Escape from the Crowd

There’s really no escape. I get questioned at the car wash and at the gas station. From an inquisitive "Is that the new Ford Escape?" or "How much is it?" to "Which dealer did you get it from?" or even a sarcastic "How come you got one this early while I’m still in the waiting list?" These are some of the questions you’ll get from interested onlookers and buyers who plunked down a deposit and are eagerly awaiting delivery of the newest mini-SUV in the market.

It may be the need to be the first in their neighborhood to have one but I can’t blame them for wanting to have their hands on the Escape at the soonest time possible. The newest Ford in town has a lot of things going for it.

For starters, the Escape XLT 4X4 M/T I was driving was coated in Pumice Gold Metallic, which was one of the most sought-after colors in the market. The color masks the dust and road grime while it gives the mini-SUV a look that’s quite elegant. The light color also makes the vehicle look bigger than it really is. Paint illusions notwithstanding, the Escape’s compact dimensions makes it a convenient runabout around Metro Manila, while its high ground clearance and 4-wheel independent suspension tackle the undulations and pot holes of our fine city’s streets with ease.

The 2.0-liter EFI-equipped Zetec engine spools up 130hp at 5,500 rpm and 183Nm of torque at 4,500 rpm with smooth urgency. It was tempting to rev the twincam 16-valve engine up to the redline in each gear just to feel the surge when you release the clutch. My test vehicle was equipped with a 5-speed transmission and the Control Trac II four-wheel-drive system which allowed me to select between "4X4 On" (50/50 torque split Front/Rear) and "4X4 Auto"(torque split only when needed). I left the selector in "Auto" and I found that the system changed from 2-wheel-drive to 4X4 seamlessly, announcing itself only when all four wheels chirped during hard acceleration on a wet road. There was minimal torque steer in 4X4 mode, with the power-assisted rack and pinion steering system giving light, positive road feedback during cornering. Front discs and rear drums provide stable braking and exhibited no fade during the test drive period.

The Escape’s interior is a study in ergonomics and compact packaging. The designers factored in a lot of useful cubbyholes, nets and cup holders for the convenience of five comfortably seated passengers. Strangely, there are six cup holders inside the vehicle, seven if you remove the round ashtray. Three large similarly-sized cup holders are located at the center console, two at the front and one near the driver’s seat, where you can fit the round ash tray in each one. There are two smaller cup holders at the rear of the console, which are best for holding small water bottles. The folding tables at the back of the front seat backrests reveals two more cup holders, and these make the rear passengers feel like they are seated in a commercial airliner, allowing them to perhaps escape into a flight of fantasy, no pun intended.

The driver faces a white-faced instrument panel and grabs a 4-spoke steering wheel that’s accented with perforated leather. The control orientation is unusually non-American for a Ford (stalk-mounted headlight switch, center-console mounted parking brake), but the ergonomic layout is superb. A 6-disc dash-mounted 2-din CD changer/player/ tuner powers the interior’s six speakers. The aircon controls are intuitive although disorienting at first. For example, the compressor is turned on/off by pushing the fan speed knob, while fan speed starts at No. 2 when you want circulating air inside the cabin. To select the lowest fan speed (No. 1), the system switches to fresh air ventilation, which is not a good idea when you’re driving behind a smoke-belching bus on EDSA. This arrangement is again quite unusual, though you can adjust the temperature so you don’t have to choose between freezing or coughing on Manila smog.

The cloth-covered front bucket seats have recessed centers and height- and tilt-adjustable headrests which proved comfortable while tackling the city’s horrible traffic pace. The 60/40 split rear seats have adjustable headrests and the seatback can be reclined as well, so your backseat passengers are likewise comfortable.

With the rear seat up, Ford claims the Escape can hold 935 liters in its cargo area. The rear seat can be folded 60/40 for flexible cargo handling, or it can be folded altogether to create a very large rear cargo space. The side panels along the cargo space are blessed with cubbyholes and nets to hold your stuff in place and keep them from rolling around during the trip. The rear tailgate opens to the floor for easy loading and unloading, while a lockable flip-up rear glass hatch allows you to grab small items from the back. All these translate to convenience and utility without the prerequisite bulk.

Overall, the Ford Escape is a well-executed package. It is compact, nimble, easy on fuel and highly useful. It has some features that defy convention, but I think that’s the whole point to its design. It allows you to escape conventional wisdom and get away with it. Now, if I could only escape the unnecessary questions from the crowd, I’ll be on my merry way to another weekend escape with my family.