FULL REVIEW: Ford Escape / Maverick @ Mazda Tribute

In this blog, I present a FUll review of Ford Escape / Ford Maverick / Mazda tribute by GOAUTO Australia. I know, I know the review was meant to be done by me but I don't have a car to testdrive. In Malaysia, The Escape and Tribute in 2001, initially came with 138hp 2.0i Engine. It wasn't until 2003, the 4 cylinder 160hp 2.3L DURATEC engine. Few months later, a DURATEC 204hp and 266Nm or torque 3.0i V6 24v was launched.

As for the Mazda Tribute, it had a retatively short term in Malaysian market from 2001 to 2004. It's a 2.0L version. Then what is Ford Maverick?

Ford Maverick was a UK's Ford Escape which were in Production from 2001 to 2004.

I will cover the Malaysian Resale value of Ford Escape at the end of this blog.

Without further ado, let's proceed to "GOAUTO Australia's" article about Ford Escape.

FORD ESCAPE XLT Wagon:
Model release dates: February 2001 - May 2006

Overview

LATE on the scene in the soaring soft-roader segment, the five-door Escape is one of the few in class to strike a good balance between on-road and off-road ability. Ditto for ride and handling, a strong engine and automatic transmission pairing, and price versus equipment in XLT form. An uninspiring and slightly dysfunctional interior disappoints, but otherwise most ingredients are there to steal sales from the all-conquering Honda CR-V - and to grow the recreational 4WD market even further.

The Car

THE Escape breaks no new ground in terms of SUV styling. Indeed, its broad, muscular shape looks a lot like the Honda CR-V - which is probably the biggest compliment the vehicle could be paid. (If only the sales were as high.) Subtle styling cues differentiate the lower-grade XLS from XLT. The latter has front foglights embedded into the front bumper, and surrounds the black mesh grille with chrome. It also features alloy wheels and a bigger wheel/tyre combination. Extensive use of sound deadening mats was undertaken to isolate road and powertrain noise.
Did you know?
The Mazda Tribute and Ford Escape are built on a common monocoque platform and, on the outside, share only the roof panel and front windshield

The Car - Seat Plan

FORD claims the Escape interior package is the most spacious in the compact all-terrain wagon segment. Vehicle entry is assisted by handgrips and a relatively low doorsill height. Five seats are provided, four with headrests and three-point seatbelts. An airbag is provided for the driver and front passenger. Cup holders? Four. Up front, headroom measures 1026mm, legroom 1057mm, shoulder room 1430mm and hiproom 1356mm; in the rear, headroom drops to 997mm, legroom to 938mm, shoulder room to 1420mm and hiproom to 1244mm. "Room" is, of course, relative depending on the number of passengers and their size.

The Car - Seats


EACH seat uses fabric upholstery and is designed to ensure long-journey comfort, to enable easy ingress/egress and to provide a natural seating posture, even for a smaller female occupant. The front bucket seats were tailored using anthropometric data to fit smaller drivers while still comfortably accommodating larger adults. The front seat design also minimises fatigue by optimising the distribution of pressure applied to the user's back and buttocks. Only XLT drivers gain the benefit of seat base angle and lumbar adjustment. Two-notch, height adjustable head restraints are provided for all outboard occupants. Each front seat offers 240mm of slide adjustment to enable a comfortable position by users with the most common heights and builds.

The Car - Dash


THE major controls are contained within a large, sweeping hood that emerges from the top of the dash on the far side of the centre fascia and extends across to the right-hand front pillar. The instrument dials contained within are white-faced and deliberately large and legible, though increments are restricted to 10km/h. The usual gauges for fuel, temperature and tacho are provided, along with warning lights for brake system fail, parking brake, seatbelt and door/liftgate ajar. The instrument panel incorporates two layers of steel with a layer of elastomer insulation sandwiched between to reduce vibration.

The Car - Controls


FORD claims that placement of controls and switchgear was tested using blindfolded occupants - while the vehicle was parked (thank goodness for that!). Attached to the steering column are stalks for controlling the lights and (variable intermittent) wipers, and the automatic transmission gear selector. The column itself is tilt-adjustable. A driver's footrest, remote fuel door release and adjustable instrument panel illumination are also provided. Electric window switchgear is located on the door trim, with door lock/unlock switches on both front doors. XLT models get driver's seat base angle and lumbar adjustment, and cruise control (buttons for which are contained on the steering wheel).

The Car - Wheels/tyres

XLT models come standard with five-spoke 16x7 inch alloy wheels and 235/65 R16 tyres. XLS models make do with steel wheels and go down an inch in the wheel/tyre combination - 15x6 rims are used with 225/65 R15 rubber. The spare tyre for both models - a temporary-use 15-incher on 215/70 R15s - is stowed underneath the cargo floor and accessed from inside the vehicle.


The Car - Luggage


LUGGAGE capacity of the Escape extends from 935 litres to 1792 litres when the 60/40 split-fold rear seats are put into action. Both the seatback and seat cushion fold forward, enabling a large, flat surface at approximately the same height as the cargo-area floor. The seat cushions can also be removed to increase the maximum cargo length even further. The cargo area contains a 12-volt power outlet, luggage tie-down hooks, an open storage bin on each rear-quarter panel and, on XLT models only, a retractable security blind and cargo sack net. The tailgate lifts upward like a conventional hatch. Rear access can also be made via the flip-up rear window.

The Car - Stand out features

HERE at last before the 4WD boom is over, the Escape (and its Mazda Tribute clone) have turned up with a CR-V appearance and extremely good engine performance. Though not the most refined powerplant on offer, the 3.0-litre engine has spirit and strength on its side - and a V6 tag that'll win buyers in an instant. The Blue Oval badge helps here, too, though once out of the showroom the driver will find solid on-road manners and, something of a rarity in this class, good off-road ability.
Did you know?
Escape ground clearance is 200mm, the approach angle 28.5 degrees and the departure angle 22 degrees.

The Car - Climate control


TEMPERATURE controls are relegated to the lower portion of the dash fascia as Ford claims the audio is more often used and therefore deserves pride of place. They're still within easy reach of the driver. The manually operated climate system uses a trio of rotary dials. Air for front-seat occupants is delivered through louvres in the centre console; rear seat passengers get their air via floor-level vents. Air-conditioning is standard on both the XLS and XLT models.

The Car - Sound system

A FOUR-SPEAKER AM/FM stereo with a single in-dash CD player is standard on both Escape models, with XLT adding a cassette player and a six-disc CD changer that fits underneath the dash in the centre console. Unusually in the crossover from left-hand to right-hand drive, the (fixed) aerial is retained on the driver's side bonnet. The positioning can cause distraction, particularly when a shadow is cast across the dash.

The Car - Security

FORD'S "SecuriLock" engine immobiliser system is standard on both the XLS and XLT Escape models. The system uses a key containing an electronically encrypted transponder that is written to, and read, through a transceiver unit attached to the ignition key cylinder. Ford claims the vehicle cannot be started without the proper key. Remote central locking (one-stage unlock only) and tinted glass are also standard, while the XLT gains a security blind for the luggage compartment and a perimeter alarm.


We like (+ve): Engine/transmission pairing, on and off-road manners, equipment level
We don't like (-ve): Bland interior, column shifter, centre-rear seat safety omissions

Our Opinion
By TERRY MARTIN 19/04/2001

WHO would have thought that of all vehicle manufacturers, Ford and Holden would be among the last to enter the booming recreational four-wheel drive market?

While Holden is still without a contender, Ford, sharing its product with Mazda, has finally introduced the Escape - more than three years after Honda, with its CR-V, and Subaru, with the Forester, started bowling suburban Australians over.

What a run they've enjoyed. Honda had sold more than 34,000 CR-Vs here before the Escape touched the ground. And for its part, Subaru had waved off 25,000 Foresters.

Now everybody wants to get into the act.

Despite the lure of the corporate badge and V6 power, the Escape must contend with nameplates the calibre of RAV4 and Grand Vitara, plus other cheap or evocative offerings such as Freelander, Sportage and Santa Fe. Yep, Korea even got a couple of light-duty off-roaders up and running before the Blue Oval.

Mazda is also doing its utmost to present the Tribute in a better light than the Escape, with which it shares its platform and all mechanical components.

To succeed, the Escape must impress in all departments - price, packaging, accommodation and performance, both on the road and off it.

And it does just that.

There's not the attention to detail, not the polish in the presentation, to match the top sellers. There's no striking appearance that will turn heads.

But in XLT form, the Escape presents a strong value-for-money proposition. The price brings with it an energetic 3.0-litre engine, a well-matched four-speed automatic transmission and all the features you might expect: dual airbags, power steering, anti-lock brakes, air-conditioning, remote central locking, cruise control, electric windows/mirrors, six-disc CD stereo, variable intermittent wipers, roofrails, alloy wheels and front foglights.

Prospective buyers will, naturally, be pleased with the commanding view from the front pews. But they might also be less than impressed with the interior design.

Bland and basic are words that spring to mind here. Cloth door inserts and an enormous centre console armrest are small comforts in a cabin bathed in hard, unwelcoming grey plastic.

So large is the centre armrest that access to the handbrake (positioned on the left-hand side of the console) can be impeded. And there are other driver-oriented problems. The long column-mounted transmission lever, when in gear, can hinder access to stereo and temperature controls. Window switchgear is big, blocky and not altogether friendly to fingertips. The volume/on-off button on the stereo is on the far left-hand side. And the fixed aerial, positioned on the right-hand side of the bonnet, can be a distraction.

Topping it off, the cheap-looking and out-of-character white-faced instrument dials include a speedometer with intervals at 20km/h. A full point is given for 10km/h increments, but from where we're sitting the attention to detail is insufficient.

Otherwise, the controls present no great problems. The rotary temperature dials are big, the stereo head unit is high-mounted and cruise control buttons are placed conveniently on the steering wheel.

Built for America more than anywhere else, the Escape makes no attempt to provide access to the rear seats with the space liberated by the column shifter. Instead, it fills the void with an enormous centre console that contains big bins and a couple of mug/bottle holders - and, of course, the mother of all armrests.

The generous interior dimensions help provide excellent comfort for four people, though the driver's seat - which has the admirable addition of lumbar adjustment - would be better served with genuine height adjustment instead of a dial to alter seat cushion angle.

Like most offerings in this class, three people across the rear bench would put friendships to the test, although the Escape is better than most in this respect. The rear occupants are also treated to another impressive twin cupholder display, however the centre-rear occupant is left without a head restraint and a three-point seatbelt.

He'll no doubt be the one left holding his drink, too.

With its temporary spare tyre located under the luggage compartment floor, the tailgate is free to lift upward like a conventional hatch. It is lightweight and just high enough for average-sized adults to stand underneath without stooping. The rear glass also opens, however its release handle would be better off positioned near or on the glass itself rather than confusing matters by being tucked underneath the number plate recess alongside the tailgate release.

The cargo area itself is extremely generous in width (minimum width is 1040mm, maximum 1320mm), has a netted storage spot on each side, a 12V power outlet (adding to the two up front), luggage tie-downs, a convenient shopping bag net and a retractable, two-position security blind.

Child seat anchorage points are located in the roof headlining near the tailgate so as not to interfere with cargo - but the trade-off is a reduction in rear visibility when tether straps are employed.

Both the seatback and the seatbase split-fold forward to increase the 870mm depth from tailgate to seatback to 1320mm, at the same time creating a small barrier between the front seats and an almost-flat floor.

The centre rear safety exclusions and ergonomic blots up front excluded, the Escape packaging should suit most people.

And unlike some others in this class, it doesn't disappoint with its mechanical package either.

Developing an excellent 150kW at 5900rpm and 266Nm of torque at a high 4700rpm, the 3.0-litre quad-cam V6 has plenty of performance to compensate for the 1568kg kerb weight.

Fuel economy suffers at the hands of a driver who likes to press on, something the engine encourages with its strength in the higher reaches of the rev range.

It generates plenty of the noise in the process, but has no trouble keeping revs up and making light work of virtually all tasks required. The column shift does NOT encourage manual shifting, yet the gears are well matched to the engine and frantic searching for gears isn't a factor.

Handling is good by four-wheel drive standards, the 16-inch rubber providing acceptable grip into corners up to a point and body movement, while apparent, is kept largely under control.

The steering is direct and allows only a few niggles through the steering column when the Escape - which runs as a front-driver until slip is detected and torque is sent (seamlessly) to the rear wheels - encounters ripples in a corner.

The all-independent suspension is well equipped to dispense of potholes and most other rough-road irregularities, although corrugations in particular do send up unwanted vibration through the steering rack and the floor.

The tyres also create a fair bit of noise. Refinement is otherwise fine.

Off the beaten track the suspension allows good wheel travel and the four-wheel drive system, which uses a rotary blade coupling to govern front/rear power distribution, can be locked for a 50/50 torque split.

The vehicle would be better served with low-range gears, for while the "4x4 Lock" provides excellent traction and the ability to crawl steadily up steep gradients, descending even modest inclines without using the brakes is impossible - if damage is to be avoided. While the brakes themselves perform well (rear drums and all), engine braking is not a strongpoint.

Every bit as good off-road as most of its rivals, Escape is always going to be limited by its engine characteristics, lack of low-range gearing, scant underbody protection and reliance on a space-saver spare wheel.

Even considering those factors, the Ford soft-roader is more competent than we might have expected and one of the few in this class to strike a good balance between on-road and off-road ability.

Decent accommodation, an excellent engine/transmission pairing and a high level of equipment should ensure the XLT Escape is not simply another five-door wagon that fights over the food scraps left by CR-V and Forester.

Mechanical - Plan views

THE Escape sits its V6 engine transversely in the engine bay and like many compact off-roaders primarily powers its front wheels most of the time. When slippage is detected, the Control Trac II 4WD system transfers torque via a rotary blade coupling to the rear wheels to help regain grip. A switch on the instrument panel can be used to engage the 4WD lock-up feature, resulting in a 50:50 torque split.

Mechanical - Engine

ESCAPE is powered by an all-alloy 3.0-litre quad-cam 24-valve Duratec V6 engine that develops 150kW at 5900rpm and 266Nm at 4700rpm. Mounted transversely, the engine also has compact dimensions to enable installation within the body's short front overhang. Major features include a specially developed tumble-port induction system and redesigned intake manifold, which together maximise intake air volume. Ford claims the result is strong low-speed torque and optimal performance across the rev range. Official fuel economy figures point to 13.0L/100km on the city cycle and 8.0L/100km on the highway. The fuel tank holds 62 litres.
Did you know?
Both the Duratec V6 and the Zetec four-cylinder offered with the Mazda Tribute complies with Euro III emission standards

Mechanical - Suspension

THE Escape suspension consists of MacPherson struts up front supported by L-shaped lower controls arms and, at the rear, a multi-link mechanism employing two lateral links and trailing arms, with springS located between the trailing arms and body. The front coil springs and shock absorbers are separately mounted to a dual-path upper strut mount to assist with isolating shock forces that would otherwise hamper ride quality. A stabiliser bar is connected to the strut dampers - the closest suspension components to the wheels' movement - to maximise its effectiveness, even with small roll movements. Ford claims the rear configuration provides sufficient wheel stroke for off-road driving and optimum wheel alignment under all road conditions.

Mechanical - Transmission

A FOUR-SPEED column-shift automatic is the only transmission offered on Escape. An electronic control system automatically switches between normal and "slope control" shift maps in accordance with the driver's accelerator pedal inputs, the vehicle's speed and other variables. The full-time four-wheel drive system Control Trac II uses a rotary blade coupling. The system ensures the vehicle runs primarily as a front-driver, automatically apportioning more torque to the rear wheels when the front wheels begin to slip. A switch on the instrument panel can be used to engage the 4WD lock-up feature, resulting in a 50:50 torque split.
Did you know?
Ford, Mazda and Dana Corporation jointly developed the 4WD system

Mechanical - Brakes

ESCAPE'S front wheels are equipped with single-piston ventilated disc brakes, each with a diameter of 278mm and thickness of 24mm. The callipers each have a cylinder diameter of 60mm. At the rear, the wheels make do with leading/trailing drum brakes. The drum diameter is 229mm and the lining width 42mm. An 8-inch + 8-inch tandem vacuum booster is employed. A five-sensor, four-channel, four-wheel anti-lock braking system (ABS) with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) is also standard on XLT.

Mechanical - Steering

THE standard rack and pinion steering system has engine-speed-sensitive power assistance. XLT has a minimum turning circle of 11.2m (XLS 10.8m) and the steering wheel requires 2.9 turns lock to lock. The steering gear is mounted on the suspension cross member. Widely spaced steering-gear mounting locations are designed to maximise system rigidity and produce a more responsive steering feel. The only Escape model with cruise control, the XLT has the controls mounted on the airbag steering wheel.

Safety

LIKE most recreational four-wheel drives, Escape is built on a (one-piece) monocoque chassis for passenger car-like stiffness, torsional rigidity and crash performance. Energy-absorbing measures honed in on the steering column, front fender and the knee bolsters located below the instrument panel. Dual front airbags are standard across the range. The front seatbelts have pretensioners, belt "grabbers" and anti-submarining ramps. They also adjust for height. Height adjustable (two-notch) headrests and three-point seatbelts are provided for outboard occupants; the centre rear has an inferior lap belt and goes without a head restraint. Four-channel anti-lock brakes system (ABS) with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) is standard on XLT, unavailable on XLS.

Did you know?

Some 4WDs continue to use a separate chassis, where the chassis and body are literally bolted together, to provide strength and durability in off-road situations. Monocoque is generally regarded as the optimum design in the event of a collision because it is designed to crumple and absorb energy.


Malaysian Ford Escape Specifications:

Engine

Feature

Escape 2.3L VICS Escape 3.0L V6
Displacement (cc) 2261 2968
Engine Type DOHC w/ VICS DURATEC V6
Maximum Power (PS / rpm) 157 / 6000 206 / 6000
Maximum Torque (Nm / rpm) 203 / 4500 276 / 4750
Fuel Tank Capacity (litres) 61 61


Chassis
Feature Escape 2.3L VICS Escape 3.0L V6
Suspension (Front) and (Rear) MacPherson Strut Multi-Link
MacPherson Strut Multi-Link

Brakes (Front) Ventilated Disc Ventilated Disc
Brakes (Rear) Drum Drum
Alloy Wheels 16 x 7JJ 16 x 7JJ
Tyres 215/70 R16 235/70 R16
Turn Radius (m) 5.4 5.6
4 Speed Auto Transmission S S

Dimensions
Feature Escape 2.3L VICS Escape 3.0L V6
Overall Length (mm) 4415 4415
Overall Width (mm) 1825 1825
Overall Height (mm) 1770 1770
Wheelbase (mm) 2620 2620
Curb Weight (kg) 1522 1599
Ground Clearance (mm) 200 210
Seating Capacity 5 5

Feature

Escape 2.3L VICS Escape 3.0L V6
Central Locking S S
Cruise Control - S
Power Mirrors S S
Power Steering S S
Power Windows S S
Reverse Sensors S S
Sunroof S S

Safety
Feature Escape 2.3L VICS Escape 3.0L V6
Anti-Lock Braking System S S
Braking Assist S -
Electronic Brake Force Distribution S S
Side Impact Beams S S
SRS Air Bag - Driver S S
Side Airbags S S
SRS Air Bag - Passenger S S
Traction Control System S S
S - Standard.

PERFORMANCE: (Anyone can contribute?)

END OF SPECIFICATIONS:

In Malaysia, ALL Ford Escape's imported from Philippines. The 2.0i XLS appeared from 2001 to 2004. Subsequently, it was complemented with 2.3L (Same engine as Mazda 6 2.3i) in 2003 and was priced at RM139,000. In 2004 (a year later), the Ford Escape V6 3.0i VICS arrived and was priced attractively at RM162,800. Today, a 2001 Escape 2.0i was priced at:

ESCAPE: 2.0i / 2.3i / 3.0i V6
2001: RM50,000/ - / -
2002: RM58,000 / - / -
2003: RM65,000 / RM69,000 / -
2004: RM73,000 / RM76,000 / RM73,000
2005: - / RM84,000 / RM80,000

(Averaged Price taken from 1) Motortrader, 2) The Star Classifieds, Autoworld.com.my).