10 Motoring Price – Ford Escape Titanium, $53,490 Dimensions – Length, 4524mm; width, 1838mm; height, 1736mm Configuration – Four-cylinder, four-wheel-drive, 1999cc, 178kW, 345Nm, six-speed automatic. Performance – 0-100km/h, 8sec Fuel usage – 8.6l/100km By Ross Kiddie Escape has been a popular brand for Ford New Zealand. That being the case, I was surprised when the name of the sport utility vehicle was dropped in favour of Kuga. <strong>The</strong> latter also sold well, but now Ford has reverted back to Escape, the latest name change also coinciding with a new release. New release with a familiar name Those who do relate to the old Escape will be aware of its pedigree; it was a model shared similarly with Mazda (Tribute) in New Zealand and had its origins in Taiwan. <strong>The</strong> new Escape is totally different. It is now sourced from Europe – Spain to be exact, and unlike its V6 predecessor it has only four cylinders, but there are many varying engine types – diesel and petrol and in 1.5-litre or 2-litre capacity. <strong>The</strong> range is extensive, with seven models starting from $37,990, some offered in fourwheel-drive. <strong>The</strong> test car was Titanium-badged and sits in the line-up at $53,490; there is only one model with a higher ticket and that is the diesel-powered version with the same specification ($54,990). <strong>The</strong> 2-litre petrol, all-wheel-drive variant is certainly a worthy choice. <strong>The</strong> Escape in this form is a cross between the traditional SUV and a sports car, that comment simply because of its engine output – it is rated at 178kW ‘CHAIRS everybody! A comfortable new chair is just the BEST feeling! ‘Ergo’ Outdoor Tub ‘Radius’ Desk $529 Chair $120 $99 ‘Butterfly’ A rather special chair Grey, Brown, White White Grey, Black $219 ‘ 3 colours French Chair ‘Artic’ Bedroom range... $289 and 345Nm. That’s mostly due to the turbocharging system fitted to the twin-camshaft, 16-valve unit; it offers significant boost at a low operating area. Peak power arrives at just 5500rpm, while maximum torque is available all the way from 2000rpm to 4500rpm. <strong>The</strong> significance of those figures is the punchy way the engine works – it is feisty and lively, yet it delivers with little audible sound. If you also factor in the way power is transferred through a silky-smooth, six-speed automatic gearbox, the driveline is structured for quick momentum with a responsive nature. <strong>The</strong> Escape in this form will accelerate from a standstill in 8sec and will complete an overtaking time of 4.9sec to make 120km/h from 80km/h. My comments about sports car performance aren’t an exaggeration. Ford is quite proud of its Ecoboost range of engines; they have been developed not so much for the performance I’ve just commented on, but they also stand out for their economy. As it turned out, I drove the new Escape at city speeds for a fair chunk of my evaluation and that wasn’t kind to the economy, with the fuel usage readout listing around 10.6-litres per 100km (27mpg) when I took the car back to the dealership. That’s quite distant from Ford’s combined average cycle claim of 8.6l/100km (33mpg), but that’s put into perspective when you take into account the 6.2l/100km (46mpg) sitting instantaneously at a steady 100km/h, the engine turning over at just 1750rpm. ‘Thomas’ with foot stool $569 $699 Tub Chair $199 Calgary Lounge Suite ‘Tivoli’ Coffee Table $339 $259 $299 140 BRIGHTON MALL, CHRISTCHURCH Tel. 388 9128 OPEN 7 DAYS <strong>The</strong> evaluation car was riding on sport specification Continental tyres (235/45 x 19in). With their wide footprint and formidable reputation there is a lot of steering feel and strong self-centering feel within the steering mechanism. Turn-in is direct and accuracy within the handling process is positive. I particularly like the way the Escape handles, and that doesn’t surprise me. I’m a big European Ford fan, and the way the designers engineer balance and handling ability into the chassis of all their varying model styles is a credit to them. <strong>The</strong> Escape is also fitted with state-of-the-art gear for comfort, convenience and safety. Some of the major items include full leather trim with heated front seats, satellite navigation, full-length electric sunroof, voice recognition communication and infotainment, and radar cruise control. Of course, it is also five-star safety rated. I was a little ambivalent when I picked up the Escape; I knew that its engine wouldn’t live up to the thrill of the old Volvo-derived, 2.5-litre, turbo five-cylinder unit found in some variants of the old Kuga, which is still one of my favourite engines. That being the case, the Escape’s 2-litre engine had to really work hard to win me over and I should have known it wouldn’t disappoint. Its honesty, power outputs and generally quiet operating manner make it a real honey. Just as well, then, that the rest of the vehicle has the quality to support it – the entire package is quite outstanding. It will certainly lure Escape buyers of old, and those who are contemplating trading up from Kuga. A smile is worth so much.... $99 $79 $169 $99 Full ‘TINMAN’ range available $69 $69 $499 ‘Tivoli’ Trunk $199 $149 $2799 <strong>The</strong> BE$T GREAT VALUE! $439 Hi there BJ BOSTON MATTRESSES Single King Sgle. Double Queen $169 $189 $239 $259 Furniture SHOP Check our new Website www.bestfurniture.co.nz
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