I work for Avis, and drive all their vehicles home. Currently have a 17 Escape SE. This is a great all weather vehicle. I just a few hours ago, put it in reverse on a snow covered hill, and it climbed the hill, in reverse, no - issue - whatsoever. Acceleration is there. Handling is nimble. Visibility is awesome. The new placement of the electronic E brake frees up a lot of console space. Three position heated seats are sooo nice. Placement of all controls are within easy reach, and the steering wheel controls are perfectly placed. Cargo space is there. Ride is very quiet at highway speeds. Test drive it, you won't be disappointed, but don't be surprised if it shuts off on you at a stoplight - great gas saving feature - has a heavy duty starter, and upgraded battery to allow it to shut off the engine as long as it is in drive, and foot on the brake, at a complete stop. And set the audio system to "driver" mode to hear some really great sound! I was driving an Outback last week, and the front looks so similar.
Bought a '19 recently, pretty much the same except no CD player. You're right about the nimble handling, that's the word I would have used too. The visibiility is great, front and rear.
I love this suv! I just bought this last week, I got the SE 4WD 1.5 ecoboost. it feel very comfortable and I honestly don't hear any rattle noises. it's really quiet inside and the seats have lumbar support. I'm not sure what he is talking about with the leather because the seats and the steering wheel has a push of soft feel touch to it. it feels really soft and there isn't no gaps between the door and the body itself. the rear seats do have more space that what he is talking about. I'm 5ft 11inches tall and I can fit pretty comfortable in the back seat. I'm going to make my own video on my escape to have a more of a real world expert show everyone what its about.
Just bought a leftover 17 Titanium AWD with the sport appearance pkg after researching and testing just about every SUV smaller than a Grand Cherokee, Explorer, etc. This vehicle is THE BOMB!!! Totally impressed with the quality of construction and attention to detail compared to what I saw with the Buick and especially Jeep models. The 2.0 engine is a must however, as the 1.5 could create challenges passing on 2 lane roads--even merging into freeway traffic. The quality of the seats are the best that I tested. The Escape was the only model that offered power seats for both front passengers too. All around vision is superb as well. The back seats fold flat--something that seems to evade other manufacturers' engineers capability. Much more rear cargo space than the vehicle this replaced ('16 Jeep Cherokee Limited). I love the fact that it's one of the few--if not the only--SUVs in this segment that offers 19" tires/wheels. For $25,000 delivered, I couldn't come close to anything else out there for what this Escape Titanium gives you. I jumped on this rather than the new 2018s as the combination of the sports appearance pkg (blacked out grill/trim and the 19" black wheels, etc) is no longer available on the Titanium after 2017. Plus Ford no longer offers the 2.0 in anything but the 2018 Titanium trim level.
actually you get the paddle shifters with the 1.5 liter engine as well, and with that engine im averaging 27.9mpg with 4WD, 1.5 Liter, and all that fun stuff inside lol...yeah those paddle shifters work wonders going up hills and mountains haha..its pretty nice
Drew Stanley what issues? from my knowledge they have no main issues. i know someone who had cooling issues with their 1.5 from that's it. i have the 2.0, 69K miles
Thanks Sam for your educated review. You always seem to put in the extra work and do a great job of explaining it. You would definitely be great in a big market media company like Consumer Reports or Car and Driver. Keep up the great work ✌🏽❤️
just bought the 2017 Ford Escape SE (with a lot of titanium perks, leather seats, large infotainment screen, panoramic moon roof, heated seats...) so far the wife loves it. looks exactly like the one in the video down to the wheels. the only complaint that i have right now is that there's a TSP on the liftgate. when people try to manually lift the automatic lift gate it can cause the liftgate to close uneven. typically because the driver would manually pull up from the left side. i got it adjusted at the dealer (bought it used w/ less than 30k miles) and so far it looks like it's closing better than the first test drive.
18 inches wheels are not the best for bad road conditions driving... That size is great for highway, but for bad roads 17 is better, as the tires profile is higher.
Even with seemingly generous scoring, and with a soft spot I've had for Ford much of my life, somehow this one does not seem convincing to me, particularly considering the fierce competition from other brands.
Great detailed review - as always! I really like the fact that you always address the rear seat HVAC (or lack there-of). It amazes me how many manufacturers seem to forget about rear seat passenger comfort. Be glad you don't have the 19" wheels - I think they hurt ride comfort and are very expensive to replace and also limit selection especially if you want winter tires. Something to think about if you go for the higher end Titanium model.
Honestly just an excellent review Sam! Great work. I agree with the horrible fit and finish on all Ford products. Definetly an area of which improvement is needed.
Good review as always Sam. I wish you could do a review of the 2017 mitsubishi outlander GT V6. I think it compares closely to the escape, and surpass it in some key areas like fit and finish, safety and value.
hey Sam I Just Wanna to know by your Knowledge which is the Best SVU off road? I mean Ford escape really has good technology but I'm not convinced about 4x4 system. Thanks for your comments.
Thank you for taking it off road, all the other videos I watched where just on payment. Ya the rattling concerns me but I will be mostly on payment. I really would like the 2.0 but they are hard to come by used. So if to buy new I can only afford the 1.5. I too wish it had more of a stylish inside for the leather dash and trim, maybe we will see that in the 2020 models. But again thank you for this.
It's a shame that for 2018 you can only get the more powerful 2.0L engine on the top titanium trim and the other 3 trims (S, SE and SEL) you can only get the 1.5L engine.
Yeah thats got a lot of added features. It's not the "Se" stock model for sure. I asked about all these and after the price of all these "add ons" might as well just get the titanium
oh I wish brands would stop putting "paddle shifters" on automatic cars; they serve no real purpose, and in this example click or make too much noise and gives the sense of a video game controller...keeping it simple in this class of vehicle is best and the cost of adding paddle shifters could go to other improvements elsewhere in the car...not to mention, they're so small...sorry, paddle shifters are just a pet peeve of mine...
K03sport I think their intension is for when you're towing or going up hill where you need to put your vehicle into a lower gear. Instead of having a "L" gear on the shifter, they hit 2 birds with 1 stone by including paddle shifter....gives you more control over the transmission than the "L" gear
i suppose sooo, but they seem so (too) artificial...and can't the same thing be done by putting in tow/haul mode or turning O/D off?...ok, not as "fun", but still useless...adding a sense of "sport" in a non-sporting vehicle is like putting lip stick on a pig...sure the pig looks nice, but it's still a pig...
awesome...I'm not totally against paddle shifters; in the right car, they are an extension of the car and improve the driver/car interface an do serve a purpose such as helping the driver ring everything out of a car on a track, course or canyon road for maximum performance w/o a "cumbersome" clutch pedal - read performance oriented cars...however, i do not see mid-size CUV/SUVs as performance oriented and seem to be more of a novelty rather than a necessity
I have a 2017 se cost me 26k, worst car ive ever owned, fit and finish are subpar, torque steer is obnoxious it's not a (little bit) like in the video. It has good power but that's all, very stiff ride also. Interior plastic is cheap with lots of gaps. Aside from that the front end rattles and I've had 2 oil leaks, and yes I have the 2.0, I'd rather have the tiptronic gearshift than the paddles (can't shift with one hand) as far as I know most people only drive with one hand on the wheel. I get between 25-28 on average. Most driving is highway 60-75 mph. I got 30 mpg once. Only gets 25-26 on the interstate, very surprised at just how bad the mpg is compared to other cars.
its all about how you drive. the closer to 65 and flat the better you do on mileage. should have waited a year to buy the car. let someone else take the hit. got the same 2.0L 2017 SE for 17k.
I work for Avis, and drive all their vehicles home. Currently have a 17 Escape SE. This is a great all weather vehicle. I just a few hours ago, put it in reverse on a snow covered hill, and it climbed the hill, in reverse, no - issue - whatsoever. Acceleration is there. Handling is nimble. Visibility is awesome. The new placement of the electronic E brake frees up a lot of console space. Three position heated seats are sooo nice. Placement of all controls are within easy reach, and the steering wheel controls are perfectly placed. Cargo space is there. Ride is very quiet at highway speeds. Test drive it, you won't be disappointed, but don't be surprised if it shuts off on you at a stoplight - great gas saving feature - has a heavy duty starter, and upgraded battery to allow it to shut off the engine as long as it is in drive, and foot on the brake, at a complete stop. And set the audio system to "driver" mode to hear some really great sound! I was driving an Outback last week, and the front looks so similar.
juliadennehy was it the 2.0 or 1.5 ecoboost engine?
Bought a '19 recently, pretty much the same except no CD player. You're right about the nimble handling, that's the word I would have used too. The visibiility is great, front and rear.
I love this suv! I just bought this last week, I got the SE 4WD 1.5 ecoboost. it feel very comfortable and I honestly don't hear any rattle noises. it's really quiet inside and the seats have lumbar support. I'm not sure what he is talking about with the leather because the seats and the steering wheel has a push of soft feel touch to it. it feels really soft and there isn't no gaps between the door and the body itself. the rear seats do have more space that what he is talking about. I'm 5ft 11inches tall and I can fit pretty comfortable in the back seat. I'm going to make my own video on my escape to have a more of a real world expert show everyone what its about.
Thank you so much !! Im thinking of buying one next month and your comment really helps
@@Jay-wi5gh 2 years late, but did you ever buy one?
@@texastea5686 No, I ended up getting a better deal on a jeep compass. But I still have my sights on a Ford escape lol
just got a 2017 SE today, just sent back my 2014... not a lot of changes but the 2017 is really nice
Just bought a leftover 17 Titanium AWD with the sport appearance pkg after researching and testing just about every SUV smaller than a Grand Cherokee, Explorer, etc. This vehicle is THE BOMB!!! Totally impressed with the quality of construction and attention to detail compared to what I saw with the Buick and especially Jeep models. The 2.0 engine is a must however, as the 1.5 could create challenges passing on 2 lane roads--even merging into freeway traffic. The quality of the seats are the best that I tested. The Escape was the only model that offered power seats for both front passengers too. All around vision is superb as well. The back seats fold flat--something that seems to evade other manufacturers' engineers capability. Much more rear cargo space than the vehicle this replaced ('16 Jeep Cherokee Limited). I love the fact that it's one of the few--if not the only--SUVs in this segment that offers 19" tires/wheels. For $25,000 delivered, I couldn't come close to anything else out there for what this Escape Titanium gives you. I jumped on this rather than the new 2018s as the combination of the sports appearance pkg (blacked out grill/trim and the 19" black wheels, etc) is no longer available on the Titanium after 2017. Plus Ford no longer offers the 2.0 in anything but the 2018 Titanium trim level.
25 mpg combined for a 245 HP 3690 lb car is pretty darn awesome, most of the competition is 100-150 lb lighter
We got this for the cheapest they had at McGrath, it's a really good car.
actually you get the paddle shifters with the 1.5 liter engine as well, and with that engine im averaging 27.9mpg with 4WD, 1.5 Liter, and all that fun stuff inside lol...yeah those paddle shifters work wonders going up hills and mountains haha..its pretty nice
Ray A the 1.5 liter is known to have problems. I’m assuming the car is probably done by now huh? I have a 2.0 and about to hit 100k no problems
Drew Stanley what issues? from my knowledge they have no main issues. i know someone who had cooling issues with their 1.5 from that's it. i have the 2.0, 69K miles
Thanks Sam for your educated review. You always seem to put in the extra work and do a great job of explaining it. You would definitely be great in a big market media company like Consumer Reports or Car and Driver. Keep up the great work ✌🏽❤️
just bought the 2017 Ford Escape SE (with a lot of titanium perks, leather seats, large infotainment screen, panoramic moon roof, heated seats...) so far the wife loves it. looks exactly like the one in the video down to the wheels. the only complaint that i have right now is that there's a TSP on the liftgate. when people try to manually lift the automatic lift gate it can cause the liftgate to close uneven. typically because the driver would manually pull up from the left side. i got it adjusted at the dealer (bought it used w/ less than 30k miles) and so far it looks like it's closing better than the first test drive.
18 inches wheels are not the best for bad road conditions driving... That size is great for highway, but for bad roads 17 is better, as the tires profile is higher.
most of the time people will drive the car on the highway during good road conditions..
could not agree more about your "Ford" leather comment. I also feel Acura uses the same leather excepting the NSX. Hate the way it feels
Even with seemingly generous scoring, and with a soft spot I've had for Ford much of my life, somehow this one does not seem convincing to me, particularly considering the fierce competition from other brands.
Great detailed review - as always! I really like the fact that you always address the rear seat HVAC (or lack there-of). It amazes me how many manufacturers seem to forget about rear seat passenger comfort. Be glad you don't have the 19" wheels - I think they hurt ride comfort and are very expensive to replace and also limit selection especially if you want winter tires. Something to think about if you go for the higher end Titanium model.
the front and rear do not look too busy like some of the competitors
Good review as always. The top trim for the Escape is titanium, not platinum.
Thanks. Platinum.....titanium....almost the same no? We still might fire him though. He's getting loose with the lingo.
chuckle chuckle chuckle. he's gotta go....we like your witty comebacks!
I own one and still screw that up! :)
Honestly just an excellent review Sam! Great work. I agree with the horrible fit and finish on all Ford products. Definetly an area of which improvement is needed.
I don't care about the size of gaps, I just want it to be functional lol
Will be interested how the equinox with the 2L turbo and nine spd compares to this.
Good review as always Sam. I wish you could do a review of the 2017 mitsubishi outlander GT V6. I think it compares closely to the escape, and surpass it in some key areas like fit and finish, safety and value.
Guys, this is the “absolute black or the metallic black”? I really like this color 🤔
Carlos GV magnetic metallic is the colour
Beautiful . I like it. 😊😇🙏🙏🙆🙊
hey Sam I Just Wanna to know by your Knowledge which is the Best SVU off road? I mean Ford escape really has good technology but I'm not convinced about 4x4 system. Thanks for your comments.
Thank you for taking it off road, all the other videos I watched where just on payment. Ya the rattling concerns me but I will be mostly on payment. I really would like the 2.0 but they are hard to come by used. So if to buy new I can only afford the 1.5. I too wish it had more of a stylish inside for the leather dash and trim, maybe we will see that in the 2020 models. But again thank you for this.
is that available right steering wheel for UK or another country?
It's a shame that for 2018 you can only get the more powerful 2.0L engine on the top titanium trim and the other 3 trims (S, SE and SEL) you can only get the 1.5L engine.
2017 was a hell of a year ;) got the 2.0 in an SE
Not a typical SE trim. Not even close. That model is damn near a Titanium.
Yeah thats got a lot of added features. It's not the "Se" stock model for sure. I asked about all these and after the price of all these "add ons" might as well just get the titanium
i bought one about exactly like it. it's great because the dealers priced it cheaper than it's titanium siblings ;)
My mom had one as a rental with the 1.5 ecoboost and the only problem was the fuel economy sucks Gotten worse over the years I think
I feel like I was being trolled by him trying to see how many times he could say "here." Like "meow from super troopers.. he says "here" way to much
This dash is not the 2017 Ford Escape SE
Sounded a little nit picky, if you ask me. Like you liked the vehicle, but didn't want it to come across as a Ford commercial.
Mpg is mediocre for this kind of suv. The 4wd stays on and you can't control it which is another stupid thing.
oh I wish brands would stop putting "paddle shifters" on automatic cars; they serve no real purpose, and in this example click or make too much noise and gives the sense of a video game controller...keeping it simple in this class of vehicle is best and the cost of adding paddle shifters could go to other improvements elsewhere in the car...not to mention, they're so small...sorry, paddle shifters are just a pet peeve of mine...
K03sport I think their intension is for when you're towing or going up hill where you need to put your vehicle into a lower gear. Instead of having a "L" gear on the shifter, they hit 2 birds with 1 stone by including paddle shifter....gives you more control over the transmission than the "L" gear
i suppose sooo, but they seem so (too) artificial...and can't the same thing be done by putting in tow/haul mode or turning O/D off?...ok, not as "fun", but still useless...adding a sense of "sport" in a non-sporting vehicle is like putting lip stick on a pig...sure the pig looks nice, but it's still a pig...
You made our Mow Down th-cam.com/video/d8vWdWdfd1w/w-d-xo.html
awesome...I'm not totally against paddle shifters; in the right car, they are an extension of the car and improve the driver/car interface an do serve a purpose such as helping the driver ring everything out of a car on a track, course or canyon road for maximum performance w/o a "cumbersome" clutch pedal - read performance oriented cars...however, i do not see mid-size CUV/SUVs as performance oriented and seem to be more of a novelty rather than a necessity
This is very bias. An SE for $33 K That is the price of the Titanium
Bias? We didn't price or equip the thing. We test what they give us.
Yeah, interior panel gap is a huge factor in buying a car? What the h*&& are you talking about?
Your comment made it to The Mow Down: th-cam.com/video/8_VALiOHeGM/w-d-xo.html
I have a 2017 se cost me 26k, worst car ive ever owned, fit and finish are subpar, torque steer is obnoxious it's not a (little bit) like in the video. It has good power but that's all, very stiff ride also. Interior plastic is cheap with lots of gaps. Aside from that the front end rattles and I've had 2 oil leaks, and yes I have the 2.0, I'd rather have the tiptronic gearshift than the paddles (can't shift with one hand) as far as I know most people only drive with one hand on the wheel. I get between 25-28 on average. Most driving is highway 60-75 mph. I got 30 mpg once. Only gets 25-26 on the interstate, very surprised at just how bad the mpg is compared to other cars.
its all about how you drive. the closer to 65 and flat the better you do on mileage. should have waited a year to buy the car. let someone else take the hit. got the same 2.0L 2017 SE for 17k.