The Driver - Summer 2016 The Driver - Summer 2016 | Page 6

During the drive, we covered close to 1,000 kilometres, quite comfortable in the well-upholstered seats as the marvels of nature passed our windows. All that was missing was the excitable, enthusiastic yet hushed voice of David Attenborough as we encountered several different species of four-legged wildlife, venturing roadside to enjoy fresh green shoots after a long, harsh winter. After a few hours of seat time, the earlier enthusiasm of the Ford team in Calgary took hold in almost osmosis-like fashion. There are three basic levels/finishes offered for the Escape for 2017—the S, the SE and, the Titanium. It’s with the SE and Titanium finishes that we experience the biggest change: the availability of two new EcoBoost engines—first, a 1.5-litre, four cylinder with engine generating 179 horsepower 6 THE DRIVER and 177 lb.-ft. of torque or, second, an optional 2.0-litre twin-scroll, fourcylinder turbocharged power plant generating 245 horsepower and 275 ft.-lb. of torque on the SE. The 2.0-litre EcoBoost is standard on the Titanium trim. The entry level S, traditionally Ford’s lowest volume seller, retains a 2.5-litre four cylinder engine. Greg Watkins and his team estimate that the SE with the optional turbocharged engine and AWD will be its volume seller. Time would not allow us to experience all the available engines during the epic two-way drive. My specific experience was with the Titanium package. The new 2.0-litre EcoBoost didn’t disappoint on long inclines and cambered corners. There was never a lack of power feeling regardless of the road conditions—which included some interesting occasional cross winds and a few sudden snow flurries. Through it all, the Titanium edition Escape was in complete control. Let’s be honest, most buyers of this vehicle will be driving through town, dropping the kids off at soccer practice and lurching through drive-thru lanes for that next cup of joe. Mountain passes be damned. While the exterior is a little more rugged, even more refined, the 2017 Escape takes its place in the Ford hierarchy. It’s on the inside that many will likely be impressed by what is now standard equipment—and what options may be added. There is a feeling of greater cabin space and more thought has been given to softer materials, an electronic brake, greater console room and overall flexibility—and utility: plus, a gear shift lever positioned where it should have been. While we noted earlier that there are some remarkable similarities to the popular Edge, engineers and designers seem to have adopted an “it ain’t broke, why fix it” stance. In other words, if it has worked well in their more upscale models, let’s have some features trickle down the line. Nothing wrong with that. Consumers can only benefit. As Asian manufacturers continue to exceed the general value add proposition, like others, Ford appears to be accepting, even embracing this philosophy. For example, the 2017 Escape’s on-board technology takes a back seat to few in the same price range. We were able to experience the debut of Sync 3 Connect—a much improved version of the often deservedly maligned MyFord Touch. Standard on the top-of-the-line “While the exterior is a little more rugged, even more refined, the 2017 Escape takes its place in the Ford hierarchy.”