2021 Ford Escape Review

With lots of new models on the market already in 2021, we’ve turned our attention to the latest from Ford. This is the new 2021 Ford Escape. As a much-loved car brand amongst Australians, we thought we’d put the latest model to the test throughout this review.

In this article we will be analysing all the key factors of this vehicle including, features, interior and exterior design, engine specs, technology elements, safety standards, pricing and some final pros and cons to consider.

Features

The current Ford Escape models have been marketed and advertised as a small SUV with a lot of features. The Ford Escape is constantly named as agile, versatile, dynamic and a powerful companion on the road.

In terms of features, the 2021 Ford Escape takes a huge step up. This next generation car is packed with an impressive set of Driver Assist Technologies including Pre-collision Assist with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection, Intelligent Speed Assist and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Stop & Go and Lane Centring. It's this technology that creates seamless and effortless driving complete with impressive safety features that people love about Ford.

The 2021 Ford Escape is in a category of its own when it comes to the consumer. You get the best of both worlds with comfort and convenience yet packed with safety. This is what people fall in love with. The versatility to do it all in the one drive.

Clearly, the features list is extensive, which is why we’ve broken them up into the most important elements below.

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Interior and exterior design

When it comes to the interior of the car, Ford has thought long and hard about this. We know that with SUV’s comes a need for it to look sophisticated, yet sleek.

Ford has definitely achieved that with the 2021 Ford Escape. With clean lines, the interior of the Escape is more comfortable, spacious and chic than ever before. Built with the capabilities of Paddle Shifters set into the wheel, this car has thought of everything.

Simply change gears fast with your fingertips. Ford has clearly identified that a racing style experience is what their customers are looking for. Not only does this provide a nice look to the wheel, but from a practicality standpoint, you can also change gear more efficiently when cornering. What we’ve loved about Ford in the past is their attention to detail when it comes to the interiors of their cars. The 2021 Ford Escape is clearly no exception.

Some of our favourite features of the interior are also the charging capabilities. With a large tray at the front of the car ready to hold securely any device as well as wireless charging capabilities the team at Ford know what to look out for.

If you are looking for a car you can take from meeting to meeting, to the office and work from home, this could be your technology match made in car heaven.

Some of the car’s exterior design and features include exterior camera and automatic headlights. The 2021 Ford Escape also features its cleverly designed Electronic Stability Control. This feature monitors your vehicle’s progress and performance. It senses when a vehicle is losing grip and automatically applies a braking pulse to individual wheels to help stabilise it.

Engine

It is clear a lot of thought has been put into the engine behind the 2021 Ford Escape. With improved acceleration and super smooth gear changes, the all new 8-speed automatic transmission is engineered from the ground up to enhance your driving experience and maximise performance. This feature was first seen in the 2020 Ford Escape and has seen continuous improvement across the 2021 range.

Not only is the improved acceleration a big plus for the 2021 Ford Escape, but one of our favourite features of the new engine in the Ford EcoBoost. This is designed to give you all the power you’d expect from a larger car or engine, but designed specifically for the Escape model.

Ford EcoBoost technology delivers performance that is smooth, responsive and seamless across all terrains. If efficiency is a concern, rest assured as the Ford EcoBoost engine now features cylinder deactivation. This shuts off a cylinder when torque demand is low, such as on a highway.

Likewise, if there is an increase in its demand, the cylinder springs back to life to give you the power you need. We simply love these clever features. This is what the future of driving is moving towards.

Technology

As we’ve mentioned, the 2021 Ford Escape is already built with a large list of impressive tech features. With a huge touchscreen built beautifully into the cars dashboard and the wheel controls, the technology options for this car is endless. This includes Apple Car Play and Android Auto designed so that any device can be used. Not to mention voice activated technology giving you more control of the car without moving your hands off the wheel.

A new car without this level of tech and connectivity is simply not up to standard. You cannot go without this feature and we’re seeing more and more cars create clever designs like this.

Safety

Ford is renowned for its safety and security across their models and the 2021 Ford Escape really holds up this honour. Safety features such as Pre-Collision Assist, Active Braking and Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection are great for city drivers. If you’re in a high traffic area where distractions and busy people are around you, these features could be a life-saver.

Pricing

The all-important pricing structure of the 2021 Ford Escape. While we may not know for certain until the new model is released, we’ve taken this structure from Car Expert as an example of what to expect:

• 2021 Ford Escape FWD: $35,990
• 2021 Ford Escape ST-Line FWD: $37,990
• 2021 Ford Escape ST-Line AWD: $40,990
• 2021 Ford Escape Vignale FWD: $46,590
• 2021 Ford Escape Vignale AWD: $49,590
• 2021 Ford Escape ST-Line PHEV FWD: $52,490

All prices exclude on-road costs. 

Pros and Cons

Overall, if you are debating whether the 2021 Ford Escape is for you and your family, we hope that this review has provided you with some clarity of what to expect from the highly popular brand. To finish on, we’ve combined our top three Pros and Cons of the model.

Pros

1. Technology features such as wireless charging and Apple Car Play and Android Auto.
2. Easy to navigate wheel controls and access.
3. Safety features designed for busy city driving.

Cons

1. Lack of interior storage compartments in the front of the car as the surface space is taken up by the large wireless charger.
2. Interior design might not be for everyone. Could be considered quite bland in comparison to its competitors.
3. Lack of space as the back seats do not fall flat.