CNETĪnd while I really liked the responsive steering feel, which reacted instantly to my inputs, the Escape feels a little top-heavy in the turns. The six-speed automatic transmission includes an unnecessary sport mode.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |