Serving as a pleasant middle ground between the two conventional powertrains, the hybrid pumps out a combined 200 horsepower from a 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle inline-four mated to a planetary gearset and two electric motors, which essentially function as a continuously variable automatic transmission. Those looking for maximum efficiency surely will search out the Escape hybrid, which starts at $29,450 in SE Sport guise and $34,595 in Titanium trim. But the SE did clock a solid 35 mpg on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test, with the Titanium managing 32 mpg. Our lackluster average fuel economy both with the 1.5-liter SE (26 mpg) and the 2.0-liter Titanium (22 mpg) were the result of rather aggressive driving conditions. The new Escape's EPA fuel-economy numbers jump by a dramatic 3 to 4 mpg for the 1.5T and 2.0T powertrains the hybrid's figures haven't yet been finalized but should be approaching 40 mpg. The new version's 5.7-second dash to 60 mph and 14.3-second quarter-mile pass at 96 mph are, again, huge improvements over the previous model's times and enough to easily make the Escape the fleetest player in the segment. Our Titanium test car, at 3731 pounds, compressed our scales with 109 fewer pounds than its all-wheel-drive predecessor with an optional 245-hp 2.0-liter turbo four. The more powerful 2.0-liter develops its 250 horses and 280 lb-ft of torque with a quiet purr and turns the Escape into a borderline hot rod among compact SUVs. Our one complaint is some faint boominess inside the cabin when the cylinder-deactivation system occasionally kicks in and idles one of the cylinders.įar more compelling is the upgrade, turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four, which only is available on the Titanium and the all-wheel-drive SEL, for $2285. There's a throaty warble to the triple's engine note under load that could only come from an inline-three. The run from zero to 60 mph in our all-wheel-drive SE test car takes 7.7 seconds, and the quarter-mile is dispatched in 15.9 seconds at 87 mph-leagues ahead of the 9.2- and 16.9-second measurements we recorded for a previous-generation front-drive Escape with the now-defunct turbo 1.5-liter inline-four. Which is a good thing, considering it is the only mill to be had on S and SE trim levels. The Escape's base powerplant, a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-three-cylinder, produces 181 horsepower and 190 lb-ft of torque, which comes on quickly and relatively smoothly and is fully adequate for getting this compact ute up to a moderate pace. Front-wheel drive is standard on all but the all-wheel-drive-only nonhybrid Titanium all-wheel drive is a $1500 option on all other trim levels. Multiple trim levels (S, SE, hybrid-only SE Sport, SEL, and Titanium) along with four powertrains-two gasoline engines, a hybrid, and a plug-in hybrid that will launch in the spring-make for a wide array to choose from. Michael Simari | Car and Driver Pick Your Player
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