2010 Ford Escape

By Joe Hollingsworth / autoMedia.com

Our crystal ball says tomorrow’s sport-utility vehicles will be about the size of the 2010 Ford Escape. That’s because current legislative proposals call for each automaker’s entire fleet to average about 35 miles per gallon within 10 years. It’s going to be hard to average 35 mpg if some vehicles the company sells get 20 mpg. The four-cylinder Ford Escape is within shouting distance of that mandated average: It gets 28 mpg (based on EPA confirmed 2009 model year numbers) in the government’s highway driving cycle. That averages quite nicely with, say, a Fiesta. With the addition of some expensive lightweight parts and engine enhancements, it might be possible to push future Escapes beyond 30 mpg. For those who want to enjoy power and performance before they’re legislated out of existence, the 2010 Escape is also available with a 3.0-liter V6, which gets a very respectable 26 mpg (2009 model year numbers) on the highway. (For 2010, that V6 is now capable of running on 85 percent ethanol, although mileage will be considerably lower with that mixture.)

New for 2010
Changes to the Ford Escape for 2010 are minimal but significant. They include a revised latch switch for the rear liftgate, heated outside mirrors on the upper trim levels, side step bars, roof rails on certain models and new, Federally mandated rear head restraints. Heated front seats are now standard on the some models. A rearview camera, a rarity in this vehicle class, is available as an option. With the diminishing popularity of compact discs, only single-disc players will be available: The six-disc changer has gone the way of the eight-track tape player. A newly available feature, a function typically found only in luxury segment vehicles, is Ford’s “Active Park Assist”, which helps parallel park the vehicle with minimal driver intervention.

Escape Velocity
Standard on the Escape is the 171-horsepower, 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine. This engine was new in 2009 and boasts more horsepower and better mileage than the four-cylinder engine it replaced. Two of the keys to this dual improvement are variable valve timing on the intake camshaft and a six-speed automatic transmission, which replaced 2008′s fourspeed. The variable valve timing combines with the six-speed to give the Escape both good low-speed acceleration for merging onto a fast-moving freeway, and better fuel mileage at highway cruising speeds.

Optional is a 240-horsepower 3.0-liter V6. It also is matched to a six-speed automatic transmission. This engine has 40 more horsepower than the V6 from 2008. This was achieved with variable intake-valve timing and a higher compression ratio. Peak torque is an impressive 223 pound-feet at 4300 rpm. Electronic throttle control (a.k.a. “drive-bywire”) replaces mechanical linkages between the engine and gas pedal. This also helps improve economy and performance. With the optional Class II trailer-towing package, a V6-equipped Escape can tow trailer weighing up to 3500 pounds. For 2010, the towing package includes trailer sway control similar to that found on the new Ford F-150. Another feature that helps improve fuel mileage is the Escape’s electric power steering, which replaces the older engine-driven hydraulic system. Electric power steering reduces fuel consumption and engine power losses because it draws no power when the car is driven in a straight line. The previous system was a constant drain on the engine, which always turned a hydraulic pump. The electric system also allows more precise tuning of steering feel.

Interior and Trims
Better fuel mileage is not the only way the 2010 Escape is helping the environment: Its seat cushions are made with a soy-based foam rather than the conventional petroleum-derived product. In addition some seat fabrics are made from 100 percent post-industrial materials. Leather-trimmed seating surfaces are also optional. The Escape is available in three configurations: Escape XLS, mid-level Escape XLT, and fully equipped Escape Limited. Pricing starts just over $21,000 for a four-cylinder, fivespeed manual Escape and tops out at around $34,000 for a fully loaded Limited. The standard sound system includes a single-disc CD player, four speakers and an MP3 audio jack. Available is a system that has 320 watts of power and seven speakers. Both are satellite radio capable. Both the XLT and Limited come with a 6-month pre-paid subscription to SIRIUS® satellite radio.

Safety Features
Escape standard features include anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control. Combined, they help the driver maintain control during accident avoidance maneuvers. The Escape has six airbags, including a pair of two-row side-curtain airbags. Also, the Escape has load-limiting safety belt retractors and pretensioners, which snug the belts racecar-tight in the instant before a crash. While test results for the 2010 Escape have yet to be revealed, the 2009 earned the highest rating by the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA): Five stars for all crash test results. It also earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) coveted Top Safety Pick award. With excellent power, good fuel economy and top-level safety, the 2010 Ford Escape is showing the way of SUVs of the future.