Everyone has different priorities when car shopping, but many of these priorities are universal and apply to everyone. An affordable price, good gas mileage, and plenty of space are almost guaranteed to be on every car buyer’s list of needs for a new or pre-owned vehicle. Compact crossover SUVs are pulling a lot of attention right now, especially among growing families. Compact crossover SUVs are perfect for families on the go, long road trips, or heavy haulers. The best compact crossover SUV on the market today is the 2021 Ford Escape.
The 2021 Ford Escape is a compact crossover SUV that was made for the modern driver. Though small, this SUV is roomier and more powerful than last year’s model. A new hybrid powertrain option adds to the Escape’s capabilities and versatility. Affordable, spacious, and efficient, the 2021 Ford Escape is the perfect compact crossover SUV for any driver in need.
Under the Hood
The 2021 Ford Escape is an all-wheel drive, four-door hatchback with an automatic transmission. It has a wide range of powertrains available for buyers to choose between. The base engine is a 1.5-liter engine that can be used with front or all-wheel drive with 181 horsepower available. The first upgrade is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that gets up to 250 horsepower. Both of these gasoline engines are paired with an eight-speed transmission. There are also two hybrid options available. These both have 2.5-liter four-cylinder engines.
As for fuel efficiency, the 1.5-liter engine is rated for 28 MPG in the city and 34 MPG on the highway. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is rated for 23 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highway. The most efficient model comes with the 2.5-liter hybrid, with combined fuel economy ratings as high as 41 MPG.
The Escape measures fairly standard for its class. It has an overall height of 66.1 inches, a width of 74.1 inches, and a length of 180.5 inches. Its curb weight is 3,494 pounds. It can go from 0 to 60 MPH in 7.7 seconds. None of these statistics are particularly shocking for a crossover SUV; in fact, they are all standard for the class.
The 2021 Ford Escape has earned remarkably high safety ratings. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration rated the Escape with five out of five stars for overall safety. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the highest rating of good in the five crash tests that were conducted. They also awarded the Escape with the highest rating of Superior for front crash prevention.
Standard safety features for the Escape include blind spot monitoring, lane keep assist, and a rearview camera. Advanced safety features include stop and go adaptive cruise control, lane centering, and parallel and perpendicular parking assist, among others.
Interior and Infotainment
The 2021 Ford Escape is a two-row, five-passenger SUV. It has four trim levels, each with different interior details available. The entry-level Escape S comes with cloth upholstery, a 4.2-inch display, and a six-speaker stereo for the basic SYNC entertainment system. Ford’s Co-Pilot 360 suite of features adds lane keep assist, pre-collision warning and braking system, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Ford Escape SE comes with proximity keyless entry and the SYNC 3 infotainment system, which includes an eight-inch touchscreen. A convenience package can be selected to add a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and a rear-seat armrest with two cup holders.
The Ford Escape SEL makes the SE’s convenience package standard. It also adds the SE’s optional cold weather package with heated front seats and automatic climate control. The SEL comes with synthetic leather upholstery, a foot-activated hands-free liftgate, and a heated steering wheel. The top trim level for the 2021 Ford Escape is the Titanium. It includes leather seats, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a ten-speaker Bang and Olufson audio system, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and wireless device charging as standard.
The Escape set a goal to make taller drivers and passengers comfortable. It achieves this goal by offering a maximum of 42.4 inches of maximum legroom. This can make it perfect for taller drivers or passengers to comfortably share a ride. The cargo area has 37.8 cubic feet of space with the option for more, as the rear seats can slide forward as well as fold down. With the rear seats folded down, the 2021 Ford Escape maximizes its available cargo area to 68.5 cubic feet.
Ford offers a standard warranty package for the 2021 Escape. Though it reads as fairly basic, it does cover the areas that are of greatest concern. The limited bumper to bumper warranty covers your Escape for up to three years or 36,000 miles. Ford also offers a powertrain warranty that covers your vehicle for up to five years or 60,000 miles. The hybrid component warranty covers eight years or 100,000 miles. There is no complimentary scheduled maintenance included for the 2021 Ford Escape.
2021 Ford Escape: Why?
The 2021 Ford Escape has not seen much in the way of big changes from past models. This is a sign of a quality product. The infotainment system has been given an upgrade to better adjust to modern technology and modern drivers. Likewise, the dimensions were adjusted to accommodate taller drivers and passengers. Other than these changes, you won’t find many huge alterations in the Escape’s history.
This is a sure sign that the Escape knows exactly what it is and what needs it was made to meet. This compact crossover SUV has a smooth ride and plenty of cargo and passenger space. It has competitive gas mileage when compared to other similar vehicles. The new hybrid option is available for more environmentally conscientious buyers. Even the look of the Escape is made to draw people in, bearing more resemblance to a sedan than a bulky minivan. The Escape sits low to the ground with smaller wheels, plenty of safety features, and responsive brakes.
The 2021 Ford Escape is the perfect compact crossover SUV for anyone who wants an affordable vehicle that also offers serious cargo and passenger space. The extra space upfront ensures plenty of comfort for drivers, and the wide backseat guarantees the same for passengers. The Escape has been rated to be reliable as well as safe; this vehicle was built to last. Multiple color options for the interior and exterior, as well as a variety of options for the tires and engine, ensure that any buyer can get exactly what they want.
Whatever life throws at you, you can face it down in a 2021 Ford Escape.
