ford escape road test - car and...

SPECIFICATIONSPRICEAS TESTED ........................................ $34,735BASE ................................................. $32,945VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 5-door wagon OPTIONS: Parking Technology package, $995; navigation, $795STANDARD: power windows, driver seat, and locks; remote locking; cruise control; tilting and telescoping steering wheel; rear wiperAUDIO SYSTEM: satellite radio; CD player; RCA, 2 USB, and Bluetooth-audio inputs, 10 speakers

ENGINEturbocharged and intercooled inline-4, aluminum block and headBORE X STROKE ...... 3.44 x 3.27 in, 87.5 x 83.1 mmDISPLACEMENT ..................... 122 cu in, 1999 ccCOMPRESSION RATIO ............................... 9.3:1FUEL-DELIVERY SYSTEM ............ direct injection TURBOCHARGER ..................... BorgWarner K03MAXIMUM BOOST PRESSURE ................. 17.0 psiVALVE GEAR: double overhead cams, 4 valves per cylinder, hydraulic lifters, variable intake- and exhaust-valve timingREDLINE/FUEL CUTOFF ........... 6500/6800 rpm POWER .............................. 240 hp @ 5500 rpmTORQUE .......................... 270 lb-ft @ 3000 rpm

DRIVETRAINTRANSMISSION ................................... 6-speed

automatic with manual shifting mode FINAL-DRIVE RATIO ................................. 3.07:1FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE SYSTEM ......... full time with

automatic rear-axle engagement

GEAR RATIO MPH PER MAX SPEED 1000 RPM IN GEAR (rpm)1 ........ 4.58 ..... 5.6 ............ 36 mph (6500)

2 ........ 2.96 ..... 8.7 ............ 57 mph (6500)3 ........ 1.91 ....... 13.4 ........... 85 mph (6300)4 ........ 1.45 ...... 17.7 ............ 106 mph (6000)5 ........ 1.00 ..... 25.6 .......... 118 mph (4600)6 ........ 0.75 ..... 34.4 .......... 118 mph (3400)

CHASSISunit construction with a rubber-isolated front subframeBODY MATERIAL: steel stampings

STEERINGrack-and-pinion with variable electric power assistRATIO ..................................................... 15.2:1 TURNS LOCK-TO-LOCK ................................ 2.6TURNING CIRCLE CURB-TO-CURB .................. R: 38.8 ft L: 38.5 ft

SUSPENSIONF: ind, strut located by a control arm, coil springs, anti-roll barR: ind; 1 trailing arm, 1 upper lateral link, 1 lower lateral link, and 1 toe-control link per side, coil springs, anti-roll bar

BRAKESF: 12.6 x 1.0-in vented discR: 11.0 x 0.4-in solid discSTABILITY CONTROL: fully defeatable

WHEELS AND TIRESWHEEL SIZE/CONSTRUCTION ............ 8.0 x 19 in/

cast aluminumTIRES ................... Continental ContiProContact

235/45R-19 95H M+SSPARE .......................... high-pressure compact

FORD ESCAPE TITANIU WD

EXTERIOR DIMENSIONSWHEELBASE ............................... 105.9 inLENGTH ....................................... 178.1 inWIDTH .......................................... 72.4 inHEIGHT ....................................... 66.3 inFRONT TRACK .............................. 61.5 inREAR TRACK ................................ 61.6 inGROUND CLEARANCE ..................... 7.9 in

INTERIOR DIMENSIONSSAE VOLUME ............. F: 52 cu ft R: 46 cu CARGO (SEATS UP/MAX) ....... 34/68 cu ft

PRACTICAL CARGO ROOM LENGTH OF PIPE ......................... 125.3 inLARGEST FLAT PANEL, L X W ................................ 66.5 x 40.5 inNO. OF 9 X 11 X 16-IN BOXES, SEATS UP/MAX .............................. 15/42

CAR AND DRIVER TEST RESULTSCOMPETITORSFORD ESCAPE TITANIUM 4WD (2.0-LITER I-4, 240 HP, 6-SP AUTO)GMC TERRAIN SLT AWD (3.0-LITER V-6, 264 HP, 6-SP AUTO)HONDA CR-V EX-L 4WD (2.4-LITER I-4, 185 HP, 5-SP AUTO)TOYOTA RAV4 LIMITED 4WD (3.5-LITER V-6, 269 HP, 5-SP AUTO)

HANDLINGROADHOLDING, 300-FT-DIA SKIDPAD ................. 0.81 gUNDERSTEER ..................... MODERATE

TEST NOTES: Body immediately heels over in response to a steering command, then settles into a reasonable list angle approaching the adhesion limit. The rise in understeer gives the driver clear warning signals.

TEST NOTES: Four-wheel-drive system automatically engages rear drive in response to an aggressive throttle application so there is barely a chirp during launch. Transmission is easily confused by manual upshifts during acceleration.

ACCELERATIONZERO TO SECONDS

30 MPH ............................................... 2.2 40 MPH ............................................... 3.450 MPH ............................................... 4.960 MPH ......................................... 7.0 70 MPH ............................................... 9.280 MPH .............................................. 11.890 MPH .............................................. 15.3100 MPH ...................................... 19.6110 MPH .............................................. 27.1

ROLLING START, 5–60 MPH ............ 7.5 TOP GEAR, 30–50 MPH ................... 3.5TOP GEAR, 50–70 MPH .................. 4.81/4-MILE ............. 15.3 sec @ 90 mphTOP SPEED (GOV LTD) ................ 118 mph

INTERIOR SOUND LEVELIDLE ............................................. 39 dBAFULL THROTTLE ........................ 76 dBA70-MPH CRUISING ...................... 71 dBA

FUELCAPACITY .................................... 15.1 galOCTANE ...................... 87 (recommended)EPA CITY/HWY ..................... 21/28 mpg C/D OBSERVED ...................... 19 mpg

WEIGHTCURB .......................................... 3804 lbPER HORSEPOWER ...................... 15.9 lbDISTRIBUTION ........ F: 57.5% R: 42.5%CENTER–OF–GRAVITY HEIGHT .... 26.5 inTOWING CAPACITY ..................... 3500 lb

TEST NOTES: Brakes are quite effective and show slight fade during repeated stops. During normal driving, the brakes respond more to the distance the pedal travels than to increased pressure.

BRAKING, 70-TO-ZERO MPHFIRST STOP .................................... 172 ftSHORTEST STOP ........................ 172 ftLONGEST STOP .............................. 177 ftFADE RATING .............................. SLIGHT

NOTABLE HIGHLIGHTSPower hatch can be opened by swinging a foot under the rear bumper fascia. The key fob, a dash button, or a switch on the hatch can be used to trigger the closing pageant.

tested by DON SHERMANin Chelsea, Michigan

ROAD TEST

FUEL ECONOMY EPA city and hwy mpg

CR-V ESCAPE RAV4 TERRAIN

14 18 22 26 30

ACCELERATION 0–60 & 1/4-mile, seconds

RAV4 ESCAPETERRAIN CR-V

6 7 8 15 16 17

ROADHOLDING 300-foot skidpad, g

ESCAPECR-VRAV4TERRAIN 0.75 0.77 0.79 0.81

CURRENT BASE PRICE* dollars x 1000*Base price includes freight, any performance options, and applicable gas-guzzler tax.

CR-V RAV4 TERRAIN ESCAPE

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