Ford Takes Dead Aim at Current Hybrid Champs Popular SUV Gets Dramatic
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Ford takes dead aim Popular SUV gets dramatic at current hybrid champs new styling, loses hybrid hen Ford recently introduced the completely fter 12 years on the market, the small-sized, Wredesigned Escape for 2013, they decided to A family-friendly Ford Escape utility vehicle has discontinue the Escape hybrid model, due to a high finally received a full redesign for 2013. The new degree of overlap with the new 2013 Ford C-MAX, Escape arrives this spring with a starting price of a dedicated hybrid crossover utility vehicle. $22,470. A fully-loaded top-of-the-line Titanium In fact, the C-MAX will be offered in not one, trim level starts at $30,370, or $32,120 with all- but two hybrid models: the C-MAX Hybrid and the wheel drive like our test model. C-MAX Energi Plug-In Hybrid, available soon. (C-MAX Ironically, overall sales of the current model has been sold in Europe since it was first launched had improved 33 percent, with the 2012 model the there in 2010.) best selling in its 12-year history and beating the C-MAX ENERGI PLUG-IN HYBRID. You charge the second-place Honda CR-V by about 36,000 units. C-MAX Energi by connecting the vehicle’s external Escape is the number two best-selling Ford vehi- charge port to either a standard 120-volt outlet or cle and the fifth best-selling vehicle of any brand available 240-volt charging station. The C-MAX in the US. Energi delivers better fuel economy equivalent in The new Escape looks nothing like the current electric mode than a Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid, boxy-styled model. The striking new design fea- with a 500-mile overall driving range that bests the tures a sloping rear roofline, gaping split grille, Chevrolet Volt. It will also operate in all-electric angular shaped head and taillamps. It shares mode at higher speeds than any other hybrid. Once styling cues with Ford Fiesta and Focus. It’s also the electric charge is exhausted, the C-MAX Energi four inches longer than its predecessor and adds automatically continues operation like a tradition- three inches to the wheelbase. 54 • March-April 2013 • ARIZONADRIVER ARIZONADRIVER • March-April 2013 • 55 LOGBOOK NOTES : C-MAX FORD C-MAX (CONT’D) line minivan look of the Prius. Its grille treatment is sim- FORD ESCAPE (CONT’D) form as the new Escape. LOGBOOK NOTES : ESCAPE al hybrid vehicle. The C-MAX Energi has a base price of ilar to that on other recently updated Ford products like Ford is also introducing a clever, industry first hands- Ford is changing its trim level nomenclature to S, SE, • We drive in utter silence for the first bit: $32,950 (due primarily to its bigger, more expensive bat- the Escape, Focus, Fiesta and Fusion. free rear liftgate, which by using current Wii technology SEL and Titanium, replacing the XLS, XLT and Limited • We liked the prior Escape a lot, so were no whirring as in an electric. tery) and is rated at 108/92 eMPG, city/highway. C-MAX Hybrids come with seven airbags including allows you to open it by simply sliding your foot beneath levels on the outgoing model. apprehensive, but once sitting in the dri- • Brakes are exceptionally strong. C-MAX HYBRID. With a starting price of $25,200 for a driver’s knee airbag, Advance Trac with roll stability con- the center of the rear bumper—so you don’t have to look We had a chance to spend some time behind the ver’s seat, who doesn’t want one of these? • On broad sweeps, the C-MAX is quiet and C-MAX Hybrid SE, or $28,200 for a C-MAX Hybrid SEL trol, and a variety of electronic safety technologies. for your keys, set packages down or pull a handle when wheel of the new Escape and found it to have a firmer • Keyless locking had some buggy behav- smooth, but steering can be twitchy, for like our test model, the C-MAX is priced some $1,300 Those include torque vectoring to better guide the vehi- your hands are full. ride and sportier feel than the outgoing model. It felt sta- ior, and the alarm was triggered by either an odd mix between underresponsive lower than the base Toyota Prius v. And, with fuel econ- cle through corners, and curve control to slow it if the Ford designers have also improved the vehicle’s inte- ble and sure-footed on winding mountain roads, thanks our pocket or nothing, more than once. and overresponsive. omy of 47 MPG city, and an equally amazing 47 MPG driver enters a corner too fast. rior quality: there’s a new soft-touch dashboard, the rear to the security of enhanced features like torque vectoring • The audio system, after adjustment, was • The CVT has a responsive kickdown fea- highway, it beats the Prius v by three points city and With gas prices shooting up fast, Americans are seats now fold in one simple motion, and there are sub- control, which helps the vehicle accelerate smoothly stronger in the low range than the high, ture, providing a comfortable power seven points highway. C-MAX also has 50 more horse- clamoring for fuel-efficient vehicles, yet it’s still stantial improvements to the previously frustrating through corners, and curve control, which slows the vehi- but gave pretty solid performance overall. curve. You can almost feel a series of power and exclusive technologies such as Ford’s hands- unclear whether they have a love affair with gas-elec- MyFord Touch system. MyFord Touch houses the cli- cle when it is going too fast into a corner. • The shifter could use detents, to help it very subtle surges, which don’t feel like free liftgate and semi-automatic parallel parking. tric hybrids. Only the Prius has captured the public, mate, navigation and audio controls on an eight-inch We think the new Escape is an excellent, fun-to-drive stop in D without ending up in Sport. shifts but also don’t feel like straight line The C-MAX also features 99.7 cubic feet of passen- continuing to outsell all other hybrids combined, with a touchscreen that’s standard on the upper trim levels. crossover that will not only maintain Ford’s current spot • The B-pillar seems visually thinner inside continuity. Acceleration, competitive ger space compared with 97 cubic feet in the Prius v. million-plus on the road. There’s also a new optional active park assist feature, at the top of the small crossover pack, it should steal than out, but creates the usual blind spot. maneuvers and sharp cornering can pro- Power comes from a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine Even with the numerous advantages of a lower price, enabling the Escape to automatically parallel park itself. customers away from other makes’ premium and near • Our experiences with MyFord Touch duce slight hesitation but generally and a lithium-ion battery-powered motor, which re - more power, better fuel economy and being more fun to That option also includes a backup camera, front and rear luxury brands. ■ include a number of gripes, including strong and dependable shifts and moves. places the nickel-metal hydride pack previously used in drive, Ford will have to convince car shoppers that it can proximity sensors, and a blind spot warning system. slow and incomplete iPod functions. • Then again, a right turn on surface streets the Escape Hybrid. The new battery is 25 to 30 percent match Toyota’s perceived quality and reliability. But with Escape offers a choice of three engines, all four-cylin- COMPETITION INCLUDES: Chevy Equinox, Honda CR-V, • The foot-motion-operated tailgate is seems to “fake left” at times, and move- smaller and 50 percent lighter, according to Ford. a pure utility hybrid that’s also the first that’s fun to der: a 168-hp 2.5-liter (a carryover from last year), a new Hyundai Tucson, Jeep Liberty, Kia Sportage, handy, though at night it could use a light ments at slow speed are abrupt. Like the new Escape, the C-MAX will seat five passen- drive, we think C-MAX has hit the bull’s-eye and might 173-hp 1.6-liter EcoBoost, and a 2.0-liter EcoBoost with Mazda CX-5, Nissan Rogue, Subaru Forester, on the button perched high overhead. • We were surprised to find ourselves driv- gers in two rows of seats and has a hands-free liftgate, just give Pruis a run for its money. ■ 237 horsepower that replaces the outgoing 3.0-liter V6. Toyota RAV4, Volkswagen Tiguan • Power and shifts are adequate, ditto fuel ing slower than others at times. active park assist for easier parallel parking, and the Fuel economy ranges from 21-23 MPG city and from 28- mileage. EcoBoost results seem ordinary. • We have a series of beefs with the touch- MyFord Touch multimedia control system. The C-MAX OUR TEST 2013 FORD C-MAX HYBRID SEL 33 highway. Our Titanium AWD test Escape had the 2.0 OUR TEST 2013 FORD ESCAPE TITANIUM AWD • A Mercedes-Benz GL in traffic prompts a screen interface, not unusual. Hybrid will also be equipped with SmartGauge with Base price..........................................................$28,200 EcoBoost and was rated 21/28/24 MPG city/hwy/comb. Base price..........................................................$32,120 comparison of stature, wheel arches, • The C-MAX has no towing capability. EcoGuide. It displays real-time fuel economy and gauges Equipment Group 302A: Premium audio and nav, hands- Ford has dropped the Escape Hybrid, which had been Equipment Group 401A: Titanium tech package, tonneau hood creases and such, leading to a new • Grade assist, with a button on the shifter, that help drivers maintain a fuel-efficient driving style.