New User? Sign Up | Log In Home Service & Repair Car Prices Parts & Accessories Reviews & Advice My Garage Need Help? 2013 Ford Escape S FWD 4dr Trim Info: Front Wheel Drive, Sport Utility Vehicle, Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD 22 mpg city / 31 mpg hwy Other Trims Do you own this car? Estimated Mileage Miles Enter current mileage for most accurate info about this vehicle Recently Viewed Cars 2013 Ford Escape S FWD 4dr Track Your Service Records Get Recall Alerts Get Updated Value Estimates on Your Car. Pricing & Features Vehicle Overview Car Prices and Values Technical Specs Warranty Maintenance & Repairs Diagnose Your Problem Repair Cost Calculator Servicing Your Car See Safety Recalls Find a Mechanic Your Service Schedule Common Car Problems Auto Parts & Accessories Community Q & A Reviews Expert Reviews User Reviews Quality Ratings User Reviews | All Reviews Expert Reviews April 30, 2012 by Josh Sadlier 2013 Ford Escape The 2013 Ford Escape marks an unusual automotive event: Ford’s venerable compact crossover SUV wasn’t broke, but the company went and fixed it anyway. Whereas sales typically trend downward toward the end of a vehicle’s life cycle, the outgoing first-generation Escape turned in its best performance ever for 2011, moving over a quarter-million units. The year before, the Escape wasn’t even among the top 10 best-selling vehicles; last year, it shot up to number five. Ford could have left the 2013 Escape untouched and still likely enjoyed another successful year. But that’s not the way Ford’s rolling these days. Despite its best-selling status, you see, the outgoing first-generation Escape was a throwback, a traditional American-style crossover. That didn’t fit with the “One Ford" corporate vision, which entails single global platforms for most vehicles. With cars like the Fiesta and Focus recently receiving cosmopolitan makeovers, the aging Escape seemed increasingly out of place. That’s why Ford replaced it with a new Kuga-based, Focus-inspired model that gives the company a decidedly different presence in this segment. There’s no doubt that the 2013 Escape is a risky product. Americans loved the no-nonsense SUV character of the previous model, but now they’re faced with a sleek new crossover that essentially looks and drives like a Focus hatchback on stilts. Still, the 2013 Escape is a vastly improved vehicle in nearly every respect, and we suspect that will shine through in the long run, whether or not it replicates its predecessor’s sales success right out of the gate. What's to Like The Escape’s driving dynamics are remarkably similar to those of the exceptionally satisfying Focus. Unlike many rivals these days, the Escape feels tidy and maneuverable in tight spaces, as a compact crossover should. Interior materials are excellent by segment standards. The optional MyFord Touch system adds high-tech functionality and gives the dashboard a much sleeker appearance. Two turbocharged engines are offered, and both deliver a solid combination of power and fuel economy. What's Not to Like The non-MyFord Touch dashboard is a bit of a mess with its button-happy layout, while MyFord Touch itself still leaves something to be desired ergonomically. We deemed road noise an issue in the 1.6-liter SE, which is bound to be a popular model. No third-row seat is offered; you’ll have to step up to the enormous Explorer or Flex for that. The new Escape looks more like a tall hatchback than a tough SUV, which may turn off some fans of the previous model’s boxy styling. Also, there’s no hybrid-powered version of the new Escape, so the old hyper-efficient Escape Hybrid is left without a successor. Driving Impressions The phrase “carlike handling" is profoundly overused in our profession, but there’s no question it applies to Ford’s latest crossover. Although the Escape naturally rides higher than the mechanically related Focus hatchback, you’d be hard-pressed to tell a difference in ordinary driving. Other than the Focus’s lower price and available manual transmission, there’s not much that the Escape can’t match—and the crossover offers the twin advantages of added ground clearance and available all-wheel drive. Even in spirited cornering, the Escape feels nimble and confident, evincing none of the ponderousness that plagues rivals like the Chevrolet Equinox and Honda CR-V. Unsurprisingly, there’s a price to be paid in ride compliance. We love that Ford didn’t dumb down the European-style handling, but we’re not sure our fellow citizens will appreciate the Escape’s Euro-firm ride, especially with the 18-inch and 19-inch alloy wheels that come with the SEL and Titanium trim levels, respectively. We weren’t blown away by the new Escape’s chassis rigidity, either, as rutted pavement can induce some unseemly quivers. Road noise, too, is more pronounced than we prefer in a vehicle than touches $35,000 (gulp!) fully loaded. 1 2 3 Next Similar Articles 2010: New Trucks and SUVs Read More BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO ... Read More Top 10 Vehicles For Towing Read More Your Local Mechanics New Search: © 2021 DriverSide Inc. 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