National - 2013 Ford Escape SEL-AWD 2.0L EcoBoost Ride Report/Review

http://carrentingreviews.com/2012/06/14/2013-ford-escape-sel-awd-2-0l/

IFAR
21/28

PROS:

- Puts the old Ford Escape to shame; handsome exterior
- 2.0L EcoBoost exceptionally smooth, snappy
- High quality interior, door/dashboard composed of soft touch materials
- More knee/hip room for driver and front passenger due to redesigned console area
- Fantastic brakes, firm suspension
- Redundant physical audio buttons on SEL trim; physical buttons for heated seats

CONS:

- Center stack mounted lateral HVAC vents limit driver’s access to touchscreen
- Steering a little too light, could use more feedback
- EcoBoost engine can be slightly noisy under hard acceleration, though quiets down when cruising
- Makes me wish National had bought the Titanium trim

CONCLUSION: If I were to stop renting cars today, I would buy a 2013 Ford Escape. That’s how much I enjoyed driving it.

Also, I liked it much better than the BMW X3 I previously rented. Better interior fit and finish, more tech gizmos, comparable handling and twin turbo 4.

Going to bump this up...

The 2013 Escape has some of the worst seats I have ever experienced in a car, ever. Too short (seat bottom stopped mid-thigh, and I'm not even 6 feet tall), lumpy back support, absolutely horrific. I had to return mid-rental.

Would not recommend this to anyone for a long trip of any kind. Everyone who rode in the front was sore after less than an hour in the seat.

It's too bad because I really wanted to like the new model. I'll never rent one again!

Going to bump this up...

The 2013 Escape has some of the worst seats I have ever experienced in a car, ever. Too short (seat bottom stopped mid-thigh, and I'm not even 6 feet tall), lumpy back support, absolutely horrific. I had to return mid-rental.

Would not recommend this to anyone for a long trip of any kind. Everyone who rode in the front was sore after less than an hour in the seat.

It's too bad because I really wanted to like the new model. I'll never rent one again!

That's really surprising! They're very similar to the ones on the Focus, and I loved them both. I'm over 6'.

Sorry to hear that.

That's really surprising! They're very similar to the ones on the Focus, and I loved them both. I'm over 6'.

I'm wondering if it might vary by trim level? I had an SEL this week and found it very comfortable, and I'm a big guy and 6'2". dwbf11, what trim level did you rent?

The SEL I picked up at DTW was fitted with the panoramic roof -- definitely a nice touch. Quite liked the car overall. Were there about an inch more shoulder room, I might well end up with one of these as a daily driver. I'm hopeful that the next Edge will go in this direction.

My mileage dropped as low as 17 in stop-and-go traffic, but ended up averaging ~21 in the end.

I did have a few missed button presses on the steering wheel audio controls, but it may have just been me hitting the 'd-pad' wrong.

Mine was an SEL as well, with Panoramic roof, etc. Really wanted to make it work but couldn't.

Mine was an SEL as well, with Panoramic roof, etc. Really wanted to make it work but couldn't.

Hmm...if it was dark gray, and you left it with about 220 miles, it might well have been the same car :) Of all the Escapes I saw at DTW, that was the only one with the panoramic roof.

Hmm...if it was dark gray, and you left it with about 220 miles, it might well have been the same car :) Of all the Escapes I saw at DTW, that was the only one with the panoramic roof.

This was at BWI.

Had an Escape Titanium for the day at YYZ in June. I didn't even know what it was at first when I saw it on the aisle! It really caught a lot of attention; both my old landlord and his neighbour came over to look at it at different times.

I thought I wasn't going to like the turbo I-4 but it wasn't bad. I still don't know entirely how I feel about dropping the V6; I just feel a vehicle of that size needs the torque of a 6 and it isn't just about horsepower which a turbo engine can certainly provide. I also noticed a detectable amount of turbo lag when you go to apply passing power, something I haven't noticed since the days of the Audi 5000S and the Pontiac 2000 Sunbird... :D

Overall it's a great vehicle and would be high on my list. My partner, a diehard Forester fan, actually came out and said she'd prefer the new Escape, after just ONE DAY.

Going to bump this up...

The 2013 Escape has some of the worst seats I have ever experienced in a car, ever. Too short (seat bottom stopped mid-thigh, and I'm not even 6 feet tall), lumpy back support, absolutely horrific. I had to return mid-rental.



I had forgotten this comment when I picked out an Escape SEL from the ES earlier this week. I'll agree with dwbf11 on this, with the qualifier that it may be a problem for the wide-bottomed male. The short bottom cushion and generously radiused left corner mean the left thigh can see very little support.

I found the ride busy, and noise levels a little high, particularly on coarse pavement. Steering is direct and quick enough (generally good things) to make the handling darty. This is not a relaxing ride.

National cheaped out and didn't get cargo shade. I expect people traveling at typical Midwest highway speeds will fail to achieve the 28 mpg (EPA highway) rating of the 2.0 AWD; I got top scores from the driving minder and couldn't, even at Oregon speeds.

The ecoboost 2.0L made it a hoot over my frequent-elevation-changing route, but I wouldn't take an Escape again for a long trip.

Hey! Who are you calling wide-bottomed? :mad: LOL

I can tell you it was not just me (and that I do not have a particularly wide bottom!). Everyone with me found the seats uncomfortable.

Well, now I've disclosed my build!

I could see how the back seats would be uncomfortable, too: low to the floor (yielding a knees-up position and so no weight on thigh bottoms), short bottom cushion, little padding, vertical backrest, and forward vision obscured by front seat headrests.

Just returned a Brown Escape SEL in Toronto. All in all, loved the vehicle. I think it's putting all the cars in its class to shame with good acceleration, braking and comfort level. Could be because it was an SEL.

Just as a side note. The custom officers at the border had a kick with kicking the back door open, if you get my drift. :)

Just returned a Brown Escape SEL in Toronto. All in all, loved the vehicle. I think it's putting all the cars in its class to shame with good acceleration, braking and comfort level. Could be because it was an SEL.

Just as a side note. The custom officers at the border had a kick with kicking the back door open, if you get my drift. :)

What?! An SEL with the kick-power-liftgate?! lucky. :)

I rented a 2013 Escape from CLT this weekend and it was great! It had a panoramic roof and the seats were very comfortable.

It had something called "MyKey" that would sign a warning bell when the speed got above 70, and the max was 80. That's a good thing.

I am looking forward to having a 2013 Fusion sometime as well. I'd also strongly consider buying the 2013 Escape after my experience.

I rented a 2013 Escape from CLT this weekend and it was great! It had a panoramic roof and the seats were very comfortable.

It had something called "MyKey" that would sign a warning bell when the speed got above 70, and the max was 80. That's a good thing.

I am looking forward to having a 2013 Fusion sometime as well. I'd also strongly consider buying the 2013 Escape after my experience.

I think you're the only one on this board who actually likes MyKey. :)

Did you have a Titanium trim Escape?

I have gotten only 3 speeding tickets in decades of driving- but I never want another one, and MyKey helps ensure that I don't!

I don't know if it was Titanium trim or not, but it had a double-sunroof (over the back seat, too), a "Powered by Microsoft" video screen, leather seats, an EcoBoost engine (how is turbocharging "eco"?), etc. It was really a great car.

...how is turbocharging "eco"?

It's a smaller displacement engine, so it essentially does more with less thanks to the turbocharger. Hence why both Ecoboost engines are actually smaller than the base engine, but put out more horsepower and get far better mileage than the previous model's conventional engines.

It's a smaller displacement engine, so it essentially does more with less thanks to the turbocharger. Hence why both Ecoboost engines are actually smaller than the base engine, but put out more horsepower and get far better mileage than the previous model's conventional engines.

Even Mercedes S550 has gone this route smaller displacement plus turbo.

Even Mercedes S550 has gone this route smaller displacement plus turbo.

Everyone's going that route in order to meet the new CAFE standards. Some of the Euro Ford Focuses are using a 1.0L EcoBoost engine.

I drove one over a long weekend in Texas two weekends ago. Enjoyed the car - plenty of power, even in 75 mph speed limit areas. Had plenty of room for me at 6'3" and 230 lbs. My only complaint, albeit a somewhat serious one, was the handling during rainstorms. It hydroplaned worse than anything I have ever driven at all speeds, but this may be a function of the tires.

It's a smaller displacement engine, so it essentially does more with less thanks to the turbocharger. Hence why both Ecoboost engines are actually smaller than the base engine, but put out more horsepower and get far better mileage than the previous model's conventional engines.

I've got to admit, I'm still skeptical on the gas mileage issue on these turbo engines. I haven't driven one of the Ford ecoboost engines enough to get a feel for the gas mileage (ok, I've simply test-driven a Ford Edge when I was looking to replace my old Grand Cherokee), but I do have a car currently (Passat) that uses a 1.8T, and while highway mileage is ok, quite honestly, city mileage is not all that impressive (as in, barely better than my 8 cyl Grand Cherokee was in city).

I will say that I was very impressed with the power on the Edge's I4 ecoboost (which I think is the same engine as in the Escape), and in the short time I drove it didn't notice any turbo lag (something I find pretty noticeable in my Passat), and quite honestly, if I hadn't read the sticker, I probably wouldn't have guessed that it had a 4 cyl in it.

I've got to admit, I'm still skeptical on the gas mileage issue on these turbo engines. I haven't driven one of the Ford ecoboost engines enough to get a feel for the gas mileage (ok, I've simply test-driven a Ford Edge when I was looking to replace my old Grand Cherokee), but I do have a car currently (Passat) that uses a 1.8T, and while highway mileage is ok, quite honestly, city mileage is not all that impressive (as in, barely better than my 8 cyl Grand Cherokee was in city).

I will say that I was very impressed with the power on the Edge's I4 ecoboost (which I think is the same engine as in the Escape), and in the short time I drove it didn't notice any turbo lag (something I find pretty noticeable in my Passat), and quite honestly, if I hadn't read the sticker, I probably wouldn't have guessed that it had a 4 cyl in it.

I drove an SEL 2.0 Ecoboost for a week, its a great car, lots of torque, no turbo lag but it was not great on gas but its replacing a V6 so was not bad. I think that you get much better gas mileage from the 1.6 ecoboost.

I drove an SEL 2.0 Ecoboost for a week, its a great car, lots of torque, no turbo lag but it was not great on gas but its replacing a V6 so was not bad. I think that you get much better gas mileage from the 1.6 ecoboost.

IIRC, Car & Driver averaged 27 mpg with the 1.6L Escape. I think Insideline averaged 25 mpg with the EcoBoost equipped Edge.

Drove a nice, cobalt blue SEL from LAS which we had for 5 days and dropped it off at PHX after nearly 800 miles of driving which included a visit to the Grand Canyon.
Have to say that it was a comfortable ride (i'm 6'3") and there was no noticeable lag when giving it a little more gas on the highways. I will attest to the questionable gas mileage though as it seemed to be inconsistent on the long highway journeys averaging 80mph.
Overall I was happy with the experience and would definitely rent one again if available

Drove a nice, cobalt blue SEL from LAS which we had for 5 days and dropped it off at PHX after nearly 800 miles of driving which included a visit to the Grand Canyon.
Have to say that it was a comfortable ride (i'm 6'3") and there was no noticeable lag when giving it a little more gas on the highways. I will attest to the questionable gas mileage though as it seemed to be inconsistent on the long highway journeys averaging 80mph.
Overall I was happy with the experience and would definitely rent one again if available

Ditto, I'm currently driving another cobalt blue SEL and I'm still impressed by the seat quality & comfort, and engine. Will see if I get better gas mileage this time.

Just wishing it had the Titanium package with the Sony Audio; the current audio package is wimpy.

Man... I think I must have found the only 2013 Escape SE in the whole fleet when I got mine a month or so ago... EVERYONE on here reports driving SELs and literally every 2013 Escape I see on the road sporting barcodes (which is most of the 2013 Escapes on the road at this point) seems to be an SEL.

Picked up an SEL yesterday at BNA from the midsize aisle. Really enjoying it, has a lot of bell and whistles that come standard on the SEL, including most auto everything, heated seats, panoramic roof (found that out mid-rental), looks good and drives pretty wheel. It's about 4 months old, has just over 3,000 miles and plated in OK.
Really enjoying driving it around TN and KY.

I put about 300 miles of mostly highway driving on an Escape a few weeks ago. I came away kinda iffy about it. My co-workers thought it was a little narrow inside for the length, and while it was reasonably comfortable with bells and whistles, including Ford's superior navigation of the music system from the dashboard, the gas mileage was poor (about 24 mpg) compared to other vehicles of its size - I've routinely gotten 28-30 highway on an Equinox or Terrain 4-cyl FWD.

I wouldn't pass it up, but it wouldn't be my first choice. For a 300-mile day trip on the Interstate, I'd rather give up another 4 mpg and get a Limited trip Edge or Flex, or save another 4 mpg and get an Equinox or Terrain.

I had an SE at YVR in October. Though it also had leather seats which I didn't know were an option on the SE. Mine had the 1.6L Ecoboost and it did very well on gas. I recall averaging as low as 8.5L/100 km on a few highway stretches (27.8 mpg). Unfortunately I got rear-ended in Surrey but the Escape held up very well; just some damage to the bumper cover and the exhaust pipe got knocked loose. Certainly gave me a good feel for it's safety and it's high on my list when I want to get something safe for Ms. Tuneman.

I'm driving it right now. It's ok, but I'm definitely not impressed. There was a comment above that the handling is too "busy" and I'd agree with that. I initialliy wasn't that comfortable in the seats, but after quite a bit of fiddling and adjustment I found them to be as good as 75% of cars I've rented. Definitely not a "sporty" handling vehicle - my old volvo v70 station wagon handled better. Probably my old Oldsmobile, too. My biggest complaints are some hydroplaning, a definite tendency to torque steer (and then subsequently very twitchy to overcorrect) pulling out of driveways onto the Texas "frontage freeways", below average traction, and some unsure footing over bumps (truth be told I've never been an SUV person, but I think a fair amount of that could be improved with better tires). Gas mileage has been extremely unimpressive. Has given me comparable or worse mileage to my sedan at home with a 3.5 liter v6 which is just as heavy but a whole lot more fun. It was still probably a better choice than one of the ten Chrysler minivans in the ES at IAH on Monday :rolleyes:

It was perfectly adequate. Not particularly fun (more because of the handling than the acceleration). Wondering where the mileage savings from the 4 cylinder are. Can't help but think what could be if this thing had a lower center of gravity and better tires. Ford Fusion turbo wagon anyone?

Edited to add: the touch screen still sucks. I have to navigate to switch it back to bluetooth audio streaming from my phone every time I get back in the car which either means pressing the touch screen several times until it registers my touch, delicately pressing using my fingernails, or hitting the source button about twenty-seven thousand times until it scrolls back past all the FM categories, all the XM categories, all the other inputs, and on and on and on. Navigating to anything else lacking a button (such as incredibly common things like radio / XM presets) is still nauseatingly aggrivating.

The instrument cluster display has been simplified quite a bit since the previous mytouch display I used, though. I do like that improvement. And they are getting better at undoing the touch screen by bringing back more buttons with tactile feedback, even if they are anonymously shaped. Bringing back the preset buttons and a button for each audio source (or knob to dial between them) would make the system a whole lot better. Duh - it would be back to what worked :) The on-steering wheel buttons were easy to use. The myriad of buttons extending behind the steering wheel is a bit much though.

I just took another spin. Actually, i guess the handling isn't that bad when it is smooth and dry. It just corners with way too much understeer for my taste.

Just got one of these at BUR for a week of running errands between SoCal oan Las Vegas.
VERY impressed! And for a six foot fella with a backside that should have a "WIDE LOAD" sign on my pants ( :rolleyes: ) I am finding the heated ( ^ )leather seats super comfortable!

Now I just have to sync up the MySync feature from my subscription on my 2012 Focus. Any tips on this? TIA

Unfortunately I think tire complaints like these are going to be more and more common as fuel economy standards get stricter -- low rolling resistance tires boost fuel economy enough to be significant, but on anything but dry, warm pavement they're pretty lousy. Easily fixed if you own the car, not so easily on a rental.

I just drove a 2013 SEL from BNA to DCA via the Smokies to pick up a new dog, and it was, amazingly, a pretty good car. I averaged 26.5mpg over 775 miles, with a ton of mountain driving, and the AWD actually did ok on some moderately muddy dirt roads heading up to a friend's cabin.

The MyTouch, however, is godawful. It crashed 5 or 6 times in 3 days.

I just drove a 2013 SEL from BNA to DCA via the Smokies to pick up a new dog, and it was, amazingly, a pretty good car. I averaged 26.5mpg over 775 miles, with a ton of mountain driving, and the AWD actually did ok on some moderately muddy dirt roads heading up to a friend's cabin.

The MyTouch, however, is godawful. It crashed 5 or 6 times in 3 days.

That's pretty good; was it the 2.0L engine or the 1.6L?

That's pretty good; was it the 2.0L engine or the 1.6L?

It was the 2.0L. As I had a new dog in the back, I took it pretty easy, particularly in the mountains, but I did keep a pretty consistent 75mph all of the way from the Tri-Cities to DC on 81 and 66.

One thing I disliked, and forgot to mention, is that the gas tank is tiny (15 gallons, I believe), and the range is only 300-350 miles per tank. Having driven several Camrys and Altimas lately, plus being very used to my A4, I'm used to a cruising range of 450+ miles.

It was the 2.0L. As I had a new dog in the back, I took it pretty easy, particularly in the mountains, but I did keep a pretty consistent 75mph all of the way from the Tri-Cities to DC on 81 and 66.

One thing I disliked, and forgot to mention, is that the gas tank is tiny (15 gallons, I believe), and the range is only 300-350 miles per tank. Having driven several Camrys and Altimas lately, plus being very used to my A4, I'm used to a cruising range of 450+ miles.

I think the tank might be 12 Gallons! It is very small. But it is a pleasant suprise when you go to fill it up.

I think the tank might be 12 Gallons! It is very small. But it is a pleasant suprise when you go to fill it up.

It's only a pleasant surprise until you have to fill it up again 3.5 hours later. I prefer having a cruising range greater than my bladder range.

I have another one of these right now. I don't remember mentioning it before, but there are some serious blind spots going on trying to look over your shoulder around headrests and the B pillar. In my parking garage I have a big concrete post with nice red paint that would show up distinctly on a rental car if I happened to wander into it ;) Trying to avoid that backing up is seriously more difficult because of this vehicle's side visibility.