Ford Escape

Ford Escape
Production period:	since 2000
Class :	SUV
Body versions :	Station wagon

The Ford Escape is a compact SUV from the American car manufacturer Ford . The first model generation of the Escape was sold in Europe as the second model generation of the Ford Maverick . In 2008 the Maverick was replaced in Europe by the Ford Kuga , while the Escape got a model change.

Escape I (2000-2007)

First generation (USA)
Ford Escape (2000-2004)
Production period:	2000-2007
Body versions :	Station wagon
Engines:	Petrol engines : 2.0-3.0 liters (95-150 kW)
Length:	4394-4442 mm
Width:	1781 mm
Height:	1755-1770 mm
Wheelbase :	2619 mm
Empty weight :	1595-1655 kg

The first model generation came on the market in autumn 2000 and was identical in construction to the Mazda Tribute and the Mercury Mariner , in Europe the model came onto the market with small changes as the second generation of the Ford Maverick. It was located below the Ford Explorer , but larger than comparable SUVs from the Japanese manufacturers Honda and Toyota . At that time, SUVs were often built with a body-on-frame construction and had rigid rear axles. Although this increased the load capacity, it was at the expense of handling and driving comfort. However, Ford did not develop the Escape for off-road use, but for the road, so that it had independent wheel suspension and rack and pinion steering, which was at that time atypical for SUVs. An all-wheel drive system with limited slip differential was also available as an option.

The Escape is equipped with a passive immobilizer. Here an RFID chip is embedded in the key, which is read out every time the vehicle is started. If the vehicle does not receive valid feedback from the key, the engine is prevented from starting.

A facelift was carried out in 2004, in addition to minor external modifications, the 2.0-liter Zetec engine with 95 kW was replaced by a 2.3-liter Duratec engine, which was now also available with an automatic transmission. In addition, the airbag system and seat belts have been revised.

In Europe, the Ford Maverick was withdrawn from the model range in 2007 and replaced by the Kuga in 2008 .

On January 18, 2012, the US road safety agency NHTSA announced a recall for model years 2001 and 2002. 244,500 vehicles were affected because brake fluid could leak and damage the electronics.

Hybrid version

In 2004 production of the Ford Escape Hybrid began . The hybrid version was a full hybrid with a system that automatically switched between electric and petrol operation in order to achieve maximum performance and efficiency. A combined use of electric and gasoline engines was also possible. When braking, the braking energy was used to recharge the batteries for the electric motor.

The Escape was the first freely available SUV with hybrid drive and according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) it was 75% more efficient than the normal version. The technology of the Escape Hybrid was similar to that of the Toyota Prius . Ford took advantage of some of Toyota's hybrid patents and in return let the Japanese use patents for diesel engines and gasoline direct injection. The demand for the Escape Hybrid exceeded all expectations, Ford built a total of 17,000 vehicles in the second half of 2004 alone, four times as many as originally planned.

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  Rear view

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  Ford Escape Hybrid

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  Ford Maverick
  (2004-2007)

Escape II (2008-2012)

Second generation (USA)
Ford Escape II
Production period:	2008–2012
Body versions :	Station wagon
Engines:	Petrol engines : 2.3–3.0 liters (107–179 kW) Otto hybrid : 2.5 liters (130 kW)
Length:	4437 mm
Width:	1806 mm
Height:	1806 mm
Wheelbase :	2619 mm
Empty weight :	1655 kg

Stars in the US NCAP - Crash Test

The second model generation of the Escape was offered in North America from 2008 . The body was redesigned, the interior remained largely unchanged. From the 2009 model year, the previous 2.3-liter engine was replaced by a new 2.5-liter Duratec engine with 128 kW (173 hp). The 3.0-liter Duratec V6 engine now developed 179 kW (243 hp) instead of the previous 149 kW (203 hp) with lower consumption.

It was also offered again as a Ford Escape Hybrid , from 2009 with a 2.5-liter gasoline engine with 132 kW (177 hp) instead of the previous 116 kW (160 hp). The savings, almost exclusively related to city traffic, were no longer as serious as with the previous model.

Escape III (2012-2019)

Third generation (USA)
Ford Escape (2012-2015)
Production period:	2012-2019
Body versions :	Station wagon
Engines:	Petrol engines : 1.6–2.5 liters (125–172 kW)
Length:	4524 mm
Width:	1839 mm
Height:	1684 mm
Wheelbase :	2690 mm
Empty weight :	1588 kg

The third generation of the Ford Escape was presented at the LA Auto Show 2011.

This follows the “One Ford” strategy, because similar to the Ford Focus , the new generation should be a global car in order to save development costs.

The Escape has been available in the US since June 2012. In Europe, the vehicle was introduced in March 2013 as the successor to the Kuga . The design is based on the first Kuga. Ford presented a redesigned Escape at the 2015 LA Auto Show. It has been on sale since 2016.

A 1.6-liter and a 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine and a 2.5-liter four-cylinder are available as engines. Power is transmitted to the front wheels via a 6-speed automatic transmission. The two EcoBoost motors are also available in conjunction with an optional all-wheel drive.

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  Rear view

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  Ford Escape (2016-2019)

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  Rear view

Escape IV (since 2019)

Fourth generation (USA)
Ford Escape (since 2019)
Production period:	since 2019
Body versions :	Station wagon
Engines:	Gasoline engines : 1.6–2.0 liters (134–186 kW) Otto hybrid : 2.5 liters (148–156 kW)
Length:	4585 mm
Width:	1882 mm
Height:	1688 mm
Wheelbase :	2710 mm
Empty weight :	1496-1762 kg

The fourth generation of the Escape was presented at the same time as the third generation of the identical Kuga on April 2, 2019. The version for the North American market is built in Louisville, Kentucky . For the first time, the model name Escape is also used in China. There the model has a modified front design and is sold together with the second generation Kuga. This version is built in Chongqing, China .

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  Rear view

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  Chinese version

Web links

Commons : Ford Escape  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Ford Escape US website
• Ford Escape Hybrid US website

Individual evidence

1. ↑ http://www.augsburger-allgemeine.de/wirtschaft/Ford-ruft-fast-halbe-Million-Autos-zurueck-id18269846.html
2. ↑ Crash test results. US NCAP, accessed August 29, 2011 . 
3. ↑ LA Auto Show 2011: Ford Escape / Kuga (2012). November 17, 2011, accessed November 23, 2011 . 
4. ↑ New face for the Ami-Kuga. November 17, 2015, accessed May 13, 2018 . 
5. ↑ Adrian Padeanu: 2020 Ford Escape Gets A Bigger Grille In China. In: motor1.com. April 4, 2019, accessed January 4, 2020 .