“This all-new Escape brings a sleeker, sportier design with the capability to take you on just about any of your life’s adventures,” said Kumar Galhotra, Ford’s president, North America. “With our class-leading hybrid powertrains, customers will spend less time at the gas station and more time on the road.”

Every model in the lineup, whether powered by one of two EcoBoost® engines or the all-new hybrid powertrains, targets an EPA-estimated range of at least 400 m / 643 km per tank. The standard hybrid with front-wheel drive targets best-in-class EPA-estimated range of more than 550 m / 885 km.

BEST-PERFORMING ESCAPE EVER

“This new vehicle performs like no other Escape before,” said Jim Hughes, Escape chief program engineer. “It’s quick, it’s responsive and, in staying true to the standard set by three generations of Escapes before it, it’s a heck of a lot of fun to drive.”

The new 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine, available on Titanium, is projected to produce 250 horsepower and 275 lb.-ft. of torque. When properly configured, it is rated to tow 3,500 pounds.

The all-new 1.5-liter EcoBoost, standard on S, SE and SEL, is projected to produce 180 horsepower and 177 lb.-ft. of torque. When properly configured, it is rated to tow 2,000 pounds.

SE Sport and Titanium models come standard with Ford’s innovative fourth-generation hybrid propulsion system, which includes an all-new 2.5-liter Atkinson cycle hybrid engine and electronic continuously variable transmission. The front-wheel-drive hybrid model is projected to produce a combined system horsepower of 198, and a top speed of 85 mph / 136 kmph in electric-only mode.

The plug-in hybrid variant, available on every trim level except S and SE Sport, projects a best-in-class EPA-estimated range of at least 30 miles in electric-only mode. Hybrid models feature four EV modes that allow customers to select the settings most suitable for their individual needs. This means:

• In Auto EV mode, the vehicle decides whether to run on gas or electric power
• In EV Now mode, drivers can operate on all-electric driving
• In EV Later mode, drivers can switch to full gas-powered driving to conserve electric miles for later
• In all-new EV Charge mode, drivers can continue to charge the battery while driving and generate electric-only miles to use later

UNRIVALLED FLEXIBILITY

With the second-row seats in the full forward position, the rear cargo area extends roughly six inches to offer 37.5 cubic feet / 1.06 cubic metres of cargo space in gas engine-powered models (cargo and load capacity limited by weight and weight distribution). The cargo area was designed to accommodate four sets of golf clubs or a full-size dog crate.

SMARTEST ESCAPE EVER

Titanium models are available with an all-new heads-up display, a first-for-Ford in North America. The feature that projects information onto a 6-inch screen, giving drivers easy access to important information such as vehicle speed without taking their eyes off the road.

Class-exclusive driver-assist technologies include available Active Park Assist 2.0 and Evasive Steering Assist. Active Park Assist 2.0 allows the driver to park in a parallel or perpendicular spot with the touch of a button, without having to work the steering wheel, gear shifter, gas or brake pedal. Evasive Steering Assist detects a slower-moving or stationary vehicle ahead and provides steering support that can assist the driver to avoid an imminent collision.

Escape comes standard with Ford Co-Pilot360™, and makes available other driver-assist features such as Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go and Lane-Centering.

Available SYNC® 3 is compatible with available features such as Apple CarPlay™, Android Auto™, Ford+Alexa and Waze navigation. For music lovers, Escape offers an available 575-watt 10-speaker B&O Sound System by Bang & Olufsen.

Vehicles are due to reach showrooms this fall. Plug-in hybrid units are due to arrive next spring. Don’t delay. Click the TEST DRIVE button below to schedule a complete tour and road test when inventory arrives.