One-week vehicle loan was provided for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
| Type: CUV Price: $22,344 Fuel Efficiency: 22 city/31 hwy Seats: 5 |
Best Suited For: Small families Notable Features: Handsfree lift gate, heated seats, active park assist Links: Official site |
Within the compact SUV segment, the Ford Escape has really made a name for itself. The 2016 Ford Escape is easy to drive, comfortable, has a nice list of features, and looks good. However, nothing really stands out to me as being particularly memorable or noteworthy to push it ahead of the competition.
2016 Ford Escape Review
The Escape has a sleek look along the sides and rear. The front grill is pretty standard but that is an issue addressed in next year’s model (that’s an upcoming article). Handling is good but suspension is on the lighter side. There is quite a bit of roll so I wouldn’t recommend taking those turns too lightly. Interior noise is minimal. Turning radius is okay but there’s plenty of power and transition between gears is smooth.
Although, the Escape is nimble and offers enough visibility to park it manually too. The seat heaters are actual dials so you really have to make sure to turn the heaters off when you exit or you’ll suddenly notice your tooshie warming up and won’t know why. The blind spot monitoring is great. It only seems odd that there is a small image etched into the mirror but only a plain dot lights up instead when triggered.
I love the various lighted features such the welcome light as you approach the car as well as the colored accents along the cup holder. These make it slightly easier to find what you need as it gets dark. I’m so glad Ford is continuing with the Active Park Assist on its vehicles.
2016 Ford Escape Interior Space
Both front seats are comfortable and easy to adjust. There’s a good amount of hip room in the second row but the leg room is slightly lacking. The cargo area is roomy and has plenty usable space for a family road trip or a major grocery shopping day.
Overall, the 2016 Ford Escape is a good choice. It’s functional and practical. It’s also kind of “eh.” If you like the look and feel of the Escape, you might want to wait for the 2017 model to become available in next spring.
