2016 Ford Escape

The Ford Escape faces competition from key rivals such as the Mitsubishi Outlander, the Honda CR-V, and the Nissan Rogue, but manages to offer value in places where the others lag behind. In this review of the 2016 Ford Escape, we talk about the good and the bad, and help you decide if you should get one for your garage. 

The 2016 Ford Escape is offered in three trims, the S is the base trim that starts at $23,590. The S trim can only be bought in FWD configuration, stepping up from which is the SE trim which starts at $25,790 and can be configured with AWD with a premium of $1,750. The SE also comes with a 1.6L turbocharged engine which is a strong performer. The Titanium is the top trim which starts at $29,995 with FWD and $31,745 with AWD configuration.

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If you’re considering bringing home the 2016 Ford Edge, we recommend sticking with the SE trim. The SE trim has the more efficient 1.6L turbocharged engine along with many better features over the base S trim like power adjustable seats, upgraded cloth upholstery, optional dual-zone climate control and much more. The price for the SE trim is also quite affordable for what it has to offer.

The 2016 Ford Escape is offered with a 2.5L inline-4 engine as standard. The power unit generates 168 horsepower along with 170 lb-ft of torque through a 6-speed automatic gearbox. The 2016 model year Escape sprints from 0 to 60 mph in 9.2 seconds. The 1.6L turbocharged inline 4 in the SE trim puts out 178 horsepower along with 184-foot pounds of torque and it performs just as good if not better than the base engine while providing significantly better fuel efficiency.

The top of the range optional 2.0L engine which is optional in the SE and Titanium trims puts out 240 horsepower and 270 foot-pounds of torque which pushes the Escape to 60 miles per hour in just 7.0 seconds while providing commendable fuel efficiency. Comparing the competition, the 2016 Honda CR-V makes the most power, and delivers the highest torque output. 

The EPA has rated the Ford Escape 2.5L inline-4 base engine at 22 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway and 25 mpg combined. The 1.6L turbocharged inline-4 is rated at 23 mpg in the city, 32 mpg in the highway and 26 mpg combined. Upgrading to AWD results in a drop in these figures, which further tarnishes the Escape’s reputation as an inefficient vehicle. The Ford Escape also comes with a smaller 15.1 gallon fuel tank, which also hinders its driving range. 

Among the competition, the Honda CR-V stands as the most fuel efficient vehicle, returning the highest combined fuel economy. The Nissan Rogue comes close, but lags behind a very small margin. On the other end of the spectrum, the Ford Escape disappoints with lower fuel economy standards than what has been set by the segment. Additionally, the Mitsubishi Outlander comes with the largest fuel tank among the rivals, which results in impressive driving range figures. 

The cabin of the 2016 Ford Escape isn't as spacious as some of the competitors like the class leading Honda CR-V but it still is a nice place to be in with ample room on both the rows however, the dash is designed awkwardly and it eats up front knee room for taller individuals. The cabin ergonomics are spot-on, and all the controls feel well within the reach of the driver. 

About the cargo capacity, behind the rear seats, it has 34.3 cubic feet of cargo volume and while the rear seats are folded it offers 67.8 cubic feet of cargo volume which isn't the best in class but is enough to carry whatever is needed. All in all, the 2016 Ford Escape doesn’t exactly impress with its cabin space, but still offers decent interior ambience to keep you relaxed for most trips. 

Comparing the competition, the Nissan Rogue offers the most headroom in the front row, with the Honda CR-V and the Ford Escape offering the most shoulder space and legroom at the front, respectively. In the second row, the Ford offers the most headroom, while the Honda CR-V has the most shoulder space and legroom on offer. The 2016 Honda CR-V also offers the most cargo space with and without having to fold the second row of seats down. Some highlight interior features offered with the 2016 Ford Escape include:

• Tilt and Telescopic Steering. 
• Heated Steering Wheel.
• Driver Seat Memory.
• Power Adjustable Seats. 
• Heated Front Seats.
• Dual Zone Climate Control.
• Leather Steering Wheel. 
• Armrest Storage. 

2016 Ford Escape Infotainment

The 2016 Ford Escape is offered with a fairly standard infotainment unit, offering you all the basics you need to stay entertained and gagged during routine trips. The Ford Escape comes with a 4.0 inch infotainment screen, which features basic apps and settings to fiddle around with. There’s an in-built navigation system for added convenience, and an FM Stereo is offered as standard. You can stream music via bluetooth, but Aux and USB ports are also supported. Some key infotainment features offered with the 2016 Ford Escape include:

• 4.0-inch LCD Display.
• USB and Aux Support. 
• AM/FM Stereo System.
• Speed-Sensitive Volume Control.
• In-Built Navigation.
• Bluetooth Audio Streaming. 
• 4-Speaker Sound System.

If the 2016 model year Ford Escape was to be described in a few words in terms of its exterior design, calling it a beefed-up Ford Focus wouldn't be wrong. The Boxy shape of the original Escape has disappeared and the Escape now looks sporty, sleek and to be accurate, the Escape looks modern without losing the traditional SUV charm. Overall, the design is more interesting and exciting than some of its competitors. The Escape looks aggressive and draws attention with a good deal of road presence.

Among the competition, the Ford Escape measures to be the heaviest vehicle in this comparison. Additionally, the Mitsubishi Outlander stands as the longest SUV in the lot, while the Escape and the Nissa Rogue measure the widest. The Ford Escape also stands the tallest, while the Mitsubishi Outlander offers the greatest ground clearance. The Nissan Rogue comes with the longest wheelbase as well. Some highlight exterior features offered with the 2016 Ford Escape include:

• Foot-Operated Liftgate.
• Splash Guards.
• LED Tail Lights.
• Heated Side Mirrors.
• HID Headlights. 
• Chrome Grille Surrounds. 
• Panoramic Sunroof
• 18-inch Alloy Wheels. 

The 2016 model year Ford Escape stands as a vehicle with high safety standards. The Ford Escape boasts impressive frontal crash scores and impressive side-impact rigidity. The NHTSA has awarded the 2016 Ford Escape with an impressive 4-Star Safety Rating. Furthermore, the IIHS has also acknowledged the Escape’s safety merit with a respectable “Good” score under most categories. Some key safety features offered with the 2016 Ford Escape include:

• Blind Spot Monitoring. 
• ESP and Traction Control. 
• Dual-Stage Airbags.
• Roll Stability Control and Curve Control
• LATCH Anchors. 
• Post-Crash Alert System
• Passive Anti-Theft System
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System.

The 2016 Ford Escape is more focused on delivering a fun and joyful driving experience rather than the day to day usability of a typical crossover like the CR-V. The harsh truth is that buyers in this segment aren’t looking for what the Escape has to offer, which is ‘performance’, instead buyers want practicality and fuel efficiency which some of its competitors offer. Overall, the Escape is a great vehicle if you can ignore the awkward position of the dash that eats up knee room and if you’re looking for a somewhat practical vehicle that can also perform when needed.