![]() This time around, however, our Real MPG lab recorded 23/30/26 mpg city/highway/combined, easily surpassing the EPA's 20/27/23. We tend to see fuel economy plummet with the least bit of spirited driving, and we've rarely met the official EPA economy estimates in the real world. ![]() Our past experience with these turbocharged Ford EcoBoost engines, however, has been that one can have either frugal Eco or fun Boost but not both at the same time. It rarely if ever picks the wrong ratio for the occasion-and with so much torque available at relatively low engine speeds (275 lb-ft at 3,000 rpm), it hardly matters if it maintains a tall gear on gentle acceleration. The Ford's well-sorted six-speed automatic certainly adds to the enjoyment here, as well. The Honda CR-V AWD Touring (185-hp 2.4-liter) managed an 8.3-second time the Toyota RAV4 SE AWD (176-hp 2.5-liter) at 8.7 seconds. What's more, this Escape is at least a second quicker compared to the non-turbocharged sales leaders in the class. In that nine-way comparison test, the 2017 Escape SE AWD with the fuel economy-oriented 1.5-liter turbo finished dead last in acceleration with a 9.6-second 0-60 time, this Escape Titanium AWD with the optional 2.0-liter turbo with its 7.3-second dash to 60 mph would have finished first among the four-cylinder crossovers. So what if we were to consider a top-grade Escape Titanium AWD model with the best Escape engine available? Indeed, a modestly equipped 2017 Ford Escape SE AWD's sixth-place finish in our recent Big Test of 2016/2017 small crossovers proves just how competitive this white-hot segment has become. With most new vehicles aiming for IIHS Top Safety Pick+, even those innovations aren't very novel. But why? Safety features now available include lane keep assist, a driver drowsiness monitor, and adaptive cruise control with forward collision alert plus auto brake boost. But even with this year's revised exterior styling, including a new Sport Appearance package, minor interior revisions (cupholders with "fingers"), a newly available 1.5-liter turbo-four, and a modified 2.0-liter turbo-four with more output, the Escape seems to be merely maintaining its solid third-place sales rank (behind the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4). ![]() Three trim levels compose the 2017 Escape line: base S, mid-level SE, and top-grade Titanium. The increasingly popular compact crossover segment is making things tough at Ford.
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