Today we took a quick drive in the new 2014 Ford Escape Titanium. Ours was a fully loaded example with the 2.0 liter EcoBoost engine and all-wheel drive, along with all the Titanium Tech Package. It had all the bells and whistles.
The Ford Escape was redesigned in 2013 and shares the One Ford design theme which is sharp and angular, a style which spans cars to SUVs around the globe. It’s handsome and smart at first impression with many small details that catch your eye.
Inside, the cabin is comprised of high quality materials and offers a commanding view over the hood. Despite its SUV height, it feels decidedly like a car from behind the wheel. The interior is virtually identical to the Ford C-Max to which it shares many things.
Our Escape had the latest generation MyFord Touch driver interface which is easier to use than before but still seems tech for tech’s sake. Additional hard controls have been added for 2014 to lessen the need for touch screen menu use, but still we would prefer what most brands offer up…simplicity.
The driver seat the cabin offers few blind spots when in traffic. There is a back-up camera which comes in handy too. For a compact SUV, the cabin is spacious feeling and offers plenty of leg and head room front and rear, and yes it passes the hat test.
The optional 2.0 liter turbocharged direct injected four-cylinder has 240 horsepower and offers strong acceleration. Mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, the power-train is well refined with smooth shifts and a nice demeanor.
Overall we were impressed with the Escape, it’s much improved over the first generation in every way. Our example at nearly $36,000 had us thinking that at this level you can begin looking at luxury brands however. Seems the sweet spot for the Escape is in the mid-to-high $20,000’s.
