![]() Folding the second row is a hassle, as the headrests must be removed and the bottom cushions tumbled forward before the seatbacks can be flipped down, a design that ensures a flat load floor. The bottom cushion of the backseat is flat in order to promote a flat load floor when the seated is folded forward, and the seat is devoid of the reclining backrest or fore/aft adjustments seen in vehicles from the competition.Ĭargo space stands at 29 cubic feet (28 cubes for the Hybrid) behind the second-row seats and 66 cubic feet with the second row folded down. Up front, the seating position is too tall, which gives the driver the feeling of hovering above the controls, and there's no telescoping steering wheel. In terms of comfort and space, though, the Escape feels its age. This electronics interface connects with your cell phone and MP3 player, allowing you to control them through voice commands. The Escape's interior is generally attractive, and the center stack consists of neatly grouped buttons that are designed to work specifically with Ford's Sync system. The AWD version is rated at 30/27/29 mpg. EPA estimates for fuel economy put the front-wheel-drive Escape Hybrid at the top of the hybrid SUV category with 34 mpg city/31 mpg highway and 32 mpg in combined driving. In the absence of instrumented test results, we expect acceleration of the Escape Hybrid to be comparable to the gasoline-powered base Ford Escape XLS, which reaches 60 mph from a standstill in about 9 seconds. All-wheel-drive (AWD) models come with an additional electric motor to power the rear wheels when additional acceleration or traction is needed. Power is sent through a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that provides seamless transitions between gas and electric modes. The Escape Hybrid features a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine teamed with a battery-powered electric motor combined they produce 177 hp. In Edmunds testing, we found a V6-equipped model delivered adequate performance, running from zero to 60 mph in 8.1 seconds. The front-wheel-drive six-cylinder Escape returns an estimated 19/25/21 mpg, while all-wheel drive gets 18/23/20 mpg. All-wheel drive drops that to 20/26/22 mpg. The Escape's fuel economy with the four-cylinder, six-speed auto and front-wheel drive is 21 mpg city/28 mpg highway and 23 mpg combined. Properly equipped, the Escape V6 can tow up to 3,500 pounds. The V6 comes only with the automatic transmission. The 2.5 can be fitted with either a five-speed manual transmission (XLS only) or a six-speed automatic. A 171-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine is standard, with a 240-hp 3.0-liter V6 optional on all but the XLS. Of course, we expect next year will see the redesigned Escape swinging for the fences.Īll trim levels of the non-hybrid 2012 Ford Escape can be had with either front- or all-wheel drive. But there are plenty of other heavy hitters in the compact crossover SUV segment these days, such as the Chevrolet Equinox, Honda CR-V, Kia Sportage, Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4 that best the Ford in terms of overall refinement and functionality. Provided it's fitted with a full array of options, a 2012 Ford Escape will likely please those who desire the latest high-tech features. Where most of them have four-wheel disc brakes, the Escape uses drum brakes in the rear that simply don't have the power or resistance to fade. But it's the Escape's brakes that have it trailing the competition. And folding that backseat is a multistep hassle compared to the simple flip-down design of other crossovers. Impressive as all that might be, potential buyers should know that the 2012 Ford Escape nonetheless lacks a few key items offered by most of its rivals, such as a telescoping steering wheel and a sliding/reclining backseat. The Ford Escape also continues to be the only model in its class that's offered as a hybrid, which delivers about 30 mpg in combined driving. ![]() In addition the Escape now offers Auto Park, a Ford system that enables the Escape to identify a likely parallel parking spot and then steer into the slot while you just tend to the gas and brake. Among the latter innovations is Sync, the affordable voice-activated interface for audio features. ![]() Indeed it's consistently been among the top-selling vehicles thanks to its handsome styling, spirited performance and numerous high-tech features. Despite its aged design, it remains a very popular vehicle among compact crossover consumers. ![]() ![]() That's not to say the Escape has been benched for 2012. The 2012 Ford Escape is not exactly one of them, however, as this long-serving platform carries on unchanged until the appearance of a complete redesign slated for next year. Nowadays, Ford is hitting more home runs, and without any chemical augmentation, either. ![]()
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