What Is the 2014 Ford Escape?
The 2014 Ford Escape is a five-seat compact SUV that competes with the Honda CR-V, Chevrolet Equinox and Toyota RAV4. Trim levels include the S, SE and Titanium. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is available on SE and Titanium trims.
What's New on the 2014 Ford Escape?
The 2014 Escape now comes standard with a backup camera, and a hands-free power liftgate is offered with the Class II towing package.
How Does the 2014 Ford Escape Compare to Other Compact SUVs?
Since its 2013 redesign, the Escape has been a much stronger competitor than it had been for many years. An optional turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine is a standout in terms of both performance and fuel economy. With this engine, the Escape manages up to 23/31 mpg city/highway, which is better than the Chevrolet Equinox (22/31 mpg) and Honda CR-V (23/30 mpg). While the Edge's fuel economy is bested by the Mazda CX-5 (26/32 mpg), Mazda's compact SUV offers significantly less power.
Where the 2014 Escape stands out for the wrong reason is road noise. It's noticeably noisier than both the Chevy Equinox and the Honda CR-V on a variety of surfaces. To be fair, though, it's less intrusive than the comparatively loud Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage.
The interior is also spacious, with shoulder room (56 inches) and hip room (54.8) in the ballpark of both the CR-V (58.6 and 54.5) and Equinox (55.8 and 54.6). Maximum cargo space is similarly competitive, with the Escape offering up to 67.8 cubic feet — less than the CR-V (70.9) but more than the Equinox (63.7) and CX-5 (64.8). The Toyota RAV4 leads the class in cargo space by offering up to 73.4 cubic feet.
What Features in the 2014 Ford Escape are Most Important?
The 2014 Escape comes standard with a 168-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. There are two optional engines: a 173-hp, turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder and a 231-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is available on SE and Titanium models.
Significant standard features include 17-inch wheels, air conditioning, a backup camera, a split-folding backseat and cruise control. Significant available features include MyFord Touch with an 8-inch touchscreen, a hands-free power liftgate, a panoramic moonroof, leather upholstery, a Class II trailering package, and an active park assist system that automates parallel parking.
Standard safety features include antilock brakes, an electronic stability system, and both front and side-impact airbags for the front seats. A blind spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert is optional.
Should I Buy the 2014 Ford Escape?
The 2014 Ford Escape is a good choice for shoppers who value a high-quality interior and convenient parking-assist features. Also notable is its just-right 1.6-liter engine, which offers strong power and efficiency in addition to its competitive interior space. However, the Escape's cheap-looking plastic along the wheel arches and unlabeled buttons on the high center console might turn off some shoppers.
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